Georgia Carpentry License Requirements (2026)

Georgia regulates residential and commercial carpentry through the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SLBGCRC) under O.C.G.A. §43-41-1 et seq. There is no stand-alone carpentry license. Carpenters who contract directly with owners for residential work over $2,500 must hold a Residential-Basic Contractor or Residential-Light Commercial Contractor license. Commercial work over $2,500 requires a General Contractor license. Sub-tier carpentry to a licensed prime is exempt below the threshold. The board administers PSI exams in Business and Law plus a trade exam, requires demonstration of net worth, and a felony-free background.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

The federal EPA Lead RRP Rule applies in every state — including Georgia — to renovation, repair, or painting that disturbs paint in housing built before 1978. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Oversight

Under Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) Title 43 Chapter 14 (electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low-voltage, utility); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121, Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (within the Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) (GA CILB) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. The Georgia CILB licenses electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low-voltage contractors, and utility contractors statewide. The Board adopts the National Electrical Code, International Plumbing Code, and International Mechanical Code by reference. General contractors are licensed by a separate body — the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SLBRGC).

Official portal: https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-construction-industry-licensing-board
Address: 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217
Phone: (478) 207-2440

Who May Apply

At a minimum the applicant has to be 21 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Georgia residency requirement.

Good moral character

Criminal history is reviewed case-by-case by the licensing authority.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Required Experience and Education

The applicant must document and verify at least Two years of construction experience for Residential-Basic; four years for Residential-Light Commercial; four years for General Contractor (or two years plus a four-year construction degree).. Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Notarized experience affidavits from licensed supervising contractors
W-2s, 1099s, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Apprenticeship completion certificate where applicable

Education substitution

Approved carpentry apprenticeship or accredited trade school coursework may substitute for part of the experience requirement.

Examination Requirements

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC under contract to SLBGCRC. All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

Georgia Business and Law — 50 questions, 130 minutes, passing score 70%
Residential or General Contractor trade exam — 110 questions, 330 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $200 application fee plus $86 per PSI exam part.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken after paying a new exam fee. Applications remain valid for one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

SLBGCRC requires Residential-Basic Contractors to maintain $300,000 GL. Residential-Light Commercial requires $500,000 GL. General Contractors require $500,000 GL.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory under O.C.G.A. §34-9-1 for any contractor with three or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

Residential-Basic requires net worth of $25,000. Residential-Light Commercial and General Contractor require net worth of $150,000 attested on a financial statement.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$172
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every 2 years)	$75

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Georgia Residential or General Contractor (Carpentry under Building classification) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $75. Biennial renewal on June 30 of even years. Late renewal incurs a $125 penalty.

Continuing education: Three hours of continuing education per year for Residential-Light Commercial and General Contractor licenses. None required for Residential-Basic.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Georgia Carpentry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

Georgia accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Florida	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity with DBPR CILB.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity with TBLC for the Building (BC) classification.
South Carolina	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity with SC LLR Contractor Board.

SLBGCRC accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination in lieu of the General Contractor trade exam. The Georgia Business and Law exam is still required.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Carpentry license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Document construction experience. Two to four years depending on classification.
Prepare a CPA-attested financial statement. Showing the required net worth.
Submit the SLBGCRC application. With $200 fee, references, and disclosures.
Pass the PSI Business and Law and trade exams. NASCLA waives the General trade exam.
File GL insurance and workers compensation. Per the SLBGCRC minimums.
Receive the contractor license number. Issued at the next board meeting.
Obtain local occupational tax certificates. For every Georgia city and county of operation.
Renew biennially by June 30 of even years. Submit renewal fee and current insurance.

Recommended References

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Georgia Edition — NASCLA. Primary Business and Law reference.
International Residential Code (Georgia-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Open-book at PSI for the residential trade exam.
O.C.G.A. Title 43 Chapter 41 and Rule 553 — State of Georgia. Licensing law and rules.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Georgia Carpentry application.

Wrong residential class

Performing light commercial framing under a Residential-Basic license is a board violation. Light commercial requires the Residential-Light Commercial endorsement.

Skipping the financial statement

Net worth attestation must be on file before issuance. Inflated statements trigger board investigation and revocation.

Lead RRP for pre-1978 trim

EPA RRP certification is federally required for carpentry that disturbs painted surfaces in pre-1978 dwellings.

Local business license

Each Georgia city and county still requires its own occupational tax certificate.

Felony disclosure

O.C.G.A. §43-41-6 requires disclosure of all criminal history. Failure to disclose is grounds for denial.

Document Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with GA CILB:

☐ SLBGCRC application with $200 fee
☐ Two to four years of construction experience documentation
☐ CPA-attested financial statement (net worth $25K to $150K)
☐ PSI Business and Law and trade exam pass certificates (or NASCLA card)
☐ Certificate of GL insurance per SLBGCRC minimums
☐ Workers compensation certificate (if 3+ employees)
☐ Local occupational tax certificates
☐ Felony history disclosure

Other Georgia Trade Licenses

If the Carpentry license is not the right fit, the following published Georgia trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Georgia issue a carpentry license?

No. Carpenters work under a Residential-Basic, Residential-Light Commercial, or General Contractor license, or as sub-tier carpenters to a licensed prime.

What is the project value threshold?

Georgia licensing applies to any contract over $2,500 with the owner. Sub-tier work to a licensed prime is exempt.

Does Georgia accept NASCLA?

Yes. SLBGCRC accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for the General Contractor trade exam. Business and Law is still required.

What net worth is required?

Residential-Basic: $25,000. Residential-Light Commercial and General Contractor: $150,000 attested on a financial statement.

How often does the license renew?

Every two years on June 30 of even years. Continuing education is required for some classifications.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-24 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-23