Licensing Guides
State Contractor License: How to Become a General Contractor in Georgia
Contractor, GA
Table of Contents
Why Do You Need a Contractor License in Georgia?
How Can You Get a Contractor License in Georgia?
Types of Contractor Licenses in Georgia
What Are the Requirements of a Georgia Contractor License?
How Long Does It Take to Get a Contractor License in Georgia?
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Contractor License in Georgia?
Georgia Contractor License Training Programs and Schools
Does Georgia Reciprocate Contractor Licenses?
Do I Need to Renew my Contractor License in Georgia?
Are There Any Penalties for Contracting Without a License in Georgia?
We all need a place to live and work, and those buildings require upkeep and repair. They are often the biggest investments we make in our lives, and keeping them in good condition is essential. We count on professionals to know how to fix damage to or wear and tear on our homes and businesses. General contractors are typically the experts we rely on to help us with these repairs, and we need these men and women to know what they’re doing.
Many states require contractors to be licensed. Others simply require solid insurance to back up the essential work they perform. There are 520,900 construction managers and 1,599,800 construction laborers and helpers nationwide according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Georgia employs 6,850 managers and 22,280 laborers and helpers. The national number for managers is projected to grow 9% from 2023 to 2033 and 8% for laborers and helpers. In Georgia, according to CareerOneStop, the U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, the projected growth rate for laborers is nearly double the national number at 14%, and for managers it’s at 11%. If you’re thinking about becoming a contractor or you want a job in the field, you need to know the license requirements in your state or local jurisdiction. This guide will help you determine what you need before you get started.
Why Do You Need a Contractor License in Georgia?
A contractor license is necessary to perform most work legally in the state of Georgia. Georgia offers four license classifications for contractors: Residential Basic Contractor license, Residential Light Commercial Contractor license, General Contractor license, and General Contractor Limited Tier license.
Both the Residential Basic Contractor license and Residential Light Commercial Contractor license are required for any job exceeding $2,500. Residential Basic license holders may not perform commercial work. Residential Light Commercial license holders are permitted to do work on commercial buildings under four stories and less than 25,000 square feet. General contractors have no restrictions. Limited Tier Contractors can work on any project valued at less than $1 million.
All licenses are issued by the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, a division of the Georgia Secretary of State.
How Can You Get a Contractor License in Georgia?
The process for getting your license is spelled out on the state website FAQ page. The steps for each classification are roughly the same.
You must be at least 18 years of age. You must have either a Social Security number or an individual taxpayer identification number.
All license types require varying levels of work experience and/or education to qualify for licensure.
Residential Basic Contractors must acquire two years of on-the-job experience. Residential Light Commercial Contractors must provide documentation of a four-year degree from an accredited college or university in engineering, architecture, construction management, building construction, or related field, or four years of documented work experience in a related field and approved by the Board. Georgia General Contractors and General Contractor Limited Tier applicants must provide documentation of a four-year degree from an accredited college or university in engineering, architecture, construction management, building construction, or related field, or four years of documented work experience in a related field and approved by the Board.
Additionally, contractor license applicants must also provide proof of general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, pass the required examinations, and show financial responsibility by meeting a minimum net worth.
Types of Contractor Licenses in Georgia
There are four classifications for Contractors in Georgia.
Residential Light Commercial Contractor
General Contractor Limited Tier
The Residential Basic Contractor license is required for any type of residential construction or remodeling work valued over $2,500.
The Residential Light Commercial Contractor license is required for any type of residential or construction or remodeling work valued over $2,500, work on commercial buildings under four stories and less than 25,000 square feet.
The General Contractor license allows the holder to perform any type of commercial or residential work with no restrictions.
The General Contractor Limited Tier license allows the holder to perform any type of commercial or residential work valued up to $1 million.
Getting a general contractor license
There are two classifications for general contracting in Georgia. The General Contractor license allows the holder to legally perform commercial or residential contracting work of unlimited value, while Limited Tier Contractors can work on any project valued less than $1 million. The bottom line is that you need to be licensed to do any kind of initial residential or commercial construction, repair, or maintenance work in the state of Georgia.
APPLY FOR LICENSE: Once you’ve fulfilled the work experience requirements, you may apply for a Contractors License. There are currently two ways to complete this form:
Apply online in the Professional Licensing Portal
Mail the license application to the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors in Macon.
