Georgia plumbing license requirements and insurance
To work for yourself as a plumber in Georgia, you need the Master Plumber Class I (restricted) license. Georgia has 3 plumbing 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 a plumbing license in Georgia? What is this?
Master Plumber Class I (restricted): the license you need to own a plumbing business or be the licensed person behind one, if you only work on homes and small commercial buildings
| License | Who needs it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber | Anyone doing plumbing work for a plumbing business. A journeyman cannot own a plumbing business or qualify one. | Plumbing work under the supervision of a licensed Master Plumber |
| Master Plumber Class I (restricted) | The license you need to own a plumbing business or be the licensed person behind one, if you only work on homes and small commercial buildings | Single-family homes, one-level homes built for up to two families, and commercial buildings up to 10,000 square feet |
| Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted) | The license you need to own or qualify a plumbing business that works on any building, including large commercial and industrial jobs | No limits |
2Who issues plumber licenses in Georgia? What is this?
Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers (run by the Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) issues plumbing 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 Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers (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 (Chapters 121-2 to 121-6) |
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 a plumber in Georgia What is this?
Georgia has 3 licenses that matter to a plumber: Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber Class I (restricted), Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted). Each is below, with what you need before you apply.
| License | Experience required | Training required | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber | At least 1 year of plumbing work covered by the Georgia State Plumbing Code. The year can be hands-on work under a Master Plumber, or related work such as plumbing for a county water department or full-time plumbing inspection. | 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 run by PSI. You need a score of 70. |
| Master Plumber Class I (restricted) | At least 5 years of plumbing work covered by the Georgia State Plumbing Code, with at least 2 of those years as a licensed Journeyman Plumber | 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 run by PSI. You need a score of 70. |
| Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted) | The same 5 years with 2 as a licensed Journeyman Plumber, plus documented commercial or industrial plumbing experience | 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 run by PSI. You need a score of 70. |
4How much does a plumbing license cost in Georgia? What is this?
The government fees on this page add up to about $220 in Georgia. Add insurance, tools, and a vehicle to get the real number.
| License | Application | Exam | Renewal | Late renewal | Getting a lapsed license back | Processing fee | Getting a lapsed license back, after 3 years | What else reinstatement needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber | $100 | null | $100 | $100 | $300 | $10 | $300 | The fee is $300 whether the license lapsed recently or more than 3 years ago. Lapsed more than 3 years, you also have to sit the exam again. |
| Master Plumber Class I (restricted) | $100 | null | $100 | $100 | $300 | $10 | $300 | The fee is $300 whether the license lapsed recently or more than 3 years ago. Lapsed more than 3 years, you also have to sit the exam again. |
| Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Added up
| Government fees, added up | $220 |
|---|
Government fees only. Does not include the PSI exam fees, insurance premiums, tools, a vehicle, city permits, or the trade name filing at the county court.
5How much plumbing 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 plumbers FAQ, and O.C.G.A. 43-14-8 do not ask for liability insurance to get or keep a plumbing 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 a plumber 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 a plumbing license. |
|---|---|
| If your score is lower | Not applicable |
7Does a plumber 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 a plumbing 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 plumber show the license number? What is this?
In Georgia: no state rule was found that makes a plumber put the license number on ads, quotes, invoices, or trucks. The law does bar anyone who is not licensed from advertising as a plumber. 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 plumbing without a license is a violation of O.C.G.A. 43-14-8. |
Conditioned air (HVAC) contractors do have a display rule, Rule 121-3-.05. It does not cover plumbers.
9Does a plumber 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 plumber 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 a plumbing license in Georgia? What is this?
The Master Plumber Class I (restricted) renews every two years, by November 30 of even-numbered years (late renewal December 1 to 31). You need 4 hours of training each year.
| License | Renewal | Training hours each year |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber | Every two years, by November 30 of even-numbered years (late renewal December 1 to 31) | — |
| Master Plumber Class I (restricted) | Every two years, by November 30 of even-numbered years (late renewal December 1 to 31) | — |
| Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted) | Every two years, by November 30 of even-numbered years (late renewal December 1 to 31) | — |
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 plumbing businesses. Only a Master Plumber may own one, and a licensed Master Plumber must work there full time and supervise the jobs.
- A Class I Master Plumber license stops at single-family homes, one-level homes for up to two families, and commercial buildings up to 10,000 square feet. Class II has no limit, but you must show commercial or industrial plumbing experience to get it.
- The state fee to apply is $100 plus a $10 processing fee. The exam fee goes to the testing company, PSI, on top of that.
- The board rules, the plumbers FAQ, and the licensing law do not ask for liability insurance or a bond to hold a plumbing license. Several websites say $500,000 of insurance. That figure appears in no official source.
- Workers' comp starts at three workers, and company officers or LLC members count toward the three even when they sign themselves out of coverage.
- The 30-day Notice to Contractor only applies when the owner filed a Notice of Commencement for the job. The lien itself must be filed within 90 days of your last day of work, and a copy must reach the owner within two business days.
·6 official pages
- rules.sos.ga.gov/Download_pdf.aspx/?st=GASOS&year=2026&dept=Departments&pdf=Department+121+STATE+CONSTRUCTION+INDUSTRY+LICENSING+BOARD
- sos.ga.gov/page/division-master-and-journeyman-plumbers-faq
- goals.sos.ga.gov/GASOSOneStop/s/fee-schedules
- sbwc.georgia.gov/frequently-asked-questions/workers-compensation-insurance-faqs
- 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/
13Where these numbers come from
The labels under each table are explained on how to read a page.
- rules.sos.ga.gov/Download_pdf.aspx/?st=GASOS&year=2026&dept=Departments&pdf=Department+121+STATE+CONSTRUCTION+INDUSTRY+LICENSING+BOARD
- sos.ga.gov/page/division-master-and-journeyman-plumbers-faq
- goals.sos.ga.gov/GASOSOneStop/s/fee-schedules
- sbwc.georgia.gov/frequently-asked-questions/workers-compensation-insurance-faqs
- 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/
- codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-43-professions-and-businesses/ga-code-sect-43-14-8/
- sbwc.georgia.gov/employer-information
- 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