Georgia Electrical Contractor Class I and II Licenses
Georgia has no statewide journeyman electrician license. The state licenses electrical contractors through the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors.
Source: Georgia Secretary of State, checked 2026-10-07
Page last reviewed 2026-10-05 against official sources. Confirm with the issuing authority before applying.
Licensed in another state? See reviewed routes into Georgia.
How electrical licensing works in Georgia
Georgia licenses electrical contractors statewide through the State Construction Industry Licensing Board’s Division of Electrical Contractors. It issues two individually held contractor licenses—Class I and Class II—and does not issue a statewide general electrician or journeyman license. A state license may be used throughout Georgia, and the statute bars counties and cities from requiring additional licensing, except as Code Section 43-14-16 provides.
Credential-specific requirements
Requirements differ by credential. Expand any credential for the work or business activity you plan to perform. Issued by Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors unless noted.
Georgia Electrical Contractor Class I License Individual restricted electrical-contractor and business-qualifier license
- Issuing authority
- Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors →
- Scope of work
- Since July 1, 2026 (Act 472, SB 553), Class I covers residential multifamily structures of not more than two levels or single-family dwellings of up to three levels, with single-phase electrical installations that do not exceed 400 amperes at the service drop or service lateral. Board Rule 121-3-.01 has not been updated and still limits Class I to single-phase installations that do not exceed 200 amperes.
- Experience or qualification
- Since July 1, 2026 (Act 472, SB 553): at least three years of full-time experience (2,000 hours a year) covering at least five of the statute's listed work areas plus load calculation; or a two-year electrical-contracting diploma or certificate plus two years of full-time experience; or completion of a U.S. Department of Labor-approved electrical apprenticeship. A sworn affidavit from the supervising licensed contractor, or from a licensed architect or engineer, must attest to the experience. Board Rule 121-3-.01 has not been updated and still lists age 21 and a minimum of four years of primary experience.
- Examination
- Pass the Board-approved Class I examination with a minimum score of 70. Class I and Class II use separate examinations. Rule 121-3-.01 states the same 70-point minimum.
- Application fee
- —
- Renewal
- Biennial renewal; the Board's current cycle closes June 30 of even-numbered years. Complete four approved continuing-education hours per year, totaling eight hours per two-year renewal. Before the first renewal, a licensee licensed more than 1 year but less than 2 years needs 4 hours, and one licensed 1 year or less needs none.
Georgia Electrical Contractor Class II License Individual unrestricted electrical-contractor and business-qualifier license
- Issuing authority
- Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors →
- Scope of work
- Signed SB 553 defines Class II as electrical contracting without restriction. Rule 121-3-.01 also calls Class II unrestricted. The same rule still tells Class II applicants to document installations in excess of single-phase 200-ampere systems. SB 553's Class II apprenticeship route also requires one year of three-phase work.
- Experience or qualification
- Since July 1, 2026 (Act 472, SB 553): at least four years of full-time experience (2,000 hours a year), including at least two years of three-phase work; or a two-year electrical-contracting diploma or certificate plus four years of full-time experience, including two years of three-phase work; or completion of a U.S. Department of Labor-approved electrical apprenticeship plus one year of full-time three-phase work. A sworn affidavit from the supervising licensed contractor, or from a licensed architect or engineer, must attest to the experience. Board Rule 121-3-.01 has not been updated and still lists age 21, four years of primary experience, and documentation of installations above single-phase 200-ampere systems.
- Examination
- Pass the Board-approved Class II examination with a minimum score of 70. Class I and Class II use separate examinations. Rule 121-3-.01 states the same 70-point minimum.
- Application fee
- —
- Renewal
- Biennial renewal; the Board's current cycle closes June 30 of even-numbered years. Complete four approved continuing-education hours per year, totaling eight hours per two-year renewal. Before the first renewal, a licensee licensed more than 1 year but less than 2 years needs 4 hours, and one licensed 1 year or less needs none.
Licensed in another state?
Georgia has a reviewed application route for some licenses from 4 states. A route can waive an exam or some experience; you still need the Georgia credential before you work. Expand a state for the routes and their requirements.
