How to get a general contractor license in Georgia
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors, Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Boards Division licenses general contractors in Georgia. A residential contractor license is required where the value of the job or the contractor's pay, whichever is higher, exceeds $2,500.
Who licenses general contractor work in Georgia
| Credential | State license |
|---|---|
| Board | State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors, Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Boards Division official statement |
| Official lookup | Search general contractor licenses |
| When a license is needed | A residential contractor license is required where the value of the job or the contractor's pay, whichever is higher, exceeds $2,500. source |
| License types | Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, Commercial General Contractor, Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier |
How to get licensed
- Apply to State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors for a credential such as Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial or Commercial General Contractor.
- Applicants must pass an examination prepared or approved by the appropriate division. source
- Experience: 2 years (Residential Basic: at least two years of verifiable experience with a licensed residential contractor; Commercial General Contractor and Residential Light Commercial generally four year). source
- Carry general liability of at least $300,000 for Residential Basic and $500,000 for Residential Light Commercial, plus workers' compensation as state law requires (rule text read through a summarizing fetch; rules.sos.ga.gov returns 403 to curl, so the quote is not confirmed verbatim). source
- Licenses renew every two years. source
General contractor requirements in Georgia
| Exam | Applicants must pass an examination prepared or approved by the appropriate division. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | 2 years (Residential Basic: at least two years of verifiable experience with a licensed residential contractor; Commercial General Contractor and Residential Light Commercial generally four year). source |
| Bond | Contractor license bond not found on an official source. |
| Insurance | General liability of at least $300,000 for Residential Basic and $500,000 for Residential Light Commercial, plus workers' compensation as state law requires (rule text read through a summarizing fetch; rules.sos.ga.gov returns 403 to curl, so the quote is not confirmed verbatim). source |
| Renewal | Licenses renew every two year. source |
| Reciprocity | Reciprocity is available by board regulation with states whose requirements are substantially equal; Georgia's partner states were not read on an official source. source |
| Fees |
|
Hiring a general contractor?
See every official lookup in Georgia, which board covers which trade, and what to check before you hire.
Questions
- Do you need a general contractor license in Georgia?
- State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors, Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Boards Division licenses general contractors in Georgia. A residential contractor license is required where the value of the job or the contractor's pay, whichever is higher, exceeds $2,500.
- How do I check a general contractor license in Georgia?
- The State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors, Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Boards Division keeps the record for general contractors in Georgia. Use the official lookup on this page, and treat the board's own record as final.
- How much does a general contractor license cost in Georgia?
- PSI exam fee of $72 for the Residential Basic individual exam. PSI exam fee of $60 for the Business and Law exam. PSI exam fee of $106 for the Commercial General Contractor individual exam (NASCLA).
- How much experience do you need for a general contractor license in Georgia?
- 2 years (Residential Basic: at least two years of verifiable experience with a licensed residential contractor; Commercial General Contractor and Residential Light Commercial generally four year).
- How often does a general contractor license renew in Georgia?
- Licenses renew every two years.
Other trades in Georgia
- Electrical license in Georgia
- Plumbing license in Georgia
- HVAC license in Georgia
- Roofing license in Georgia
- All Georgia trades
General contractor license in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- https://sos.ga.gov/state-licensing-board-residential-and-commercial-general-contractors
- https://goals.sos.ga.gov/GASOSOneStop/s/licensee-search
- https://gov.georgia.gov/document/2024-signed-legislation/sb-503/download
- https://gov.georgia.gov/document/2025-signed-legislation/hb-635/download
- https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/553-3
- https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/971
This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.