Georgia Contractor License Exam Prep

Georgia's contractor licensing runs through the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors. The board offers residential licenses (Residential-Basic and Residential-Light Commercial) and general contractor licenses (unlimited and Limited Tier), each with its own experience and financial requirements. Licensing exams are delivered by PSI in two parts: a trade exam and the Georgia Business and Law exam. Commercial general contractor candidates take the NASCLA-accredited commercial GC exam as the trade portion.

Financial responsibility is a defining feature of Georgia's system. The unlimited general contractor license requires a minimum net worth of $150,000, the Limited Tier requires $25,000, and the residential division accepts alternatives such as a $25,000 line of credit, surety bond, or net worth. Building codes in Georgia follow the IBC/IRC-based Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes, with new editions and 2026 Georgia Amendments effective January 1, 2026.

The Georgia board issues these contractor license types:

• Residential-Basic Contractor - Detached one- and two-family residences and one-family townhouses.
• Residential-Light Commercial Contractor - Residential-basic scope plus multifamily and lighter commercial buildings.
• General Contractor - Unlimited commercial and residential contracting.
• General Contractor Limited Tier - General contracting with a reduced net worth requirement and a per-project cap (the current cap varies; confirm with the board).

Georgia contractor exams are administered by PSI in two parts: a trade exam and the Georgia Business and Law exam. Commercial general contractor candidates take the NASCLA-accredited commercial GC exam for the trade portion, which other NASCLA states can accept later. Board approval is required before scheduling. Contact PSI or the board for current question counts, time limits, and approved reference lists.

Passing requirements are set by the board and the exam provider and can differ by exam. Confirm the current passing score for your specific trade exam and the Georgia Business and Law exam with PSI or the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors before test day.

Typical qualification paths in Georgia include:

• Residential-Basic: at least 2 years of proven experience predominantly in the residential-basic category, with significant responsibility for at least 2 completed projects in the 2 years before applying.
• General Contractor: a 4-year degree in engineering, architecture, construction management, or similar plus 1 year of experience, or an acceptable combination of college credit and practical experience totaling 4 years; at least 4 years of active construction-industry experience overall, at least 2 as or with a general contractor.
• Financial responsibility: $150,000 minimum net worth for general contractor, $25,000 for Limited Tier; the residential division accepts a bank credit reference, a $25,000 line of credit, a $25,000 surety bond, or $25,000 net worth.
• Applications go through the GOALS portal; paper applications are no longer accepted.

Requirements can change. Always confirm current licensing rules with the official state or local licensing authority before applying.

The application fee is $210 (nonrefundable), submitted with the GOALS application per the board's how-to guide. Exam fees are paid separately to PSI and vary by exam. Always confirm current fee amounts with the board and PSI before submitting payment.

An 8 to 10 week plan covers both parts of the Georgia contractor exam:

• Week 1-2: Study Georgia contractor licensing law and business fundamentals for the Business and Law exam.
• Week 3-4: Review lien law, workers' compensation, OSHA basics, and financial management.
• Week 5-6: Work estimating and plan-reading problems and study the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes relevant to your license class.
• Week 7-8: Take timed practice tests for both the trade and Business and Law portions.
• Week 9-10: Tab and mark approved references, target weak areas, and simulate exam conditions.