New Mexico Level 3 Licensing: The Firearm Suitability Evaluation Explained

New Mexico licenses security guards in three levels, and the jump to Level 3 — the armed tier — carries a requirement the first two don't: an evaluation by a licensed psychologist certifying the applicant's mental suitability to carry a firearm in the course of duty.

What the evaluation covers

The core of the evaluation is the MMPI-3, a standardized psychological assessment completed online through Pearson's secure Q-global platform. The licensed psychologist reviews the results — and, in a comprehensive evaluation, conducts a telehealth clinical interview — before issuing the written suitability determination that accompanies the Level 3 application.

The process is fully remote for candidates anywhere in New Mexico: no office visit, no travel to a metro area. Most candidates complete the MMPI-3 itself in 35 to 50 minutes from a home computer.

What agencies should know

For agencies staffing armed posts, the suitability determination is a licensing prerequisite — a guard cannot legally work Level 3 duties without it. Building the evaluation into the hiring timeline (rather than after a conditional offer stalls) keeps posts filled and avoids paying for training hours a candidate can't yet use.

As with any legitimate psychological evaluation, the outcome is a professional determination, not a formality. Candidates receive honest findings either way, and non-favorable results come with an explanation and guidance on options.