Alabama Reciprocity
- If you hold
- Alabama electrical contractor license (Alabama Electrical Contractors Board, Ala. Code Title 34, Chapter 14), exam-based (PSI national exam)
- You can apply for
- Georgia Electrical Contractor Non-Restricted license by reciprocity (Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors, administered by the Georgia Secretary of State; O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 14)
To apply:
- hold a current Alabama Electrical Contractors Board (AECB) electrical contractor license obtained by examination (not waived or grandfathered)
- be in good standing with no violations/disciplinary action or open complaints
- submit verification of the out-of-state (Alabama) license through the receiving board's required form completed by the AECB
- file the completed, signed and notarized application with fee through GOALS (goals.sos.ga.gov)
- provide three references, a background check from a local law-enforcement agency, a Secure & Verifiable Document and an Affidavit of Citizenship
Limits:
- no Alabama-naming reciprocity pathway exists for the Restricted classification
- Georgia issues no statewide journeyman electrician credential: the AL journeyman certification has no state-level GA pathway
- the Georgia license must be issued before work; the examination waiver is not authority to work
Reciprocity. Official source · Checked 2026-09-21.
Louisiana Reciprocity
- If you hold
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors Electrical Work (Statewide) contractor license (classification 9), obtained by examination, current with no violations
- You can apply for
- Georgia Non-Restricted Electrical Contractor license (Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors)
To apply:
- current Louisiana license with no violations, obtained by exam (not waived or grandfathered)
- completed, signed, notarized application with fee (per the GOALS fee schedule)
- three references; background check from local law enforcement; disciplinary documentation if applicable
- Verification of out-of-state license completed by LSLBC
- Secure & Verifiable Document plus Affidavit of Citizenship
Limits:
- Non-Restricted classification only; the separate low-voltage alarm reciprocity path does not name Louisiana
- Louisiana journeyman credentials are not addressed; Georgia licenses contractors statewide with no statewide journeyman license
- applications generally process within 20 business days with individual Board review; the Georgia license must be issued before work and the examination waiver is not authority to work
Reciprocity. Official source · Checked 2026-09-17.
North Carolina Reciprocity
- If you hold
- North Carolina Unlimited electrical contracting license (NCBEEC) obtained by examination, no violations
- You can apply for
- Georgia Non-Restricted electrical contractor license (Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors)
To apply:
- Hold a current NC license obtained by examination with no violations.
- File the Georgia SOS Non-Restricted Reciprocity application type in GOALS with the fee.
- Provide three references, a law-enforcement background check, out-of-state license verification, a Secure & Verifiable Document, and the citizenship affidavit.
Limits:
- CONFLICT: third-party sources report Georgia ended electrical reciprocity effective May 2026, while the official Georgia how-to guide still listed the Non-Restricted Reciprocity application naming North Carolina on 2026-09-16; Georgia Board rules show no repeal and SB 553 retains board reciprocity authority. Verify with the Georgia Board before relying on this route; this listing records the conflict rather than resolving it.
- Non-Restricted only: no route is stated for NC SP/SP-SFD residential credentials (null).
- The technical examination waiver is not authority to work; the Georgia Board must issue the license first.
Reciprocity. Official source 1 · Official source 2 · Official source 3 · Checked 2026-09-16.
South Carolina Reciprocity
- If you hold
- South Carolina Electrical Contractor license, unrestricted (South Carolina Contractors Licensing Board, SCLLR; S.C. Code Title 40), exam-based (PSI)
- You can apply for
- Georgia Class II Non-restricted Electrical Contractor license by reciprocity (Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors, Georgia Secretary of State; O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 14; Board Rule 121-2-.05)
To apply:
- hold a current active South Carolina Electrical Contractor license obtained by examination — 'If you obtained your license through grandfathering, endorsement, conversion, or reciprocity from another state, you are not eligible to apply by reciprocity in Georgia. You must submit a "license by exam" application.'
