- Part 1 has 80 questions across 10 domains, 200 minutes, 75% (60 correct) to pass.
- Domain 1 (General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements) carries 13 questions - the largest single domain.
- Domains 2 and 7 each carry 10 questions; together with Domain 1, that's nearly half the exam.
- Approved references are the 2020 NEC/NEC Handbook, 2020 NM Electrical Code, and 2007 NESC - bound only, no loose notes.
Overview: What Part 1 Actually Tests
The New Mexico EE-98 Electrical Contractor Exam - Part 1 (Commercial and Industrial) is the trade-knowledge portion that pairs with Part 2 (Residential) and Part 3 (Specialties) to complete the full EE-98 Residential and Commercial Electrical classification, administered through PSI on behalf of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division (CID). Part 1 is a single, open-book, computer-administered multiple-choice exam built from 10 content domains that map to real commercial and industrial installation scenarios - not generic electrical trivia.
Because CID publishes an exact question count per domain, this exam is one of the rare licensing tests where you can build a study plan around a known blueprint instead of guessing at emphasis. That blueprint is the entire subject of this guide. If you want the mechanics of scoring and timing spelled out separately, see our breakdown of the exact passing score requirements, and for a broader prep roadmap check the NM-EE98 study guide for a first-attempt pass.
The 10 Domains, Question by Question
Part 1 draws its 80 questions from these domains, with the official allocation shown for each. Treat this table as your master study-priority list.
| Domain | Topic | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements | 13 |
| 2 | Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits | 10 |
| 3 | Overcurrent Protection | 5 |
| 4 | Grounding and Bonding | 10 |
| 5 | Conductors and Cables | 8 |
| 6 | Raceways and Boxes | 8 |
| 7 | Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment | 10 |
| 8 | Lighting, Signs, and General-Use Equipment | 6 |
| 9 | Motors, Transformers, and Generators | 6 |
| 10 | New Mexico State Code | 4 |
Below is what each domain actually demands, in the context of commercial and industrial work rather than residential wiring.
Domain 1: General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements
The largest domain on Part 1 at 13 questions. This is foundational NEC application - definitions, working space and clearance requirements, general wiring methods, and installation standards that apply across occupancy types.
- Working space and clearance rules around electrical equipment
- General code definitions and article organization in the 2020 NEC
- Installation requirements that recur across multiple later domains
Domain 2: Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits
Ten questions covering how power enters and distributes through a commercial or industrial building - service sizing, feeder calculations, and branch circuit requirements for non-residential loads.
- Service entrance conductor sizing and calculations
- Feeder load calculations for commercial occupancies
- Branch circuit rating and conductor requirements
Domain 3: Overcurrent Protection
Only 5 questions, but don't skip it - overcurrent device selection and coordination questions tend to require precise NEC table lookups under time pressure.
- Breaker and fuse sizing rules
- Coordination between overcurrent devices and conductor ampacity
Domain 4: Grounding and Bonding
A 10-question domain testing grounding electrode systems, bonding jumpers, and equipment grounding conductor sizing - heavily code-table dependent.
- Grounding electrode conductor sizing
- Bonding requirements for metallic raceways and enclosures
- Equipment grounding conductor sizing tables
Domain 5: Conductors and Cables
Eight questions on conductor types, insulation ratings, ampacity adjustments, and cable applications suited to commercial and industrial environments.
- Ampacity tables and correction/adjustment factors
- Conductor insulation types and allowable applications
Domain 6: Raceways and Boxes
Eight questions on conduit fill, box sizing, and support requirements - practical calculation-heavy material.
- Conduit and tubing fill calculations
- Box and enclosure sizing requirements
Domain 7: Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment
Tied for second-largest at 10 questions. This covers classified locations and specialized commercial/industrial equipment rules that residential-focused candidates often underprepare for.
- Class/Division and Zone classification systems
- Wiring methods approved for hazardous locations
- Special occupancy and special equipment requirements
Domain 8: Lighting, Signs, and General-Use Equipment
Six questions covering lighting circuits, sign installation rules, and general-use equipment connections common in commercial buildings.
Domain 9: Motors, Transformers, and Generators
Six questions on industrial power equipment - a domain where calculation speed matters as much as code recall.
- Motor branch circuit and feeder sizing
- Transformer overcurrent protection and sizing
Domain 10: New Mexico State Code
Only 4 questions, but this is the one section you can't study from a national NEC reference alone - it draws directly from the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code amendments.
Why Domains 1, 2, and 7 Deserve Extra Hours
Add up the three largest domains - General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements (13), Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (10), and Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment (10) - and you get 33 of 80 questions, over 40% of the exam. Grounding and Bonding adds another 10. That means four of the ten domains account for more than half the test.