PAY APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE: The fee for the Contractor license is $200, plus a $5 processing fee. You must submit this payment and all required documents along with your license application via mail to the state licensing board. You can find the step-by-step guide here, along with the mailing address for where to send all of the forms.
TAKE LICENSING EXAM: All General Contractors in Georgia must pass the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors and the Georgia Business & Law Exam via PSI. Applicants have two attempts to pass the exams. If you don’t pass the exams on your second attempt, you must wait one year before retaking the contractor license exams. The Board suggests registering for an online exam prep course.
PROVIDE PROOF OF INSURANCE: All General Contractor and Limited Tier applicants must file evidence of workers' compensation insurance (with three or more employees) and proof of general liability insurance in a minimum amount of $500,000.
COMPLETE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK: As part of the application process, you must answer a question that states: “Have you ever been arrested, charged, convicted, or sentenced for any felony, misdemeanor, DUI, DWI, or other offense?” If you answer “yes,” you must include a written explanation of the offense along with dismissal/conviction documents including a judge’s signature, and a statement from a probation office explaining the status or completion of any probation/parole.
DEMONSTRATE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: General Contractors must affirm a minimum net worth of $150,000. Limited Tier Contractors must affirm a minimum net worth of $25,000.
Getting a residential license
The application process for the Residential Basic Contractor license and Residential Light Commercial Contractor licenses is roughly the same as earning a General Contractor license. You must demonstrate the required amount of work experience, and purchase workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance in the amount of $500,000 for the Residential Basic license and $300,000 for the Residential Light license.
Both licenses require you to demonstrate proof of financial responsibility by one of the following:
Minimum net worth of $25,000
Bank credit reference form
$25,000 surety bond
$25,000 line of credit letter
$25,000 letter of credit
There is a complete guide online that answers common questions about this process.
You can also consult our guides to getting your HVAC license, plumbing license, or electrical license in Georgia.
What Are the Requirements of a Georgia Contractor License?
The requirements for licensure as a contractor in Georgia are all intended to demonstrate that an individual who will be serving the public is properly prepared to do the job right. To that end there are age, knowledge/experience, and financial prerequisites.
You must be at least 18 years of age.
You must have either a Social Security number or an individual taxpayer identification number.
The application process for a General Contracting license includes the following steps:
Complete the General Contractor license application.
Include Qualifying Agent affidavit.
Provide documentation of a four-year degree from an accredited college or university in engineering, architecture, construction management, building construction, or related field, or four years of documented work experience in a related field and approved by the Board.
Provide proof of general liability insurance of at least $500,000.
Provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance if you have three or more employees.
Pass the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) exam and Georgia Business and Law exam.
Pay the $200 application fee and $5 processing fee.
Complete the following steps to apply for a General Contractor Limited Tier license.
Complete the General Contractor Limited Tier license application.
Include Qualifying Agent affidavit.
Provide documentation of a four-year degree from an accredited college or university in engineering, architecture, construction management, building construction, or related field, or four years of documented work experience in a related field and approved by the Board.
Provide proof of general liability insurance of at least $500,000.
Provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance if you have three or more employees.
Pass the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) exam and Business and Law exam.
Pay the $200 application fee and $5 processing fee.
Complete the following steps to apply for a Residential Basic Contractor license.
Complete the Residential Basic Contractor license application.
Include Qualifying Agent affidavit.
Provide documentation of two years of documented work experience in a related field and approved by the Board.
Provide documentation of the successful completion of at least two projects within the past four years.
Provide proof of general liability insurance of at least $300,000.
Provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance if you have three or more employees.
Pass the Residential Basic Contractor exam and Business and Law exam.
Pay the $200 application fee and $5 processing fee.
Complete the following steps to apply for the Residential Light Commercial license.
Complete the Residential Light Commercial license application.
Include Qualifying Agent affidavit.
Provide documentation of a four-year degree from an accredited college or university in engineering, architecture, construction management, building construction, or related field, or four years of documented work experience in a related field and approved by the Board.
Provide documentation of the successful completion of at least two projects within the past four years.
Provide proof of general liability insurance of at least $500,000.
Provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance if you have three or more employees.
Pass the NASCLA exam and Business and Law exam.
Pay the $200 application fee and $10 processing fee.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Contractor License in Georgia?
