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All contractors in Georgia must be licensed before they can bid or work on any projects or jobs. They are required to pass two exams and submit various documents and verifications to prove they have sufficiently met the qualifications to obtain a professional residential light commercial contractor license.

With proper licensure, residential light commercial contractors in Georgia can lawfully supervise or perform activities done by basic contractors. They can perform work that is related to multi-family and multi-use light commercial structures and buildings. This work authorization extends to any and all related accessory structures and buildings.

How Do You Get a Residential Light Contractor License in GA?

Before you can sit and take the two required exams for licensure, you will need to meet requirements across three different categories. These are projects and references, education and experience, and insurance.

Projects and References

You will be required to submit a reference affidavit from a licensed or registered professional in the field. This reference affidavit can be received from a designer, structural engineer, registered architect, building inspector, or project permit holder. One must be completed for each project you are referencing.

In addition, you will need to show that you have successfully completed at least two residential or light commercial projects within the four years that precede your application.

Education and Experience

To qualify for a GA residential light commercial contractor license, you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

• You must have a total of at least four years of experience in a related field — at least two of them working as a contractor or employed by one
• You must have a baccalaureate degree from a four-year college and at least one year of experience working as a contractor or being employed by one
• You must have a combination of proven practical experience and academic credits that equals at least four years

Keep in mind that any experience you cite on your application must have been gained either as a residential or light commercial contractor or when you were employed by a contractor.

Insurance Requirements

You will need to obtain and submit verification that you hold workers’ compensation insurance as is required by the state. In addition, you must obtain general liability insurance in the amount of $500,000. Finally, you will need to submit an up-to-date signed certificate of insurance with your application.

Exams for GA Contractor Licensure

The two exams you need to pass are the Business & Law Exam and the Residential Light Commercial Exam.

The Business & Law Exam has 50 questions on it, and you must answer at least 35 correctly to pass. You have two hours to complete the exam, which is open book. The Residential Light Commercial Exam has 90 questions on it, and you must answer at least 63 correctly to pass. You will have 230 minutes to finish this open-book exam.

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