How to get a general contractor license in Georgia

Licensing office State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors (Georgia Secretary of State) [7]

The license pathway in Georgia

1. 1

   Residential Basic

   • 2 years of experience
   • Yes: Residential Basic exam (80 questions, 200 minutes, open book) plus the Business and Law exam (50 questions, 120 minutes), PSI
   • $72 trade exam + $60 Business and Law exam (PSI); board application fee not listed here
   • Every 2 years (due June 30 of even-numbered years); 3 hours of continuing education each year

   Covers residential-basic work. You need 2 years of experience working as or for a residential contractor, mostly in residential-basic work, and significant responsibility for at least 2 completed residential-basic projects in the 2 years before you apply. You also need $300,000 in general liability insurance and a $25,000 minimum net worth. [1][2][6][8]

2. 2

   Residential Light Commercial

   • 4 years of experience
   • Yes: Residential Light Commercial exam (90 questions, 230 minutes, open book) plus the Business and Law exam, PSI
   • $72 trade exam + $60 Business and Law exam (PSI)
   • Every 2 years (due June 30 of even-numbered years); 6 hours of continuing education each year

   You qualify with a related bachelor's degree plus 1 year of experience, a mix of college credit and experience totaling 4 years, or 4 years of construction experience (at least 2 with a residential contractor). You also need significant responsibility for at least 2 completed projects in this category in the past 4 years, backed by a reference letter, plus $500,000 in liability insurance. [1][2][6][8]

3. 3

   Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier

   • 4 years of experience
   • Yes: NASCLA commercial general building exam (115 questions, 330 minutes, open book) plus the Business and Law exam, PSI
   • $106 NASCLA exam + $60 Business and Law exam (PSI)

   The commercial license with a $1 million limit per project. The experience rules match the unlimited license: a related degree plus 1 year, or 4 years total (at least 2 with a general contractor and at least 1 in a role like estimating, supervision or project management). Minimum net worth is $25,000, and you need $500,000 in liability insurance. [1][3][6]

4. 4

   Commercial General Contractor (unlimited)

   • 4 years of experience
   • Yes: NASCLA commercial general building exam plus the Business and Law exam, PSI
   • $106 NASCLA exam + $60 Business and Law exam (PSI)

   Commercial work with no project-size limit. It has the same experience rules as the Limited Tier license, but you must affirm a minimum net worth of $150,000 and show $500,000 in liability insurance and proof of tax payments. Commercial general contractors have no continuing education requirement. [1][3][6]

Who needs a Georgia contractor license

To perform, or offer to perform, residential or commercial general contractor services for pay in Georgia, you must be licensed. Georgia law says no one may "engage in the business of residential contracting or commercial general contracting" without the matching state license. A company can work under the license of a qualifying agent: a licensed person who holds the license on the company's behalf.

Some work is exempt:

• Specialty trades don't need this license (electrical, plumbing and HVAC have separate state licenses).
• Repair work is exempt if you tell the owner in writing that you're not licensed and the work doesn't affect the building's structure or life safety. Removing a load-bearing wall isn't "repair."
• Building your own home doesn't need a license, but local building codes still apply.

If you work without a required license, Georgia law makes your contract unenforceable, and you lose your lien rights for that work. [1][4][5]

The four license types

Georgia doesn't have a journeyman-to-master ladder for general contractors. Instead, you pick the license that fits your work:

• Residential Basic: you need 2 years of experience, $300,000 in liability insurance and a $25,000 net worth.
• Residential Light Commercial: you need 4 years of experience (or a related degree plus 1 year) and $500,000 in insurance.
• Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier: commercial jobs up to $1 million each. You need 4 years of experience and a $25,000 net worth.
• Commercial General Contractor: unlimited commercial work. You need 4 years of experience and a $150,000 net worth.

For every type, you must be at least 21 and of good character, and the board may run a criminal background check. Criminal history doesn't automatically disqualify you; the board decides case by case. [1][2][3]

What counts as experience

For Residential Basic, you need at least two years "working as or in the employment of a residential contractor," mostly in residential-basic work. You also need significant responsibility for at least 2 completed residential-basic projects in the 2 years before you apply.

For the commercial licenses, the rules accept any of three routes:

• A bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, construction management, building construction or another accepted field, plus 1 year of experience with a general contractor.
• College credit plus experience adding up to at least 4 years.
• 4 years of construction experience, at least 2 of them with a general contractor. At least 1 year must be in administration, estimating, drafting, engineering, supervision, project management or a similar role.

