Georgia Contractor License Requirements & Application Help
Georgia licenses Residential and General Contractors through the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SLBRGC), part of the Secretary of State's Professional Licensing Boards Division. Trade divisions — electrical, plumbing, conditioned air (HVAC), and low-voltage — are licensed separately under their own boards. Any project over $2,500 triggers the licensing requirement.
Contractor Licensing Inc. helps you navigate Georgia's licensing process, exam scheduling, and financial responsibility requirements so you can get licensed faster and stay compliant.
Who Needs a License, and Who Qualifies
Under O.C.G.A. § 43-41-17, any prime contractor or subcontractor performing work valued over $2,500 (labor and materials combined) must hold the appropriate SLBRGC license. Applicants must be at least 21 years old — higher than the 18-year minimum most states use — hold a valid Social Security Number, and pass a mandatory Georgia Bureau of Investigation criminal history background check.
- Residential Basic: 2 years of experience plus 2 completed projects in the prior 2 years
- Residential Light Commercial & GC (both tiers): 4 years of construction experience, with at least 2 years working under or with a licensed general contractor
- Degree substitution: a bachelor's degree in construction management, architecture, engineering, or a related field from an accredited university can substitute for up to 1 year of the experience requirement
Effective January 1, 2026, Georgia began requiring continuing education for license renewal — check the SLBRGC FAQ page on the GOALS portal for approved CE providers and hour requirements.
Georgia Construction License Categories
Residential Basic
Builds or remodels one- and two-family dwellings. Requires experience, exam, insurance, and financial responsibility.
Residential Light Commercial
Covers Residential Basic scope plus certain light commercial projects. Higher insurance minimum than Basic.
General Contractor — Limited Tier
Commercial building work, capped at contracts of $1,000,000 or less. $25,000 net worth requirement.
General Contractor — Unlimited
No contract value cap. Requires $150,000 CPA-attested net worth plus a $50,000 line of credit.
State Trade Licensing (Construction Industry Licensing Board)
Electrical Contractors
Class I/II statewide licensing with qualifying experience per board rules.
Plumbers (Master/Journeyman)
State licensing for plumbing; experience and exam required.
Conditioned Air (HVAC)
State licensing for HVAC contractors; applications and renewals via the GOALS portal.
Low-Voltage Contractors
State licensing for communications, alarm, and other low-voltage work.
Georgia Accepts the NASCLA Exam
Georgia's General Contractor exam is the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor exam — confirmed directly on the SLBRGC's own application form, which asks whether you'll be submitting a NASCLA transcript. This applies to GC Unlimited, GC Limited Tier, and Residential Light Commercial classifications.
If you already hold a passing NASCLA score, you do not need to retake the Georgia trade exam — you still must pass Georgia's separate Business & Law exam and meet all financial/insurance requirements. A passing NASCLA score also carries to the other 16 participating jurisdictions: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Net Worth, Bond & Insurance by Tier
Georgia doesn't require a mandatory statewide bond for every applicant — instead, most tiers let you choose among several financial responsibility options.
| Classification | Financial Responsibility | General Liability Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Basic | $25,000 net worth, bond, bank credit reference (24 mo.), line of credit, or letter of credit | $300,000 per occurrence |
| Residential Light Commercial | Same $25,000 options as Residential Basic | $500,000 per occurrence |
| GC — Limited Tier | $25,000 net worth affirmation (contracts capped at $1M) | $500,000 per occurrence |
| GC — Unlimited | $150,000 CPA-attested net worth + $50,000 line of credit | $500,000 per occurrence |
Workers' compensation insurance is required for any Georgia contractor with 3 or more employees.
Georgia Contractor License Reciprocity
Reciprocity can waive the Georgia trade exam, but you must still pass the Georgia Business & Law exam and meet all insurance and financial requirements.
Residential — Basic (Qualifying Agent)
- Louisiana — Residential Building Contractor
- Mississippi — Residential Building Contractor
- South Carolina — Residential Builder
General Contractor — Commercial (Individual)
- Louisiana — Commercial "Building Construction"
- Mississippi — Commercial "Building Construction"
- North Carolina — Commercial "Building"
- Tennessee — Commercial "Building"
Georgia Contractor License FAQ
Do I need a contractor license in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia requires a state contractor license from the SLBRGC for any residential or general contracting project valued over $2,500. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC (Conditioned Air), and low-voltage trades require their own state licenses regardless of project value.
What are the Georgia contractor license classifications?
Four classifications: Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, General Contractor Limited Tier (capped at $1,000,000 per contract), and General Contractor Unlimited (no cap).
Does Georgia accept the NASCLA exam?
Yes — Georgia's trade exam for GC Unlimited, GC Limited Tier, and Residential Light Commercial is the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor exam. A passing NASCLA score means you skip the Georgia trade exam, but you still must pass the separate Business and Law exam.
