Contractor Licensing Requirements in Georgia

Georgia runs a statewide contractor licensing system, unlike states that leave licensing to individual counties or cities. Any residential or general contracting job worth $2,500 or more in combined labor and materials requires a state-issued license. Understanding which license class applies to your trade is the first step before you can legally bid, contract, or advertise construction work in the state.

Georgia’s Contractor Licensing System

Georgia contractors are licensed through the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, part of the Georgia Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards Division. This is a true statewide license — once issued, it’s valid in every Georgia county and municipality. The board requires a license for any residential or general contracting project totaling $2,500 or more in combined labor and materials costs.

License Classes in Georgia

• Residential-Basic Contractor — light residential construction and remodeling on one- and two-family homes
• Residential-Light Commercial Contractor — residential work plus light commercial buildings up to a specified size/height
• General Contractor — unrestricted commercial and residential construction of any size or value
• General Contractor-Limited Tier — commercial construction capped at a lower project-value threshold than the unrestricted General Contractor class

Exam & Experience Requirements

Applicants must pass both a trade/technical exam and a business and law exam, administered through the board’s exam vendor, PSI. Georgia also requires documented experience in the applicant’s trade classification, verified as part of the GOALS online application, along with proof of financial responsibility and a clean background check.

NASCLA Reciprocity

Georgia accepts the NASCLA (National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies) accredited exam in place of its own trade exam for the General Contractor classes, which is useful for contractors already NASCLA-certified from other participating states. You’ll still need to pass Georgia’s business and law exam and meet the state’s experience and application requirements.

Bonding & Insurance to Get Licensed

Georgia does not require a standard license surety bond for most contractor classifications, but applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility as part of the GOALS application. General liability and workers’ compensation coverage are commonly required to satisfy this and to bid on most projects — check current minimums separately.

For exact GL and workers’ comp dollar minimums required to get licensed, see Insurance Minimums to Get Licensed.

Reciprocity with Other States

Georgia has direct reciprocity agreements for the General Contractor license with states including Louisiana and Mississippi, typically requiring at least three years holding an equivalent license in that state. Georgia also participates in the NASCLA program, letting contractors licensed via the NASCLA accredited exam in other participating states apply that exam toward Georgia’s trade requirement.

Georgia Licensing Fees & Timeline

Penalties for Unlicensed Contracting

Under O.C.G.A. § 43-41-12, contracting without a required license is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 or up to three months imprisonment, or both, for each offense. Contracts between an owner and an unlicensed contractor for work requiring a license are also unenforceable by the unlicensed contractor.

Resources: Georgia Secretary of State — State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, Georgia Contractor License Verification (verify.sos.ga.gov), O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 41 — Residential and General Contractors

Frequently Asked Questions

Licensing fees, exact bond/insurance minimums, and processing times change periodically — always confirm current figures directly with the Georgia Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards Division before applying.