Residential Light Commercial uses the same three routes, with residential-contractor experience. It also requires a reference letter for 2 completed projects from a Georgia architect, engineer or another acceptable reference. [2][3]

The exams

Everyone takes two exams through PSI: a trade exam for their license type and a Business and Law exam. Once you pass Business and Law, it counts for every other Georgia contractor license. All the exams are open book, and the passing score is 70%.

• Business and Law: 50 questions, 120 minutes, $60.
• Residential Basic: 80 questions, 200 minutes, $72.
• Residential Light Commercial: 90 questions, 230 minutes, $72.
• Commercial (both tiers): the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors, 115 questions, 330 minutes, $106. NASCLA is the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies.

After the board approves you, you get 3 exam sittings within one year. If you don't pass in 3 tries, you wait a year from your application date before you can be approved again. Georgia has no grandfather clause; every applicant must pass the exams. [1][6]

Insurance, net worth and fees

Insurance is required to apply and to keep your license:

• Residential Basic: $300,000 general liability per occurrence.
• All other types: $500,000 per occurrence.
• Workers' compensation: required only if you have 3 or more employees.

The minimum net worth is $25,000 for both residential licenses and the Limited Tier, and $150,000 for the unlimited Commercial General Contractor license.

Exam fees go to PSI: $72 for a residential trade exam, $106 for the NASCLA exam, and $60 for Business and Law. The board also charges its own application fee. Its FAQ doesn't list the amount, so confirm it with the board when you apply. [1][6][7]

Renewal and continuing education

Residential licenses renew every two years, by June 30 of even-numbered years. You can renew late through December 31 with a penalty fee. If you haven't renewed by December 31, that counts the same as a revoked license.

Residential contractors need continuing education: 3 hours a year for Residential Basic and 6 hours a year for Residential Light Commercial. Online or correspondence courses can cover no more than half the hours. Since January 1, 2026, you must record your hours in CE Broker. Commercial general contractors have no continuing education requirement. [1][8]

If you're licensed in another state

Georgia has reciprocity for unlimited Commercial General Contractors with Louisiana and Mississippi. For Residential Basic, it has reciprocity with Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina. To qualify:

• you got your license by passing your state's exams,
• you live in that state, or your business was chartered there, and
• your license has been active for at least 3 years with no discipline.

For the commercial license, the board's rule also requires you to pass Georgia's Business and Law exam. From any other state, you apply by exam like everyone else. [1][9]

Getting the experience if you're starting out

Georgia's board doesn't run an apprenticeship. Its experience rules count time spent "in the employment of" a residential or general contractor, so working for a licensed builder counts. Two places to look for that first job:

• Apprenticeship.gov's Apprenticeship Finder lists registered apprenticeship openings you can apply for directly.
• The carpenters union runs apprentice classes at its regional and local training centers.

The board also lists professional associations, including Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia and the Home Builders Association of Georgia. [2][3][7][10][11]

Steps to get licensed in Georgia

1. Pick your license type

   Choose from the four types based on your work: Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, Commercial General Contractor, or the Limited Tier license ($1 million per project limit). Decide whether you'll hold the license as an individual or as the qualifying agent for a company. [1]

2. Build the experience

   Get 2 years (Residential Basic) or 4 years (the other types) of qualifying experience, and keep proof of the projects you were responsible for. [2][3]

3. Line up insurance and net worth

   You need general liability insurance ($300,000 for Residential Basic, $500,000 otherwise), workers' compensation if you have 3 or more employees, and a minimum net worth ($25,000, or $150,000 for the unlimited commercial license). [1]

4. Apply in GOALS (Georgia Online Application Licensing System)

   Create an account in the Secretary of State's GOALS system, pick your license type and submit the application. A licensing analyst, and sometimes the board, reviews it. [1]

5. Pass your exams with PSI

   Once approved, you get an exam approval letter, valid for one year, with instructions for scheduling with PSI. You take your trade exam and the Business and Law exam, and you get 3 tries within the year. [1][6]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train general contractors in or for Georgia, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

• State program

  Registered apprenticeships (Apprenticeship.gov finder)

  The U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Finder lists open apprenticeship jobs, including carpentry and construction, that you apply for directly with the employer. [10]

• Union

  Carpenters union (UBC) training centers

  The United Brotherhood of Carpenters' regional and local training centers run apprentice classes. Use their locator to find the one nearest you. [11]

• School

  College credit toward the experience rule

  For Residential Light Commercial and both commercial licenses, a bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, construction management or building construction cuts the experience needed to 1 year. Other college credit can count toward the 4-year total. [2][3]

Licensed in another state?

Questions people ask