How to get a plumbing license in Georgia

Journeyman level 2,000 hours on the job + state exam What's a journeyman?

Licensing office Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers · (478) 207-1416 [1][6]

The license pathway in Georgia

1. 1

   Apprentice or helper (no state license)

   You gain experience doing plumbing work under the supervision of a licensed master plumber. That supervised work is what counts toward a journeyman license. [2]

2. 2

   Journeyman Plumber

   • 2,000 hours on the job
   • 1 year of experience
   • PSI computer exam: 100 scored questions (plus 20 pre-test) in two 2.5-hour parts; reference books allowed
   • Every 2 years; 4 CE hours per year

   Needs one year of full-time plumbing work (at least 2,000 hours) under a licensed master plumber, a signed affidavit from each master who supervised you, and a score of at least 70 on the exam. A journeyman works under the direction of a plumbing contractor and may not contract on their own. [2][4][6][8]

3. 3

   Master Plumber Class I (restricted)

   • 4 years of experience
   • PSI computer exam: 120 scored questions (plus 24 pre-test) in two 3.5-hour parts; closed book
   • Every 2 years; 4 CE hours per year

   Covers single-family homes, townhomes and multifamily buildings up to three stories, and commercial buildings up to 20,000 square feet. You need four years of full-time experience, three of them as a licensed journeyman (one, if you were licensed as a journeyman before March 1, 2025). [2][6][8]

4. 4

   Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted)

   • 5 years of experience
   • PSI computer exam: 140 scored questions (plus 28 pre-test) in two 3.5-hour parts; closed book
   • Every 2 years; 4 CE hours per year

   All plumbing work without limits, including commercial buildings of any size, industrial and multistory buildings. You need five years of full-time experience, four of them as a licensed journeyman (two, if you were licensed as a journeyman before March 1, 2025), and at least two years of work within the unrestricted scope. [2][6][8]

Who licenses plumbers in Georgia

The State Construction Industry Licensing Board has five divisions: conditioned air, electrical, low voltage, plumbing, and utility contractors. Plumbers are licensed by the Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers. Each division sets its own meeting dates and can pass rules for its own trade.

The board doesn't register plumbing companies. Only licensed master plumbers may have a plumbing business; journeymen may not. Under state law, a company doing plumbing must have a licensed Class I or Class II master plumber working with it full time, and only a licensed master may advertise as a plumbing contractor. [1][2][4]

The 2026 law change

In 2026 Georgia repealed and rewrote the law for electricians, plumbers, conditioned air, low voltage and utility contractors (Chapter 14 of Title 43 of the Georgia Code). The bill was Senate Bill 553, signed May 11, 2026 as Act 472, and it took effect July 1, 2026. It wrote the experience rules for each plumbing license into the law itself and widened the Class I master license.

The board's published rule (121-3-.02) and its FAQ had not been updated when we checked in October 2026. They still describe the old rules: one year of experience for a journeyman, five years with two as a journeyman for either master license, a Class I limit of 10,000 square feet, and three licensed plumbers as references. Where they differ from the new law, this page follows the law. Before you apply, confirm the current requirements with the Division through the Secretary of State's plumbers page or by calling (478) 207-1416. [2][3][4][5][6]

The three licenses

• Journeyman Plumber: one year of full-time plumbing work under a licensed master plumber. A journeyman works under the direction of a plumbing contractor.
• Master Plumber Class I (restricted): can do and contract for plumbing on single-family homes, townhomes and multifamily buildings (duplexes, hotels, motels and apartments) up to three stories, and commercial buildings up to 20,000 square feet. Needs four years of full-time experience, three of them as a licensed journeyman.
• Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted): all plumbing work, including commercial buildings of any size, industrial and institutional buildings and multistory structures. Needs five years of full-time experience, four of them as a licensed journeyman.

If you were licensed as a journeyman before March 1, 2025, you need only one of the four years as a journeyman for Class I, and two of the five years for Class II. For every license you must pass the exam with at least 70, pay the fees, and send a signed affidavit from each licensed master plumber who supervised your experience. [2]

What counts as experience

The law counts a year of full-time experience as at least 2,000 hours of qualifying work in a calendar year. For a journeyman license, the work must be done under the supervision of a licensed master plumber. It can include:

• installing, servicing or repairing water supply, drainage, waste and vent systems, fixtures, and fuel gas piping and gas appliances
• layout, pipe sizing, testing and troubleshooting, applying the plumbing codes
• safe work practices, such as trench safety, fall protection and lockout and tagout
• supporting work such as trenching, material handling, pipe supports and assisting licensed plumbers
• full-time work as an estimator or project manager for a master plumbing contractor

Master experience must also be supervised by a licensed master plumber. For Class I it must be within the Class I scope. For Class II, at least two years must be within the unrestricted scope, and the law lists supervising plumbing crews among the qualifying work.

