To get a Georgia electrical license, you apply through the Division of Electrical Contractors under the State Construction Industry Licensing Board, document your electrical experience, pass a computer-based exam at a PSI testing center with a scaled score of at least 70, and pay a $30 application fee plus a $10 processing fee.1Georgia Secretary of State. Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board Fee Schedule The Georgia electrical license requirements differ by class, so the first decision is which license fits the work you plan to do.
Which License Class You Need
Georgia issues two main electrical contractor licenses along with separate low-voltage classifications.2Georgia Secretary of State. Georgia Administrative Code Chapter 121-3 – Application for Licensure
- Class I (Restricted) covers single-phase installations that do not exceed 200 amperes at the service drop or service lateral. Most residential work fits here.
- Class II (Unrestricted) covers all electrical systems with no amperage or phase limitations, which is what commercial, industrial, and complex residential jobs require.
Low-voltage contractors are licensed separately in four subcategories: Low Voltage Alarm, Low Voltage General, Low Voltage Telecommunications, and Low Voltage Unrestricted.3Georgia Secretary of State. How-To Guide: Low Voltage Contractor A standard contractor license does not cover low-voltage work, and a low-voltage license does not cover general electrical contracting.
Experience and Coursework Before the Exam
You must document practical electrical experience, and the Board reviews that documentation to confirm you meet the prerequisite thresholds before scheduling you for the exam.4Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia. Georgia Administrative Code Chapter 121-2 – Qualifications for Licensure Many applicants build that experience through a formal apprenticeship that combines classroom instruction with supervised work under a licensed contractor.
Preparation typically includes a review course covering code and exam topics. Those courses must be conducted by a college, technical school, military service program, or a qualified instructor holding a contractor or master license.
The Georgia Electrical Contractor Exam
The licensing exam is a computer-based, multiple-choice test given at PSI testing centers. It contains 140 scored questions, and the passing scaled score is 70. Both Class I and Class II candidates get eight hours total, delivered as two four-hour sessions with a break between them.
Topics on the test include:
- Electrical theory
- The National Electrical Code
- Wiring methods and protection
- Safety
- Special occupancies and equipment
The exam also contains unscored beta questions used to develop future tests, so the total number of questions you see may exceed 140.
Application and Fees
Applications go through the Division of Electrical Contractors. The fee is $30 for the application, whether you are applying by exam or by reciprocity, plus a $10 processing fee.1Georgia Secretary of State. Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board Fee Schedule You submit your experience documentation and any other materials the Board requests along with the application.
Reciprocity if You’re Already Licensed
If you hold an unrestricted electrical contractor license in one of five approved states, you can apply for a Georgia license without retaking the full exam. The Board recognizes exams from:5Georgia Secretary of State. Electrical Contractor Reciprocity Application
- Alabama Electrical Contractors Board
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
- North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
- South Carolina Contractor’s Licensing Board
- Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
To qualify, you must have obtained the out-of-state license by passing that state’s equivalent exam, hold a current active license with no penalties or violations, and submit verification of licensure from the other state. You still meet Georgia’s other requirements and pay the same $30 application fee plus $10 processing fee.
Renewal and Continuing Education
Georgia electrical contractor licenses expire on June 30 of even-numbered years, so renewal is on a two-year cycle.1Georgia Secretary of State. Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board Fee Schedule Late fees run $100 if you renew within 30 days of the deadline and $150 if you renew after 30 days but within three years. If the license has been lapsed longer than three years, you pay the $150 and must retake the licensing exam.
Continuing education is four hours per year, or eight hours across the two-year cycle.6Georgia Secretary of State. Georgia Administrative Code Chapter 121-4 – License Issuance, Renewal New licensees get a partial break: if you have held your license for one year or less at the time of your first renewal, no continuing education is required. If you have been licensed for more than one but less than two years, you need four hours before that first renewal.
Penalties for Working Without a License
Unlicensed electrical contracting in Georgia is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both.7Justia. Georgia Code 43-14-14 – Penalty The Board also has independent authority to issue cease-and-desist orders and impose administrative fines of up to $500 per violation, with each day of unlicensed practice counted as a separate violation. A cease-and-desist order becomes final ten days after issuance unless you request a hearing in writing.8Justia. Georgia Code 43-14-12.1 – Evidence of Violation; Cease and Desist Orders; Fines Licensing is required by statute for anyone performing electrical contracting work in the state.9Justia. Georgia Code 43-14-8 – Licensing Required for Electrical, Plumbing, or Conditioned Air Contracting