Georgia Electrical Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) Division of Electrical Contractors licenses electrical contractors statewide under O.C.G.A. Title 43 Chapter 14. Georgia issues two electrical contractor classes — Class I (Restricted), which is limited to single-phase residential work and three-phase work up to 200 amps, and Class II (Unrestricted), which authorizes any electrical work with no amperage or voltage limit. Class II is the credential of record for any electrical business that wants to perform commercial or industrial work in Georgia.

Regulatory Body Profile

Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (within the Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) (GA CILB) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license 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. 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

The Eligibility Audit

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 21 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No Georgia residency requirement.

Good moral character

CILB conducts a fitness review on every applicant. Felony convictions are reviewed individually under O.C.G.A. §43-1-19.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history background check via the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Experience and Education Standards

The experience bar is four years of practical experience installing electrical wiring, with at least one year as a primary decision maker or supervisor on electrical projects, and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Notarized employment affidavit signed by each supervising electrical contractor
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Approved electrical apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)

Education substitution

Georgia allows accredited electrical engineering technology degrees to substitute for up to two years of the four-year experience requirement.

The Exam Syllabus

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to CILB), breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Business and Law — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
Electrical Contractor Trade Examination — National Electrical Code, Georgia electrical law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $110 per part, paid to PSI on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually by paying a new $110 fee. Each passed part remains valid for two years.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

CILB requires Class II Electrical Contractor applicants to carry commercial general liability of at least $500,000 per occurrence. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Georgia under O.C.G.A. §34-9-2 for any business with three or more employees.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$220
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every 2 years)	$75

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Georgia Electrical Contractor (Class I or Class II) runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $75. Georgia Electrical Contractor licenses renew every two years on June 30 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: Four hours of CILB-approved continuing education annually, covering NEC updates and Georgia electrical law.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Georgia does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Alabama	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–Alabama reciprocity for active electrical contractors.
Florida	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–Florida reciprocity for active certified electrical contractors.
Louisiana	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–Louisiana reciprocity for active electrical contractors.
North Carolina	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–North Carolina reciprocity for active electrical contractors.
South Carolina	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–South Carolina reciprocity for active electrical contractors.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–Tennessee reciprocity for active electrical contractors.

NASCLA does not administer an electrical examination. Georgia maintains an extensive set of bilateral electrical reciprocity agreements with neighboring southeastern states.

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

The Application Roadmap

Choose Class I or Class II. Class I (Restricted) is limited to single-phase residential and three-phase work up to 200 amps. Class II (Unrestricted) authorizes any electrical work.
Document four years of qualifying electrical experience. Include at least one year as a primary decision maker or supervisor.
Submit the CILB Electrical Contractor application. File with the application fee, notarized employment affidavits, and proof of insurance.
Submit electronic fingerprints. GBI background check via a CILB-approved Livescan vendor.
Pass the Business and Law and Trade examinations. Schedule PSI exams after CILB approves the application. Score 70% on each part.
Receive the Electrical Contractor license. CILB issues the wallet card after the exams are passed and all documentation is complete.

Where Applications Stall

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Georgia Electrician application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Choosing the wrong class

A Class I contractor who installs a 400-amp three-phase service is operating outside the scope of the license. Estimate the largest service likely to be installed and select Class II if any commercial or industrial work is anticipated.

Skipping the supervisory year

CILB requires at least one year of experience as a primary decision maker or supervisor on electrical projects. Pure field labor without supervisory responsibility does not qualify.

Letting exam parts expire

Each passed exam part is valid for only two years. Candidates who pass Business and Law early and then delay the Trade exam can lose credit.

Missing the bilateral reciprocity opportunity

Active electrical contractors from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee may apply via reciprocity without retaking the Trade exam. Many out-of-state contractors apply to retest unnecessarily.

Forgetting annual continuing education

Georgia requires four hours of CE annually, not just every two years at renewal. Failure to complete the annual CE delays renewal.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to GA CILB:

☐ CILB Electrical Contractor application with $200 fee
☐ Notarized employment affidavits totaling four years of qualifying experience
☐ GBI background check via Livescan
☐ Certificate of Insurance — $500,000 general liability minimum
☐ PSI Business and Law and Trade exam pass certificates (70%+ each)

Recommended Study Materials

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), current adopted edition — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
O.C.G.A. Title 43 Chapter 14 and Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121 — State of Georgia. Licensing law and rules.
Tom Henry Master Electrician Exam Prep — Tom Henry Books. Widely used by Georgia applicants for NEC calculation problems.

Other Georgia Trade Licenses

For a different Georgia credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Common Questions

What is the difference between Georgia Class I and Class II Electrical Contractor?

Class I (Restricted) is limited to single-phase residential and three-phase work up to 200 amps. Class II (Unrestricted) authorizes any electrical work with no amperage or voltage limit. Class II carries the same fees but is required for commercial and industrial work.

How many years of experience does Georgia require for an Electrical Contractor license?

Four years of practical experience installing electrical wiring, with at least one year as a primary decision maker or supervisor. Up to two years may be substituted with accredited electrical engineering technology degree credit.

Does Georgia reciprocate electrical contractor credentials?

Yes. Georgia maintains bilateral electrical reciprocity agreements with Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Active electrical contractors in good standing in those states may apply for the Georgia credential without retaking the Trade exam.

How often does the Georgia Electrical Contractor license renew?

Every two years on a fixed cycle ending June 30 of even-numbered years. Renewal requires the standard fee plus four hours of CILB-approved continuing education annually.

What insurance does a Georgia Electrical Contractor need?

CILB requires Class II Electrical Contractor applicants to carry commercial general liability of at least $500,000 per occurrence. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000. Workers compensation is required for any business with three or more employees.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-02 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-31