NM-GB98 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 17 Content Areas

How the GB-98 Combination Exam Is Organized

Candidates pursuing the New Mexico GB-98 General Building Contractor license through the Construction Industries Division don't sit for one monolithic test. Instead, the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department requires a combination technical exam administered via computer-based testing through PSI, priced at $269.06 total. That single fee covers two distinct parts that together comprise all 17 content domains covered in this guide:

• Part 1 - GB-2 Residential Building Contractor: 80 questions, 225 minutes, Domains 1-8.
• Part 2 - GB-98 General Building Contractor: 100 questions, 310 minutes, Domains 9-17.

Both parts are open book and each requires a 75% score to pass independently. If you pass one part but not the other, you don't have to redo the whole exam - a one-part retake costs $134.53. Understanding this two-part, 17-domain structure before you register is the foundation of any realistic prep plan; see our full NM-GB98 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt for how these parts fit into a week-by-week plan.

Part 1 Domains: GB-2 Residential Building Contractor (80 Questions)

Part 1 leans toward residential-scale construction knowledge but is a prerequisite gateway inside the combination exam. It contains eight domains totaling 80 questions in 225 minutes.

Part 2 Domains: GB-98 General Building Contractor (100 Questions)

Part 2 is the larger, more heavily weighted half of the combination exam - 100 questions across 310 minutes, covering commercial-scale general building scope. The same eight content categories reappear, plus a Metals domain unique to Part 2, for nine domains total.

Which Domains Carry the Most Weight

Because pass/fail is determined at the part level (75% on each), not domain-by-domain, you technically don't need to master every domain equally - but ignoring a heavily weighted one is far riskier than skimming a light one. The table below lines up every domain by question count so you can see where the exam actually concentrates its questions.

For a deeper look at how these weightings translate into perceived difficulty across the full exam, read How Hard Is the NM-GB98 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. And if you want the exact score math behind that 75% threshold on each part, check NM-GB98 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.

The Business and Law Requirement

The 17 technical domains above only cover the GB-2/GB-98 combination exam. New contractor candidates in New Mexico must separately satisfy a Business and Law requirement - either by passing the PSI Business and Law examination or by completing an approved course. This is not one of the 17 content domains, but it's a mandatory companion requirement.

• PSI Business and Law exam fee: $68.88
• 50 questions, 130 minutes
• Open book, 75% required to pass

Because it's open book with the same 75% threshold as the technical parts, candidates sometimes assume it's a formality - it's still a distinct scored exam that requires dedicated review of New Mexico contracting statutes and business practices, separate from the construction knowledge in Domains 1-17.

Open-Book References: What You Can and Can't Bring

All three exams tied to GB-98 licensure - GB-2 Part 1, GB-98 Part 2, and Business and Law - are open book, which changes how you should prepare relative to a closed-book exam. Approved references include the listed 2021 New Mexico building codes, the applicable 2021 IRC or IBC, and relevant trade texts.

Because "open book" doesn't mean "open note," the real skill being tested across all 17 domains is fast retrieval - knowing exactly which tabbed section of the 2021 IRC or IBC addresses a Domain 10 concrete reinforcement question, for example, without flipping through the whole code book during a timed section. Practicing with domain-organized questions ahead of time, such as those on our NM-GB98 practice test platform, builds that retrieval speed far more effectively than passive reading.

Eligibility, Fees, and Registration Mechanics

Before you can sit for any of the 17 domains, you need to clear eligibility with the Construction Industries Division. Requirements include four years and 8,000 hours of qualifying construction experience within the preceding 10 years, though approved education or training can receive half-time credit for up to one-half of that requirement.

• Qualifying-party application and work-affidavit fee: $36
• Combination technical exam (GB-2 + GB-98): $269.06
• One-part retake: $134.53
• Business and Law exam: $68.88
• Examination eligibility lasts six months once approved
• Passing scores remain valid for one year
• General Building renewal carries no continuing education requirement

The current PSI contractor candidate bulletin governing these exams was updated April 3, 2026, so always confirm current bulletin details before scheduling. For the complete fee breakdown across every stage of licensure, see NM-GB98 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and for the full eligibility walkthrough, see NM-GB98 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.

Mapping a Study Schedule to the 17 Domains

Rather than a generic weekly template, the most efficient approach is to sequence your review directly against domain weight - heaviest domains first, lightest domains last, with review passes built around the open-book reference structure.

This kind of domain-weighted scheduling is covered in more depth, alongside broader pacing strategy, in NM-GB98 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. Running domain-tagged practice questions through our practice test platform lets you see exactly which of the 17 domains needs another pass before you commit to a testing date, which you can then lock in using NM-GB98 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.

Frequently Asked Questions