This is the single most important planning insight in this guide: spending equal time on all 10 domains is a mistake. A candidate who masters Domains 1, 2, 4, and 7 thoroughly, and treats Domains 3, 9, and 10 as lighter-touch review, is studying in proportion to how the exam is actually built. For a deeper look at how domain weight interacts with overall difficulty, see our full difficulty guide for the NM-EE98 exam.
Key Takeaway
Rank your review sessions by question count, not by personal comfort. If hazardous locations feels unfamiliar, it still needs the same attention as services and feeders - both carry 10 questions.
Exam Format, References, and Fee Mechanics
Part 1 runs as 80 multiple-choice questions in 200 minutes, computer-administered through PSI, open book, requiring 75% correct (60 of 80) to pass. You're allowed a silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator, and your references must be bound copies of the 2020 NEC or NEC Handbook, the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code, and the 2007 National Electrical Safety Code. Highlighting, underlining, and permanent tabs are fine; handwritten notes, loose papers, and temporary tabs are not permitted in the test room.
This matters practically: if your code book has sticky flags or scribbled margin notes from a previous exam attempt, you need a clean, properly tabbed copy before test day. Build your tab system around the domain list above - tab Article 250 for Grounding and Bonding, Article 500-series for Hazardous Locations, and so on.
Remember that Part 1 is only one-third of the trade exam requirement - full EE-98 licensure needs Part 2 (Residential) and Part 3 (Specialties) as well, unless CID grants an approved exemption or you hold a CID-approved NASCLA waiver (which removes the trade-exam requirement only; experience and Business and Law still apply). For the full eligibility picture, including the 8,000-hour experience requirement and notarized application, read our detailed NM-EE98 requirements guide.
Scheduling Your Study Around the Blueprint
A generic study calendar wastes time on this exam because the domains aren't equal. Instead, sequence your weeks by question weight, tackling the heaviest domains first while you have the most energy and revisiting the lighter domains closer to test day for retention.
Domain 1 + Domain 2
- General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements (13 questions)
- Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits (10 questions)
Domain 4 + Domain 7
- Grounding and Bonding (10 questions)
- Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment (10 questions)
Domain 5 + Domain 6
- Conductors and Cables (8 questions)
- Raceways and Boxes (8 questions)
Domains 3, 8, 9, 10 + Full Review
- Overcurrent Protection, Lighting/Signs, Motors/Transformers, NM State Code
- Timed practice runs at 200 minutes / 80 questions
This kind of blueprint-driven pacing is far more useful than a generic Pomodoro or spaced-repetition template applied blindly - it works specifically because it mirrors PSI's published question allocation. For a condensed, night-before version of every domain's must-know facts, bookmark our one-page NM-EE98 cheat sheet.
Who Hires for This License Once You Pass
Passing Part 1 is one component of qualifying for the EE-98 classification as the license's qualifying party - the person whose exam scores and experience back a contracting license. Once the full trade exam and Business and Law requirement are satisfied, and CID approves the qualifying-party application, that credential supports electrical contracting work on commercial and industrial projects across New Mexico. Contractor licenses renew on a three-year cycle contingent on the qualifying party's signature and active bond coverage, and a qualifying-party certificate is canceled if it sits unattached to an active license for two consecutive years.
If you're weighing whether pursuing this path fits your career goals, our ROI analysis of NM-EE98 certification and earnings guide go into the practical upside. You can also browse ../ for full-length practice exams built around this exact domain breakdown before you commit to a test date.
Key Takeaway
Approval to test lasts six months and passing scores remain valid for one year - plan your Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 scheduling within that window so nothing expires before your license application is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Part 1 has 80 questions total, allocated as 13, 10, 5, 10, 8, 8, 10, 6, 6, and 4 across Domains 1 through 10 respectively. Domain 1, General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements, is the largest at 13 questions.
Start with the highest-weighted domains: General Knowledge and Electrical Installation Requirements (13 questions), then Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits and Hazardous Locations, Special Occupancies, and Special Equipment (10 questions each), then Grounding and Bonding (also 10). Together these four domains cover more than half the exam.
No. The exam is open book but only for bound references - the 2020 NEC or NEC Handbook, the 2020 New Mexico Electrical Code, and the 2007 National Electrical Safety Code. Handwritten notes, loose papers, and temporary tabs are prohibited; permanent tabs, highlighting, and underlining are allowed.
Yes. It's the smallest domain, but it's also the only section that tests state-specific amendments rather than national code content, so it can't be covered by general NEC study alone.
No. Full EE-98 trade qualification also requires Part 2 (Residential) and Part 3 (Specialties) unless CID approves an exemption, plus a separate Business and Law examination and an approved qualifying-party application with verified experience.