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General Contractor
Total cost: $300
Governing Authority
Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors
Official website →Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
Yes
License Required?
2–4 depending on license type years
Experience Required
Yes
Bonding Required?
$300
Total Initial Fees
Renewal by June 30 of even-numbered years; late renewal July 1–July 31. Processed online via GOALS portal.
Renewal Period
None
CE Hours
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1-2 family residences, townhomes under 4 stories. Requires 2 years experience + 2 completed projects. $25,000 net worth. $300,000 GL insurance.
Project Limit
Projects over $2,500 (labor + materials)
Description
Commercial projects up to $1,000,000. Requires 4 years experience (or 4-year degree + 1 year). $25,000 net worth. $500,000 GL insurance.
Project Limit
Commercial projects ≤ $1,000,000
Description
Must affirm minimum net worth of $150,000 (per official comparison chart). GL insurance amount unverified from fetched content.
Project Limit
No restrictions
Description
Multi-family and mixed-use structures under 4 stories. Requires 4 years experience (or 4-year degree + 1 year). $25,000 net worth. $500,000 GL insurance.
Project Limit
Multi-family/mixed-use under 4 stories
Experience & Documentation
Verified2–4 depending on license type
Years Required
Required
Documented Project History
Journeyman/Trade Experience
Residential Basic: 2 years + 2 completed projects. All other types: 4 years (or 4-year degree + 1 year experience).
Alternative Pathways (Education Substitutions)
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Trade Exam
Required
Business & Law Exam
Exam Provider
PSI
Passing Score
70%
Open Book
Yes
Trade Exam Details
NASCLA Commercial General Building Exam: 125 questions (115 scored), 5.5 hours, open book, 70% passing, $130 fee. NASCLA accepted for GC Unlimited and Residential Light Commercial.
Business & Law Exam Details
Georgia Business and Law Exam: 50 questions, 120 minutes, open book, 70% passing, $195 fee. Provider: PSI Exams (Atlanta, Macon, Tifton locations).
Retake Policy
2 attempts within 1 year. After 2 failures, must complete Board-approved review course before retesting.
Overall licensing difficulty: 15/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
Practice with realistic exam questions
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
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General Contractor Licensing Exam
Passing Score
70%
Administered By
PSI
How long should you study? Most candidates study 2–4 weeks before taking the General Contractor Licensing Exam.
Study Materials & Exam Prep — Contractor's License Exam
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Bonding Requirements
VerifiedSurety Bond Required
$25,000
Surety Bond Amount
Bond Types
Surety bonds protect consumers by providing financial recourse if a contractor fails to complete a project or violates licensing regulations. Bond costs are typically 1-3% of the bond amount annually.
Insurance & Workers' Comp
VerifiedRequired
General Liability
Required
Workers' Compensation
Minimum Coverage
Residential Basic: $300,000 per occurrence. Residential Light Commercial, GC Limited Tier, GC Unlimited: $500,000 per occurrence.
Additional Insurance Requirements
Workers' Comp Threshold
Required if you have 3 or more employees
Workers' Comp Details
Georgia requires workers' compensation insurance for employers with 3 or more employees. Sole proprietors may be exempt but coverage is recommended.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Sources conflict: $120–$300 reported. Fee may vary by license type and may have changed with Nov 2025 GOALS portal launch. Verify at sos.ga.gov GOALS portal. | $100 |
Exam Fee $195 (B&L) + $130 (NASCLA trade exam) | $325 |
License Fee | $100 |
Renewal Fee Per 2 years | $100 |
Total Initial Fees Approximate total of application, exam, and license fees. All fees are uniformly $100 which may be placeholder data - verify. | $300 |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
VerifiedRenewal by June 30 of even-numbered years; late renewal July 1–July 31. Processed online via GOALS portal.
Renewal Period
—
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$100
Regulatory Board
Contractor licenses must be renewed on schedule. Many states require continuing education covering building codes, safety practices, business law, and energy efficiency standards.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
ICC Certification Not Accepted
Reciprocity Type
Limited reciprocity
Transfer Details
Reciprocity with Louisiana (GC Unlimited + Residential Basic), Mississippi (most types), South Carolina (residential qualifying agent only). All reciprocity applicants must still pass the Georgia Business and Law exam.
General contractor license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states recognize ICC certifications, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials. Always verify current policies with the state licensing board.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Georgia with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Georgia is unusual in requiring applicants to be 21 years old (not 18). The state offers 5 ways to demonstrate financial responsibility and has 4 distinct license classifications. All applications now processed through the GOALS portal (launched November 2025).
Georgia requires a state contractor license for any project over $2,500. Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors oversees licensing.
GOALS portal launched November 2025 — all applications now processed through sos.ga.gov GOALS portal.
License classifications: Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, GC Limited Tier, GC Unlimited.
Workers' compensation insurance is required in Georgia for 3 or more employees.
Study material: NASCLA Contractors Guide — Georgia Edition, 3rd Edition.
All paper applications are no longer accepted and will be returned to sender.
All applications must be submitted via GOALS portal.
Lien Law Basics
Preliminary Notice: Required
Lien Deadline: 90 days after completion
Georgia construction lien law: Preliminary notice is required to preserve lien rights. Lien filing deadline: 90 days after completion.
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Official Sources
General Contractor requirements in Georgia verified against Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, March 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-22
General Contractor Schools in Georgia
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.