The board's older rule also counted military plumbers (rank of at least 3rd class petty officer or E-4) and "secondary" experience such as plumbing maintenance for a county water department or work as a full-time plumbing inspector. Ask the Division whether that still counts under the new law. [2][5]

The exams

PSI gives the exams by computer at test centers around Georgia and in Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Florida, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. You test by appointment, Monday through Saturday.

• Journeyman: 100 scored questions plus 20 unscored pre-test questions, in two 2.5-hour parts (5 hours total). You may use the reference books during the exam.
• Master Class I: 120 scored questions plus 24 pre-test questions, in two 3.5-hour parts (7 hours total).
• Master Class II: 140 scored questions plus 28 pre-test questions, in two 3.5-hour parts (7 hours total).

Master exams are closed book. Since May 1, 2026, the exams have been based only on the 2024 Georgia Plumbing Code and the 2024 Georgia Gas Code, both with Georgia amendments. The passing score is a scaled 70. If you fail twice, you must complete a board-approved review course before your third try. [6][7]

Renewal and continuing education

Licenses are good for two years. You renew through your GOALS account by November 30 of even-numbered years. The late renewal period runs December 1 to 31.

You need 4 hours of continuing education (CE) for each year, 8 hours per renewal, and hours don't carry over to the next renewal. The board may audit you at random. If you apply to reinstate a license more than 3 years after it expired, the board's rule and application guide say you must pass the exam again. [2][4][8][9]

Union and technical college apprenticeships in Georgia

• Union: The United Association (UA) has plumbers and pipefitters locals in Atlanta, Augusta, Brunswick, Savannah and Jesup. The UA says its apprenticeships typically last five years, with pay raises as you progress.
• Technical colleges: Apprentice Georgia at the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) sponsors registered apprenticeships and provides classroom instruction through its colleges.
• Search: The U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Finder lists open apprenticeship positions by location.

[10][11][12][13]

If you're licensed in another state, or a veteran

The 2026 law lets the Division, at its discretion, license someone from a state with substantially equal requirements without an exam. You must have worked mainly under that license for at least the two years before you apply, and your state must give Georgia licensees the same privilege. The board's FAQ, though, says Georgia has no reciprocity with any other state for master or journeyman plumbers. Ask the Division before you count on it.

Current and former service members can apply for expedited journeyman plumber licensing based on a military specialty or certification that meets the requirements, generally within two years of discharge. Veterans who meet certain conditions can also get five to ten points added to their exam scores; send your DD 214 to the board's Exam Development and Testing Unit. Military spouses and service members within 24 months of retirement or 12 months of separation can get expedited processing. [2][4][6][14]

Steps to get licensed in Georgia

1. Get plumbing experience under a master plumber

   Work full time doing plumbing under a licensed Master Plumber Class I or Class II, through an apprenticeship or a plumbing company. Keep records: each master who supervised you must sign an affidavit confirming your experience. [2]

2. Apply online through GOALS

   Create an account in the Secretary of State's GOALS portal, choose the plumber license and pay the application fee. You'll need a secure and verifiable ID, an affidavit of citizenship or lawful presence, a background check and your experience documents. [2][4][9]

3. Get board approval and book the PSI exam

   After the board approves you, PSI contacts you to set up an account. You schedule at a PSI test center at the PSI Georgia page or by calling (855) 898-0711. [4][6]

4. Pass with a score of 70

   You need a scaled score of 70. If you fail twice, you must finish a board-approved review course before a third attempt. [6][7]

5. Renew every two years with CE

   Renew in GOALS by November 30 of even-numbered years. Complete 4 hours of continuing education for each year. [4][8]

Where to get the hours

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

• Union

  UA plumbers and pipefitters locals in Georgia

  The United Association (UA) lists locals in Atlanta (72), Augusta (150), Brunswick (177), Savannah (188) and Jesup (473). The UA says its apprenticeships typically last five years. [10][11]

• State program

  Apprentice Georgia (Technical College System of Georgia)

  The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and its colleges call themselves the state's largest network of registered apprenticeship sponsors. They also provide the classroom instruction. Each college has a named apprenticeship contact. [12]

• Other

  Apprenticeship.gov Apprenticeship Finder

  The U.S. Department of Labor's search tool for open apprenticeship positions by trade and location. [13]

Licensed in another state?

Questions people ask