It will take a minimum of two years to qualify for the Residential Basic Contractor license and a minimum of four years to qualify for the three other contractor licenses in Georgia. You can earn the experience by working for a licensed contractor or earn a degree from an accredited university. Georgia considers community colleges to be accredited universities. If you choose on-the-job experience, you can earn money while you work.
What Business Owners Need to Know
Being efficient in the contracting world, no matter where you are in your licensing journey, takes work. ServiceTitan’s cloud-based, all-in-one contracting software gives workers and business owners in residential field service, commercial contracting, or new construction the technology they need to do the work efficiently, and the data they need to do it effectively.
ServiceTitan features:
SMS communications that keep customers informed about the technician’s visit.
Location-specific service history, including recorded calls, accessible from the mobile app.
Required forms that ensure every job is done right, driving consistency.
The ability to build multi-option proposals with photos, on-site, in minutes.
Sales presentations that make conversations with customers easier and drive the average ticket.
Mobile payment acceptance, eliminating lost checks and increasing cash flow.
To learn more, schedule a demo with a product expert today.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Contractor License in Georgia?
The application fee for all Georgia contractor licenses is $200, and there is also a $5 processing fee. You will also incur expenses for purchasing liability and workers’ compensation insurance. If you decide to earn a bachelor’s degree instead of gaining on-the-job experience costs will increase significantly.
There’s a $195 exam fee for the Business and Law exam and $130 fee for the NASCLA exam.
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Georgia Contractor License Training Programs and Schools
To recap, all contractor licenses except for the Georgia Residential Basic Contractor license require four years of work experience or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in engineering, architecture, construction management, building construction, or a related field.
There are many higher education options throughout the Peach Tree State that offer these types of programs. Each of the following schools offers a Construction Management Bachelor of Science degree.
There are also many Georgia community colleges throughout the state that offer Construction Management programs and Associate degree and certificate options. If you’re interested in completing an apprenticeship, you can find registered apprenticeship programs through the Apprentice Georgia program.
Does Georgia Reciprocate Contractor Licenses?
Yes! Georgia offers reciprocity for Unlimited General Contractors with the following states:
Louisiana
Mississippi
Georgia also offers reciprocity for Residential Basic Contractors with the following states:
Louisiana
Mississippi
South Carolina
Note: Georgia doesn’t offer reciprocity for the other two license classifications. The Georgia State Licensing Board recently paused acceptance of reciprocity applications for North Carolina and Tennessee.
To qualify for reciprocity, you must have held a license for at least three years, passed the required examination, and not been penalized for any violations. You still need to pass the Georgia Business and Law exam.
Do I Need to Renew my Contractor License in Georgia?
To keep your state-issued active license current, Georgia requires you to renew it before it expires every two years. Licenses must be renewed by June 30 on the renewal year to avoid a late penalty of $200. The standard renewal fee is $100. To process your renewal, log in to your account on the Georgia Online Licensing site.
Are There Any Penalties for Contracting Without a License in Georgia?
Yes. There are fines, criminal charges, and even possible jail time for contracting for a construction project without a license.
According to the Board, “If the board receives a complaint that substantiates unlicensed practice or the aiding and abetting of unlicensed practice, the board may in some cases proceed to a hearing for a Cease and Desist Order or refer the matter for criminal prosecution in the jurisdiction where the unlawful act took place.”
National Certifications
Other certifications can help you demonstrate your proficiency to potential employers and clients. There are many professional organizations that offer certification. These certifications are not required but can add to your marketability and therefore increase your opportunity to make more money.
Some of the top construction certifications are:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety Certificate
Construction Management Association of America Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP) Certified Safety Manager (CSM) certification
National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER)
Continuing Education
General Contractors aren’t required to complete continuing education. However, Residential Contractors must complete three hours of continuing education per year while Residential Light Commercial license holders must complete six hours of continuing education per year.
There are many ways to keep yourself current in regard to the technology put to use in construction, roofing, energy and environmental designs, efficiency standards, and more. For example, distributors want you to know about their company’s latest offerings and will often hold training sessions about new and changing equipment and parts. Another option is the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), which provides continuing education courses.
Resources
You can stay up to date on contracting industry news several ways:
Check top blogs, including ServiceTitan’s blog.
Read about the latest industry trends, and discover ideas on how to grow your business.
Listen to top podcasts like ServiceTitan’s “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast.
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive business software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and achieve growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000 contractors across the country.
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