- Residential-Basic: 2 years and two completed projects in the last 2 years. Residential-Light Commercial and General Contractor: 4 years in total from experience and college credit, or a degree plus 1 year. Applicants must be at least 21.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Every two years. Residential-Basic needs 3 hours of continuing education each year and Residential-Light Commercial 6 hours, and meeting CE is a condition for renewal.
Do you need a state license in Georgia?
Georgia licenses general contractor work at the state level through the Georgia Secretary of State, State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Contractors must get the local building permits and inspections for each job.
Georgia license types for general contractor work
Georgia splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential-Basic | Residential-basic category work |
| Residential-Light Commercial | Residential-light commercial category work |
| General Contractor, Limited Tier | General contracting on contracts of no more than $1,000,000 |
| General Contractor, Unlimited | General contracting with no tier limit |
Steps to get licensed in Georgia
- Pick the license: Residential-Basic, Residential-Light Commercial, General Contractor Limited Tier, or General Contractor.
- Document your experience and completed projects.
- Get general liability insurance and workers compensation coverage.
- Apply to the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors.
- Pass the board exam unless you qualify for an exemption.
- Renew every two years and keep up continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Residential-Basic: 2 years and two completed projects in the last 2 years. Residential-Light Commercial and General Contractor: 4 years in total from experience and college credit, or a degree plus 1 year. Applicants must be at least 21.
The license to apply for. Residential-Basic, Residential-Light Commercial, or General Contractor (Limited Tier or Unlimited).
Georgia general contractor exams
Trade exam. Yes. A board exam is required unless you qualify for an exemption under the law.
Business and law exam. The board exam also covers the laws on contracting, workers compensation, insurance, surety bonding and liens.
What it costs in Georgia
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: Georgia Secretary of State, State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors.
Insurance and bond
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. Check with the board for the General Contractor amount.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years. Residential-Basic needs 3 hours of continuing education each year and Residential-Light Commercial 6 hours, and meeting CE is a condition for renewal.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Georgia
- General Contractor applicants must affirm a net worth of at least $150,000. Limited tier applicants must affirm at least $25,000.
- A business contracts under its name through a licensed qualifying agent.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a contractor near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Georgia Secretary of State, State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.