How to get an electrical contractor license in Georgia (2026)
Checked against the Georgia Secretary of State's published pages, board rules and the PSI handbook. Guide facts verified September 2026 and re-checked in our October 9, 2026 sweep.
Georgia licenses electrical contractors at the state level, and there is no state journeyman or master card. One license, held by a person, lets you pull permits and contract electrical work statewide. Since May 2026 everyone, in-state or out, gets there the same way: by exam.
Georgia at a glance
| Board | Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards) |
|---|---|
| License classes | Class I (Restricted): single-phase installations up to 200 amps at the service drop or lateral. Class II (Non-Restricted): all electrical work. |
| Experience | 4 years of primary experience (2,000 hours = 1 year) under a licensed electrical contractor. |
| References | 3 notarized originals, at least 1 from a licensed electrical contractor. |
| Application fee | $40 ($30 application + $10 processing), filed online in the GOALS portal. |
| Exam | PSI, after Board approval. Open book, 2023 NEC (Georgia edition). Laws/Admin 30 questions + Technical 110 questions, 8 hours total, passing score 70. |
| Renewal | Every 2 years; licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years. |
| Continuing education | 4 hours per year (8 per cycle), reported through CE Broker since January 1, 2026. |
| Reciprocity | None. Georgia discontinued licensure by reciprocity effective May 2026, and the NASCLA electrical exam is not accepted. |
Fees and rules change. Confirm current figures with the Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors before you file.
How the process works
- Choose Class I or Class IIClass I covers single-phase work up to 200 amps and fits residential and light commercial. Class II has no restriction, but you must document experience in every primary experience area, including work beyond single-phase 200-amp systems.
- Document four years under a licensed contractorThe Board counts 2,000 hours as a year, and only time worked under a licensed electrical contractor counts. List every employer with dates and the license number you worked under.
- Line up three notarized referencesAt least one must be a licensed electrical contractor. Copies are rejected, so each referee signs and notarizes an original. This is usually the slowest item.
- Apply in GOALS, then test with PSIApplications are online-only. After the Board approves you, schedule the PSI exam. Incomplete applications that aren't fixed within 60 days are withdrawn, and you start (and pay) over.
Want the whole Georgia path on paper?
The Georgia Electrical Roadmap is a 9-page PDF that goes past this summary:
- The GOALS filing walk-through, screen by screen
- How to map your experience to the Board's primary areas
- What to do instead of reciprocity if you're licensed elsewhere
- Printable application checklist and a dated sources page
Instant download · free updated edition for 12 months · 30-day money-back guarantee
Already licensed in another state?
Georgia used to waive its trade exam for contractors from Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. That ended in May 2026: per the Board's FAQ, Georgia does not currently offer licensure by reciprocity, and NASCLA's electrical exam doesn't substitute. Out-of-state experience still counts if it meets Georgia's test. Going the other way, a Georgia license earned by exam is still accepted by South Carolina (unrestricted) and North Carolina, but Alabama and Tennessee have dropped Georgia from their lists.
Reciprocity lists change often. See every Southeast state side by side in the Southeast electrical reciprocity overview.
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Georgia electrical license FAQ
Does Georgia have electrical license reciprocity?
Not anymore. Georgia discontinued licensure by reciprocity effective May 2026, according to the Board's FAQ. Every applicant, including out-of-state licensees, applies by exam. The NASCLA electrical exam is not accepted either.
What is the difference between a Georgia Class I and Class II electrical license?
Class I (Restricted) covers single-phase installations not exceeding 200 amps at the service drop or lateral. Class II (Non-Restricted) covers all electrical work with no restriction, and requires documented experience in every primary experience area.
How much experience do I need for a Georgia electrical contractor license?
At least 4 years of primary experience, counting 2,000 hours as one year, worked under a licensed electrical contractor. Time under an unlicensed contractor does not count.
What is the Georgia electrical contractor exam like?
It is a PSI exam taken after Board approval: open book on the 2023 NEC (Georgia edition), with 30 laws/administration questions and 110 technical questions over 8 hours. The passing score is 70.
Ready to file in Georgia?
Every step in filing order, a printable checklist, and every figure dated and cited to the board. Built by a contractor who holds licenses in 30+ states.
Get the Georgia roadmap: $39 See sample pages →Other states
Informational only, not legal advice. LicenseFootprint is not affiliated with any state agency. The board's current published requirements always control.