Georgia Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026) | State Construction Industry Licensing Board

Georgia issues no standalone solar license. Solar PV is electrical work under O.C.G.A. §43-14 and requires a Georgia Electrical Contractor license from the State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors. Class I is restricted (single-phase, generally up to 200A / under 600V — adequate for many residential PV jobs); Class II is the Unrestricted license needed for service entrance work, panel replacements, and most commercial PV. Solar thermal hot water requires a Georgia Master Plumber. NABCEP PV Installation Professional is voluntary.

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

Board reviews criminal history under O.C.G.A. §43-14-8.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

At least four years of primary electrical experience under a licensed Georgia electrical contractor has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Experience affidavits signed by licensed Georgia electrical contractors
W-2 statements covering the qualifying period

Education substitution

Up to two years may be substituted with an electrical engineering or technology degree.

The Exam Syllabus

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC, breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Georgia Electrical Contractor Class I or II Examination — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 70%
Georgia Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $72 per part.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken individually after re-paying the fee.

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

No state minimum, but $500,000 commercial general liability is the de facto industry minimum.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under O.C.G.A. §34-9-1 et seq. for any business with three or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$30
Examination	$144
Initial license	$75
Renewal (every 2 years)	$75

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Georgia — No Standalone Solar License (Electrical Contractor Class I or Class II Unrestricted) runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $75. Licenses renew every two years on June 30 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: Four hours of approved continuing education each renewal cycle.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Georgia Solar 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	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) for active electrical contractors.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
South Carolina	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

Georgia maintains limited electrical contractor reciprocity (electrical credential only; verify directly with the board for solar scope) with several southeastern states.

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

The Application Roadmap

Document four years of primary electrical experience. Compile experience affidavits and payroll records.
Submit the Division of Electrical Contractors application. File with the $30 application fee.
Pass the trade and business and law exams at 70%. Both administered by PSI.
Receive the Class I or Class II Electrical Contractor license. Class I is restricted (single-phase, generally ≤200A/<600V); Class II is the Unrestricted license required for service entrances, panel swaps, and most commercial PV.
File a certificate of insurance. Most jurisdictions require $500K CGL minimum.
Earn NABCEP certification (optional but recommended). Voluntary in Georgia but expected by most utilities and incentive programs.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each Georgia jurisdiction requires local permits.

Pre-Application Checklist

Before submitting to GA CILB, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ Four years of documented primary electrical experience
☐ Division of Electrical Contractors application + $30 fee
☐ Pass Class I or II trade exam and business and law exam at 70%+
☐ $500K commercial general liability insurance (industry minimum)
☐ Workers' compensation coverage
☐ Local building and electrical permits per project
☐ NABCEP certification (recommended)

Where Applications Stall

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

Picking Class I for commercial work

Class I is restricted (≤200A/<600V single-phase). For service entrances, panel swaps, or three-phase commercial PV you need Class II Unrestricted.

Skipping local permits

State licensure does not exempt you from city/county building and electrical permits.

Letting workers compensation lapse

Mandatory for any business with three or more employees.

Confusing solar with general contractor scope

A Georgia General Contractor license does not authorize electrical work; you need the Electrical Contractor license.

Forgetting interconnection paperwork

Georgia Power requires a separate interconnection application for every grid-tied system.

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.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
Georgia Electrical Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.
O.C.G.A. §43-14 — State of Georgia. Statutory framework.

Other Georgia Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Georgia trades; the published ones are listed here:

Common Questions

Does Georgia have a solar license?

No. Solar PV is regulated as electrical work under the Class I or II Electrical Contractor license.

Class I or Class II?

Class II is the Unrestricted license — required for service entrances, panel replacements, and most commercial PV. Class I is restricted to single-phase work generally up to 200A and under 600V, adequate for many residential rooftop PV jobs.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in Georgia.

What about solar thermal?

Solar hot water is plumbing work and requires a Georgia Master Plumber license.

Does Georgia reciprocate?

Yes. Georgia maintains limited electrical contractor reciprocity (electrical credential only; verify directly with the board for solar scope) with Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-28 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-27