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State files updated Oct 27, 2026
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Georgia contractor license (SOS)Requirements, cost, exam

Georgia licenses general contractors through the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SOS). Residential contractor license is required when the total value of the work or the compensation exceeds $2,500.1

Georgia · general contractor

State license required

Experience
Residential-Basic: 2 years of proven experience in the category plus 2 completed projects in the last 2 years.1
Exam
Two exams through PSI: the Georgia Business & Law exam plus a trade exam…1
Bond
No bond is required for the General Contractor licenses (they prove net worth and insurance).1
Insurance
General liability per occurrence: Residential-Basic $300,000.2
Fees
Every application carries a $10 processing fee.3
Renewal
Licenses renew every two years, due June 30 of even-numbered years.4

State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SOS)

How do you get a Georgia contractor license?

  1. Check that you need a license

    Residential contractor license is required when the total value of the work or the compensation exceeds $2,500.1

  2. Meet the experience rule

    Residential-Basic: 2 years of proven experience in the category plus 2 completed projects in the last 2 years.1

  3. Apply to the SOS$200

    Every application carries a $10 processing fee.3

    SOS site
  4. Pass the exam$200

    Two exams through PSI: the Georgia Business & Law exam plus a trade exam…1

    What's on the exam
  5. File the bond and insurance

    No bond is required for the General Contractor licenses (they prove net worth and insurance). General liability per occurrence: Residential-Basic $300,000.1

    Georgia bond and insurance rules
  6. Get the license, then renew

    Licenses renew every two years, due June 30 of even-numbered years.4

    Renewal and CE
Board fees$400Bond premium and insurance cost extra.

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC licenses in Georgia

Which license class do you need in Georgia?

Four licenses from the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors: Residential-Basic (detached one- and two-family homes and townhouses up to 3 stories), Residential-Light Commercial…1

Does Georgia have license reciprocity?

Residential-Basic: Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina.2

Do you need workers' comp?

Workers' compensation insurance is required only if the contractor has 3 or more employees in Georgia.2

Georgia insurance and bonds

Sources

  1. State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SOS): who needs a license (sos.ga.gov, 2026-10-27)
  2. State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SOS): insurance (sos.ga.gov, 2026-10-27)
  3. State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SOS): fees (goals.sos.ga.gov, 2026-10-27)
  4. State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SOS): renewal (rules.sos.ga.gov, 2026-10-27)
  5. State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SOS): 553 7 (rules.sos.ga.gov, 2026-10-27)
  6. State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SOS): 553 4 (rules.sos.ga.gov, 2026-10-27)
  7. State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SOS): 49 Application Exam Residential Contractor, Basic Individual (sos.ga.gov, 2026-10-27)
  8. State Construction Industry Licensing Board - Conditioned Air Contractors (sos.ga.gov, 2026-10-27)
  9. State Construction Industry Licensing Board - Master/Journeyman Plumbers (sos.ga.gov, 2026-10-27)
  10. State Construction Industry Licensing Board - Electrical Contractors (rules.sos.ga.gov, 2026-10-27)