Georgia electrical license requirements and insurance
To work for yourself as an electrician in Georgia, you need the Statewide Class I Electrical Contractor license. Georgia has 2 electrical license types, and which one you need depends on the work you take on. Workers' comp is required once you regularly employ three or more people, full time or part time. The state does not ask for a bond.
1Who needs an electrical license in Georgia? What is this?
Statewide Class I Electrical Contractor: anyone contracting for electrical work in Georgia whose jobs stay inside the size limit below
| License | Who needs it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide Class I Electrical Contractor | Anyone contracting for electrical work in Georgia whose jobs stay inside the size limit below | Single-phase electrical installations that do not exceed 200 amperes at the service drop or the service lateral. Anything bigger, or any three-phase work, needs Class II |
| Statewide Class II Electrical Contractor | Anyone contracting for electrical work of any size, including three-phase and large commercial services | Unrestricted. No limit on amperage or phase |
| Statewide Low-Voltage Contractor | Anyone doing low-voltage work such as alarms, telephone, data cabling or control wiring. It is its own license, not part of Class I or Class II | Set by Rule 121-3-.06 of the board's own rules. Ask the board which work this covers before you quote |
2Who issues electrician licenses in Georgia? What is this?
Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors (run by the Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) issues electrical licenses in Georgia.
See how this compares in every state: How to check a contractor's license, state by state
| Name | Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors (run by the Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) |
|---|---|
| Website | sos.ga.gov |
| Look up a license | goals.sos.ga.gov |
| The law | O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 14 |
| The rulebook | Georgia Rules and Regulations, Department 121, Rule 121-3-.01 |
Applications, renewals and the fee schedule are all inside the GOALS portal at goals.sos.ga.gov. The board no longer takes paper applications.
3How to become an electrician in Georgia What is this?
Georgia has 3 licenses that matter to an electrician: Statewide Class I Electrical Contractor, Statewide Class II Electrical Contractor, Statewide Low-Voltage Contractor. Each is below, with what you need before you apply.
| License | Experience required | Training required | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide Class I Electrical Contractor | Four years of primary experience, meaning hands-on installation of electrical systems. Up to one of those years can come from secondary experience, which counts at half rate, or from schooling | None listed by the board. After two failed exams you must finish a board-approved review course before a third try | Yes, a board exam. You need a score of 70 |
| Statewide Class II Electrical Contractor | The same four years of primary experience as Class I | — | Yes, a board exam with a different scope from the Class I exam. You need a score of 70 |
| Statewide Low-Voltage Contractor | — | — | — |
4How much does an electrical license cost in Georgia? What is this?
The government fees on this page, added up.
Added up
| Government fees, added up | Not listed yet |
|---|
We have not printed a total because the electrical fee schedule has not been read. Plumbing and conditioned air both cost $110 to apply, so expect something near that, and check the schedule in GOALS before you budget.
5How much electrical contractor insurance do you need in Georgia? What is this?
What Georgia requires you to carry before you work.
| Minimum liability insurance | Not listed yet |
|---|---|
| Type of policy | None found. The board rules (Department 121), the electrical contractors rule, and O.C.G.A. 43-14-8 do not ask for liability insurance to get or keep an electrical license. |
| Who this applies to | Not applicable at state level. Cities and counties may ask for a certificate before they issue permits, and most customers and builders will ask for it. |
| Who must be named on the certificate | Not applicable |
| Why other websites say a different number |
|
| Workers' comp required? | Yes, once you regularly employ three or more people, full time or part time |
| Who can opt out |
|
| Workers' comp: if you skip it | Civil penalties of $500 to $5,000 per occurrence for failing to carry coverage, and possible criminal charges |
·4 official pages
- rules.sos.ga.gov/Download_pdf.aspx/?st=GASOS&year=2026&dept=Departments&pdf=Department+121+STATE+CONSTRUCTION+INDUSTRY+LICENSING+BOARD
- codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-43-professions-and-businesses/ga-code-sect-43-14-8/
- sbwc.georgia.gov/employer-information
- sbwc.georgia.gov/frequently-asked-questions/workers-compensation-insurance-faqs
6Does Georgia check your credit for an electrician license? What is this?
Georgia does not check your credit for this license.
| Credit score you need | None. The board rules and the licensing law do not ask for a credit check, net worth, or a financial statement for an electrical license. |
|---|---|
| If your score is lower | Not applicable |
7Does an electrician need a bond in Georgia? What is this?
Georgia does not require a state bond for this license. Some cities ask for one before they issue permits.
| Does the state require a bond? | No |
|---|---|
| Amount | Not listed yet |
The state does not ask for a bond (a promise, backed by an insurance company, that customers can be paid if you do not finish the job) to hold an electrical license. One exception is tax, not licensing. A contractor with no business location in Georgia must post a tax bond of 10 percent of any contract over $10,000 with the Department of Revenue. Cities may also ask for a bond before they let you pull permits, so check with your city.
8Where must a Georgia electrician show the license number? What is this?
In Georgia: no state rule was found that makes an electrical contractor put the license number on ads, quotes, invoices, or trucks. The law does bar anyone who is not licensed from advertising as an electrical contractor. The board rules say you must give the name and license number of the person supervising the work to any customer who reasonably asks, and failing to do so is unprofessional conduct.
| The rule |
|
|---|---|
| If you forget | Discipline against the license for refusing to disclose the license number when asked. Advertising electrical contracting without a license is a violation of O.C.G.A. 43-14-8. |
Rule 121-3-.05, Display of Business Registration Number, plainly covers conditioned air contractors. Whether it also covers electrical contractors is not stated, so ask the board before you print your number
9Does an electrician charge sales tax on labor in Georgia? What is this?
