Georgia Contractor’s License Exam Prep

Getting licensed as a contractor in Georgia means passing one, sometimes two, open-book exams administered by PSI on behalf of the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors.

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Every Georgia contractor license – and the exam behind it.

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Georgia Construction Contractor Exam Prep Courses

NASCLA MULTI-STATE EXAM

Georgia NASCLA Commercial Building Contractor Exam

Full-scope commercial construction. Exam accepted in multiple states via NASCLA’s National Examination Database.

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RLC

Georgia Residential/Light Commercial Contractor Exam

Ground-up residential and light commercial: multifamily and light-commercial buildings under four stories.

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RB

Georgia Residential Basic Contractor Exam

Ground-up residential: new homes, additions, and accessory structures up to three stories.

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REQUIRED

Georgia Contractors Business & Law Exam

Required alongside every Georgia trade exam: licensing rules, contracts, and business law.

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Not sure which license fits?

Book a free 20-minute call with one of our licensing advisors. They’ve helped thousands of contractors figure out exactly where to start, from license class and experience requirements to which Georgia exam to take and which license fits your goals.

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Before You Buy

Do I qualify for a Georgia contractor license?

These are the questions GA contractors ask before they start studying.

View State Requirements

When is a license required?

A Georgia residential or general contractor’s license is required for any project — or combined labor and materials — valued at $2,500 or more (O.C.G.A. § 43-41-2).

Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and low-voltage work are licensed separately under Chapter 14 and can’t be performed under a residential or general contractor license.

What is a qualifying agent?

The Board issues licenses to business entities as well as individuals. For a company, the “qualifying agent” is the individual who passed the exam on the company’s behalf and holds final approval authority over its construction work.

If the qualifying agent leaves, the company must notify the Board within 30 days. Georgia law currently gives the company up to 180 days to appoint a replacement before the license goes inactive (O.C.G.A. § 43-41-9).

What if I have a criminal record?

The Board reviews applicants with a criminal history on a case-by-case basis under O.C.G.A. § 49-1-19. Full disclosure is mandatory, including dismissed, expunged, or first-offender cases.

Georgia runs an independent background check through the GBI. Failing to disclose is grounds for denial even when the underlying offense would not have been disqualifying on its own.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. Georgia’s General Contractor and General Contractor Limited Tier licenses use the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors as the trade exam. A passing score can be sent through NASCLA’s National Examination Database (NED) to any other participating state, so one passing score can count toward licensure in multiple jurisdictions.

  • Yes — Georgia doesn’t require a prep course before you sit for the exam. You do need Board pre-approval to register with PSI, and the exam is open book, so if you already have the approved reference materials and know your way around them, you can register directly. Most candidates still find a prep course faster than building that fluency on their own under a timer.

  • No. Unlike some states, Georgia doesn’t require a mandatory pre-license education course before you apply. What you do need is documented experience (two to four years, depending on the license) and Board pre-approval to sit for the exam.

  • PSI administers all four Georgia contractor exams by computer at testing centers around the state. Once the Board approves your application, PSI sends an eligibility notice and you register and schedule directly with them. Every exam is open book with a fixed time limit — bring your approved, tabbed references, since nothing else is provided at the testing center.

  • It depends on your license. Residential-Basic contractors need 3 hours of Georgia contractor CE per year (6 per renewal cycle); Residential-Light Commercial contractors need 6 hours per year (12 per renewal cycle). General Contractor and General Contractor Limited Tier licenses currently have no CE requirement. CE must be reported through CE Broker.

Not Sure Which Georgia License You Need?

Georgia issues four contractor classifications through the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors: Residential-Basic, Residential-Light Commercial, General Contractor, and General Contractor Limited Tier. Every classification also requires the Georgia Business & Law Exam. If you’re not sure which trade exam matches your scope of work, the Board’s license comparison chart breaks down the experience, financial, and insurance requirements for each — or reach out and we’ll help you find the right starting point.

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