How much experience do I need?
Most classifications require 4 years of construction experience with at least 2 years under a licensed GC. A relevant bachelor's degree can substitute for up to 1 year. Residential Basic only requires 2 years plus 2 completed projects.
What's the minimum age to apply?
21 years old — higher than the 18-year minimum most states require.
How much does a Georgia contractor license cost?
The SLBRGC application fee runs around $300, plus separate fees for the Business and Law exam and the trade/NASCLA exam. Confirm current fees on the GOALS portal, since they're periodically adjusted.
Does Georgia require a contractor license bond?
Not a single mandatory bond for everyone. Residential Basic and Residential Light Commercial applicants can satisfy financial responsibility with a $25,000 bond, net worth affirmation, bank credit reference, line of credit, or letter of credit. GC Unlimited instead needs $150,000 CPA-attested net worth plus a $50,000 line of credit. Cities and counties may add their own local bond requirement.
How long does the process take?
SLBRGC typically processes complete applications in 4–6 weeks. If you already meet the experience requirement and pass your exams, you could be licensed in 2–3 months. Building experience from scratch can take 2–5 years.
What is the GOALS portal?
GOALS (Georgia Online Application and License System) is Georgia's contractor licensing portal, launched November 2025. All applications, renewals, and license lookups now go through GOALS at sos.ga.gov — paper applications are no longer accepted.
Georgia Contractor License Bonds
| Bond | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential & General Contractors (financial responsibility alternative) | $25,000 | Apply Now |
| Environmental Drillers or Contractors | $10,000 | Apply Now |
| Water Well Contractor (Dept. of Environmental Protection) | $30,000 | Apply Now |
| Nonresident Contractor's Performance Tax | Varies | Apply Now |
| Nonresident Subcontractor Sales & Use Tax | Varies | Apply Now |
| Subcontractor Sales & Use Tax | Varies | Apply Now |
| Pesticide Contractor | Varies | Apply Now |
Many Georgia cities and counties also require their own local contractor bond in addition to (or instead of) state financial responsibility.
View all 33 Georgia local & county bonds
| Jurisdiction | Trade | Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Augusta-Richmond County | Contractor License | Varies | Apply Now |
| City of Douglasville | Contractor's Code Compliance | Varies | Apply Now |
| City of East Point | General Contractor | $25,000 | Apply Now |
| City of East Point | Tradesman Contractor | $10,000 | Apply Now |
| City of Grovetown | Commercial General Contractor | $20,000 | Apply Now |
| City of Grovetown | Contractor License | $5,000 | Apply Now |
| City of Grovetown | Electrical, Plumber & HVAC Contractor License | $1,000 | Apply Now |
| City of Grovetown | Residential General Contractor | $15,000 | Apply Now |
| City of Harlem | Commercial General Contractor | $20,000 | Apply Now |
| City of Harlem | Plumbing, Electrical or Mechanical Contractor License | $1,000 | Apply Now |
| City of Harlem | Residential General Contractor | $15,000 | Apply Now |
| City of Harlem | Specialty Contractor | $5,000 | Apply Now |
| City of Lincolnton | Contractor License | Varies | Apply Now |
| City of Smyrna | Contractor Code Compliance | $15,000 | Apply Now |
| Clayton County | Contractor Code Compliance | $10,000 | Apply Now |
| Cobb County | Contractor Code Compliance | $10,000 | Apply Now |
| Columbia County | General Contractor | $20,000 | Apply Now |
| Columbia County | HVAC Contractor | $15,000 | Apply Now |
| Columbia County | Residential Contractor | $15,000 | Apply Now |
| Columbia County | Specialty Contractor | $5,000 | Apply Now |
| Cordele- Building Contractor ($5,000) | $5,000 | Apply Now | |
| Gwinnett County | Contractor's Building Code Compliance | $25,000 | Apply Now |
| Hall County | Mobile Home Set Up Contractor | $10,000 | Apply Now |
| Hall County | Septic Tank Contractor | $10,000 | Apply Now |
| Lincoln County | Contractor License | $15,000 | Apply Now |
| Macon-Bibb County | Septic Tank Contractor | $10,000 | Apply Now |
| McDuffie County | Contractor License | Varies | Apply Now |
| Monroe County | Septic Tank Contractor | $10,000 | Apply Now |
| Thomas County | Electrical Contractor | $5,000 | Apply Now |
| Thomas County | Heating and Air Contractor | $5,000 | Apply Now |
| Valdosta | Auto Sprinkler Contractor | $2,000 | Apply Now |
| Valdosta | Low Voltage Contractor | $2,000 | Apply Now |
| Valdosta | Mechanical Contractor | $2,000 | Apply Now |
Ready to Get Your Georgia Contractor License?
We handle classification selection, NASCLA/Business & Law exam scheduling, financial responsibility documentation, bonds, and insurance — start to finish.
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