In Georgia, no sales tax on repair or installation labor if you list it as a separate line on the invoice. If you lump labor and parts into one price, the whole amount can be taxed. The rest of the rules are below.
See how this compares in every state: Can you charge sales tax on labor? The rule in 25 states
| Who pays tax on materials |
|
|---|---|
| Labor | No sales tax on repair or installation labor if you list it as a separate line on the invoice. If you lump labor and parts into one price, the whole amount can be taxed. |
| Homes versus businesses | No difference. Georgia looks at whether the item becomes part of the building, not at what kind of building it is. |
| New buildings versus repairs | No difference for materials that become part of the building. You pay tax when you buy them either way. |
| Things that are not part of the building |
|
| Registering and filing | Every contractor must register for a sales and use tax number in the Georgia Tax Center and file a return every month, even in months with no sales. |
| Use tax | If you buy materials where the rate is lower than the rate where the job is, you owe the difference as use tax. If you paid more, there is no refund. |
| Tax rate | 4 percent state, plus local rates. Most counties total 7 to 9 percent. |
10Getting paid: lien and notice deadlines for a Georgia electrician What is this?
If you are not paid in Georgia, a lien on the property is your backstop, but only if your notice goes out on time: within 30 days of the Notice of Commencement being filed or 30 days after your first day of labor or delivery, whichever is later (first delivery on March 1 with the Notice of Commencement already filed means notice by March 31). Send it to the owner and to the contractor.
- Day 0Your first day on the job
The clock starts here.
- Day 90File your lien
Within 90 days after your last day of work (last day on June 1 means the lien is filed by August 30). File it with the superior court clerk in the county where the property is.
Each day count is counted from the day the rule beside it names, which is not always the same day. Read the sentence under each one.
| Who has to send a notice | Anyone who was not hired by the general contractor directly, such as a sub of a sub or a supplier, and only when a Notice of Commencement (a form the owner or contractor files with the county superior court clerk at the start of a job) was filed. If no Notice of Commencement was filed, the Notice to Contractor rule does not apply. |
|---|---|
| Send your notice to the contractor by | Within 30 days of the Notice of Commencement being filed or 30 days after your first day of labor or delivery, whichever is later (first delivery on March 1 with the Notice of Commencement already filed means notice by March 31). Send it to the owner and to the contractor. |
| File your lien by | Within 90 days after your last day of work (last day on June 1 means the lien is filed by August 30). File it with the superior court clerk in the county where the property is. |
| Copy to the owner | Within two business days after you file the lien, send a copy to the owner. |
| File a lawsuit by | You must sue to collect within 365 days of filing the lien, and file a notice of that lawsuit with the clerk within 30 days of starting it. |
11How do you renew an electrical license in Georgia? What is this?
The Statewide Class I Electrical Contractor renews every two years. Rule 121-4-.02 says licenses and certificates are renewed biennially by the expiration date set by the Joint Secretary.
| License | Renewal |
|---|---|
| Statewide Class I Electrical Contractor | Every two years. Rule 121-4-.02 says licenses and certificates are renewed biennially by the expiration date set by the Joint Secretary |
| Statewide Class II Electrical Contractor | Every two years. Rule 121-4-.02 says licenses and certificates are renewed biennially by the expiration date set by the Joint Secretary |
Renewal fees are in what the license costs. The official page for each license is linked under how you get it.
12What catches people out in Georgia What is this?
The things people get wrong or do not expect about Georgia, in a few sentences.
- Georgia licenses the person, not the company. The board does not register electrical businesses, and the license travels with you rather than with your employer.
- There are two classes and the line between them is a number. Class I stops at single-phase work up to 200 amps at the service drop. Class II has no limit at all.
- You need four years of hands-on electrical work. Schooling or supervisory time can cover at most one of those four years, and it counts at half rate.
- Three references, and at least one has to come from a licensed electrical contractor who writes their own registration number on the form.
- Low-voltage work is a separate license with its own rule, so a Class I or Class II license does not cover it.
- The board rules and the licensing law do not ask for liability insurance or a bond. Several websites say otherwise. No official source gives a figure.
13Where these numbers come from
The labels under each table are explained on how to read a page.
- rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/121-3
- rules.sos.ga.gov/Download_pdf.aspx/?st=GASOS&year=2026&dept=Departments&pdf=Department+121+STATE+CONSTRUCTION+INDUSTRY+LICENSING+BOARD
- codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-43-professions-and-businesses/ga-code-sect-43-14-8/
- sbwc.georgia.gov/employer-information
- rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/121-4
- goals.sos.ga.gov/GASOSOneStop/s/fee-schedules
- sbwc.georgia.gov/frequently-asked-questions/workers-compensation-insurance-faqs
- dor.georgia.gov/tax-guide-contractors
- dor.georgia.gov/contractor-faqs
- dor.georgia.gov/document/sut-lr/lr-sut-2019-05/download
- dor.georgia.gov/sales-and-use-tax-contractors-examples
- dor.georgia.gov/document/document/general-rate-chart-effective-july-1-2026-through-september-30-2026pdf/download
- codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-44-property/ga-code-sect-44-14-361-5/
- codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-44-property/ga-code-sect-44-14-361-1/