- submit a Verification of Licensure from South Carolina that includes a state seal, indicates a current license and that the applicant passed the other state's examination (copies of the license, wall certificate or exam scores are not accepted)
- submit three notarized reference forms, at least one from a licensed electrical contractor
- submit a certified local-law-enforcement criminal background check and the citizenship affidavit (O.C.G.A. §50-36-1)
- pay the $40 fee ($30 application fee + $10 processing fee), non-refundable, payable to the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board
Limits:
- Class II Non-restricted only: the application is to 'apply by RECIPROCITY for a Class 2 Non-restricted Electrical Contactor License [sic]'; the restricted (Class I) tier is not covered by this route
- Georgia licenses no statewide journeyman electrician (journeyman/master credentialing is municipal), so the SC Journeyman Electrician certification has no destination tier
- SC Residential Builders Commission credentials (Residential Builder / Residential Electrical) are not covered: the reciprocity names the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board examinations only
- a separate statewide low-voltage contractor license is a distinct Georgia credential (O.C.G.A. §43-14-2)
- the Georgia license must be issued before work; the reciprocal agreement is not authority to work
Reciprocity. Official source · Checked 2026-09-28.
Taking your Georgia license elsewhere
Reviewed routes for Georgia licensees, with requirements on each receiving state's page:
- North Carolina: Georgia Class II Non-Restricted (Unlimited) Electrical Contractor license → North Carolina INTERMEDIATE electrical contracting license (NCBEEC) (reciprocity)
- North Carolina: Georgia Class II Non-Restricted (Unlimited) Electrical Contractor license → North Carolina LIMITED electrical contracting license (NCBEEC) (reciprocity)
- North Carolina: Georgia Class II Non-Restricted (Unlimited) Electrical Contractor license → North Carolina SP electrical contracting license (NCBEEC) (reciprocity)
- North Carolina: Georgia Class II Non-Restricted (Unlimited) Electrical Contractor license → North Carolina UNLIMITED electrical contracting license (NCBEEC) (reciprocity)
- South Carolina: Georgia Class I (unrestricted) Electrical Contractor license (Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors, O.C.G.A. ch. 43-14), exam-earned → South Carolina Electrical (mechanical contractor) classification by technical exam waiver (South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board, SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation; S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 11) (exam waiver)
Class I and Class II scope
Georgia’s 2026 statute (Act 472, SB 553) took effect July 1, 2026. Under it, Class I is restricted to residential multifamily structures of no more than two levels or single-family dwellings of up to three levels, with single-phase electrical installations not exceeding 400 amperes at the service drop or service lateral. Class II is unrestricted. The Board’s Rule 121-3-.01 has not been updated and still limits Class I to single-phase installations that do not exceed 200 amperes.
Qualification and business roles
The statute gives each class its own experience pathways and requires separate examinations. Class I and Class II licenses are held by individuals. A partnership, limited liability company, or corporation may conduct electrical contracting when a properly licensed person is regularly connected with the company and actively engaged full time. Under Board Rule 121-6-.01, that licensee may qualify only one business at a time.
Adjacent low-voltage licensing
Georgia regulates Low Voltage Contractor classes LV-A, LV-G, LV-T, and LV-U through the same Board’s separate Division of Low Voltage Contractors. Those licenses are not included in this two-row electrical-contractor inventory.
Before you apply
SB 553’s Code section 43-14-23 lets each division, in its discretion, license a person already licensed in another state whose licensing requirements are substantially equal. Board Rule 121-2-.03 says the divisions may offer licenses by endorsement or reciprocity under a formal written agreement with another state’s licensing board. Application, renewal, and late fees are set by the Board in a separate published fee schedule, which is not reproduced here. This page was checked against the official Georgia statute and Board rules on October 5, 2026; confirm current requirements and fees with the Board before applying.
Cite this page
- Title
- Georgia Electrical Contractor Class I and II Licenses
- URL
- https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/georgia
- Information checked
- 2026-10-05
Suggested citation: Georgia Electrical Contractor Class I and II Licenses. Trades Directory. https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/georgia (information checked 2026-10-05).