Georgia General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SLBRGC), within the Office of the Secretary of State, licenses general contractors statewide under the Residential and General Contractors Act (O.C.G.A. Title 43 Chapter 41). Georgia issues four contractor tiers: General Contractor (Unlimited), General Contractor — Limited Tier (capped at $500,000 per project and $1,500,000 aggregate), Residential — Light Commercial Contractor, and Residential — Basic Contractor. The Unlimited tier is the credential of record for any contractor that wants statewide commercial bidding authority.

Governing Authority

Under O.C.G.A. Title 43 Chapter 41 (Residential and General Contractors); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 553, Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SLBRGC) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. SLBRGC licenses and disciplines residential and general contractors statewide, adopts the International Residential Code and International Building Code by reference (with Georgia amendments), and conducts disciplinary proceedings. The Board meets monthly to vote on applications and complaints.

Official portal: https://sos.ga.gov/state-licensing-board-residential-and-commercial-general-contractors
Address: 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217
Phone: (478) 207-2440

Eligibility Requirements

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

SLBRGC conducts a fitness review on every applicant. Felony convictions and crimes involving moral turpitude are reviewed individually under O.C.G.A. §43-1-19.

Background investigation

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

Experience & Education Matrix

The applicant must document and verify at least four years of construction experience, of which at least two years must be in a supervisory capacity (project manager, superintendent, or equivalent) on commercial or large residential projects. 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 affidavits from at least three references attesting to the applicant's experience and character
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Project list documenting the dollar value, scope, and dates of qualifying projects
Construction-related college transcripts (a bachelor's degree may substitute for one year)

Education substitution

A bachelor's degree in construction management, architecture, or engineering may substitute for one of the four years. An associate degree in a construction-related field may substitute for six months.

Examination Structure

PSI Services LLC (under contract to SLBRGC); NASCLA Accredited Examination accepted runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

Business and Law — 60 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%
General Contractor Trade Examination (or NASCLA Commercial General Building exam) — 115 questions, 330 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.

Insurance & Financial Security

The cited state source set does not require a contractor license surety bond for this credential. Contractors should still confirm project-specific bond, permit-bond, or public-works bond requirements before bidding.

General liability

SLBRGC requires General Contractor (Unlimited) applicants to carry commercial general liability of at least $500,000 per occurrence. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000 with the owner named as additional insured.

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.

Additional financial requirements

SLBRGC requires General Contractor (Unlimited) applicants to submit a CPA-prepared financial statement showing a minimum net worth of $150,000.

Application and License Fees

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

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Georgia General Contractor (Unlimited Tier) every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $75. Georgia General Contractor licenses renew every two years on June 30 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: SLBRGC requires continuing education hours covering Georgia laws and rules each renewal cycle. Specific hour counts are set by Board rule.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is accepted by Georgia for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Florida	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal for active certified Florida General Contractors in good standing.
North Carolina	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal for active North Carolina General Contractors in good standing.
South Carolina	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal under written agreement.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal under written agreement.

SLBRGC accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors in lieu of the General Contractor Trade Examination. The Business and Law portion is still required.

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

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Document four years of construction experience. Include at least two years in a supervisory capacity. Compile the project list with dollar values and dates.
Prepare a CPA financial statement. A licensed Certified Public Accountant must prepare a financial statement showing minimum net worth of $150,000.
Submit the SLBRGC General Contractor application. File with the application fee, financial statement, three notarized references, and proof of insurance.
Submit electronic fingerprints. Use a SLBRGC-approved Livescan vendor for the GBI background check.
Pass the Business and Law and Trade examinations. Schedule the PSI examinations after SLBRGC approves the application. Score 70% on each part. The NASCLA Commercial General Building exam may substitute for the Trade portion.
Receive the General Contractor (Unlimited) license. SLBRGC issues the wallet card after the examinations are passed and all documentation is complete. The license must be renewed every two years.

Common Filing Mistakes

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Georgia General Contractor filing.

Underestimating the supervisory experience requirement

SLBRGC looks specifically for two years in a supervisory capacity such as project manager or superintendent. Pure field labor experience without supervisory responsibility does not qualify.

Submitting an unqualified financial statement

The financial statement must be prepared by a licensed CPA. Self-prepared or bookkeeper-prepared statements are rejected.

Missing the NASCLA substitution opportunity

Candidates who already hold the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building credential do NOT need to retake the Georgia Trade exam. Many out-of-state contractors apply to retake unnecessarily.

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 and have to retest.

Choosing the wrong tier

A Residential — Basic Contractor who builds a 4-story multifamily building is operating outside the licensed scope. Choose the highest tier appropriate to the work performed.

Study and Reference Materials

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

International Building Code (IBC), Georgia adopted edition — International Code Council / Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
O.C.G.A. Title 43 Chapter 41 and Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 553 — State of Georgia. Licensing law and rules.
NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Georgia edition — NASCLA. Standard reference for the Business and Law portion.
AIA A201 General Conditions of the Contract for Construction — American Institute of Architects. Tested on the trade portion.

Pre-Submission Checklist

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

☐ SLBRGC General Contractor Application with $200 fee
☐ CPA-prepared financial statement showing net worth of $150,000+
☐ Three notarized character and experience references
☐ Project list documenting four years of qualifying experience including two years supervisory
☐ Certificate of Insurance — $500,000 general liability minimum

Other Georgia Trade Licenses

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the four Georgia general contractor license tiers?

General Contractor (Unlimited) authorizes work on private, commercial, public, and other projects with no dollar limit. General Contractor — Limited Tier is capped at $500,000 per project and $1,500,000 aggregate. Residential — Light Commercial Contractor authorizes one- and two-family residences plus multifamily and light commercial up to three stories. Residential — Basic Contractor is limited to one- and two-family detached residences.

How many years of experience does Georgia require for a General Contractor license?

Four years of construction experience, of which at least two years must be in a supervisory capacity (project manager, superintendent, or equivalent). A bachelor's degree in construction management, architecture, or engineering substitutes for one year.

Does Georgia accept the NASCLA exam?

Yes. SLBRGC accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors in lieu of the General Contractor Trade Examination. The Business and Law portion is still required.

What is the financial statement requirement for a Georgia General Contractor license?

SLBRGC requires General Contractor (Unlimited) applicants to submit a CPA-prepared financial statement showing minimum net worth of $150,000. The Limited tier has a lower threshold.

How often does the Georgia General Contractor license renew?

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

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-18 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-17