Georgia General Contractor Exam Prep

Georgia's general contractor license comes in two forms: the unlimited license, which requires a minimum net worth of $150,000, and the Limited Tier, which requires $25,000 and carries a per-project cap (confirm the current cap with the board). Both are issued by the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors under the Georgia Secretary of State.

The exam has two parts through PSI. The trade portion for commercial general contractors is the NASCLA-accredited commercial GC exam, covering construction methods, plan reading, estimating, and code knowledge. The second part is the Georgia Business and Law exam, covering licensing law, contracts, lien law, payroll, insurance, and safety. A NASCLA pass can travel to other NASCLA states, but Georgia licensure still requires the Georgia Business and Law exam.

Within the general contractor division, Georgia issues:

• General Contractor - Unlimited commercial and residential contracting; minimum net worth $150,000.
• General Contractor Limited Tier - Same scope of trade but with a reduced net worth requirement of $25,000 and a per-project cap; confirm the current cap with the board (GAC 553-4-.05).

Both exams are delivered by PSI after the board approves your application. The trade exam for commercial general contractors is the NASCLA-accredited commercial GC exam; the Georgia Business and Law exam is a separate appointment. Question counts, time limits, and approved reference lists are published by PSI; check the current candidate bulletin before scheduling.

Passing requirements for the NASCLA trade exam and the Georgia Business and Law exam are set by the board and the exam provider. Confirm the current passing score for each part with PSI or the board before your exam date, since thresholds and exam versions change.

To qualify for the Georgia general contractor exam, candidates typically need:

• A 4-year degree in engineering, architecture, construction management, or a similar field plus 1 year of experience, OR an acceptable combination of college credit and practical experience totaling 4 years.
• A total of at least 4 years of active construction-industry experience, at least 2 of them as or with a general contractor.
• Proof of financial responsibility: $150,000 minimum net worth for the unlimited license or $25,000 for the Limited Tier.
• A completed application with the $210 nonrefundable fee through the GOALS portal.

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

The board application fee is $210 and is nonrefundable. PSI exam fees are paid separately and vary by exam. Always confirm current fee amounts with the board and PSI before submitting payment or scheduling.

Plan on 8 to 10 weeks to cover both Georgia general contractor exams:

• Week 1-2: Map the NASCLA exam content outline and gather the approved references.
• Week 3-4: Study estimating, scheduling, plan reading, and construction methods for the trade exam.
• Week 5-6: Shift to Business and Law: Georgia licensing statutes, lien law, contracts, workers' compensation, and OSHA.
• Week 7-8: Take full timed practice tests for both parts and review every miss.
• Week 9-10: Tab your reference books, drill weak areas, and rehearse open-book lookup speed.