- Master Plumber: at least five years of plumbing experience, with at least two of those years licensed as a Journeyman Plumber. Class II also needs commercial or industrial plumbing experience. Journeyman: at least one year of plumbing experience.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every two years. Renew online by November 30 of even numbered years, with a late period from December 1 to 31. You need 4 hours of continuing education each year, 8 hours per renewal.
Do you need a state license in Georgia?
Georgia licenses plumbing work at the state level through the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Georgia license types for plumbing work
Georgia splits the work into 3 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 |
|---|---|
| Class I Master Plumber | Single family homes, one level two family homes, and commercial buildings up to 10,000 square feet |
| Class II Master Plumber | No restrictions |
| Journeyman Plumber | Needs at least 1 year of plumbing experience |
Steps to get licensed in Georgia
- Get at least one year of plumbing experience and your Journeyman Plumber license.
- Work at least two years as a licensed journeyman, for five years of plumbing experience in total.
- Apply in the GOALS portal with three plumber references, a background check and the fee.
- Once approved, register with PSI and pass the exam with a score of at least 70.
- Renew online by November 30 of each even numbered year with 8 hours of continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master Plumber: at least five years of plumbing experience, with at least two of those years licensed as a Journeyman Plumber. Class II also needs commercial or industrial plumbing experience. Journeyman: at least one year of plumbing experience.
The license to apply for. Master Plumber, Class II (unrestricted) or Class I (restricted).
Georgia plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. After the board approves you, you take the exam through PSI and need a score of at least 70. If you fail twice, you must finish a board approved review course before a third try.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
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 State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
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. Renew online by November 30 of even numbered years, with a late period from December 1 to 31. You need 4 hours of continuing education each year, 8 hours per renewal.
Reciprocity. Georgia has no reciprocity with any other state for Master or Journeyman Plumbers.
Good to know in Georgia
- Only licensed Master Plumbers may have a plumbing business, not journeymen.
- The licensing board does not register plumbing companies.
- You need three references who are licensed plumbers. For Class II, at least two must be Master Plumbers.
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 plumber 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 State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how plumbing companies run on Koira.