Georgia Class I Electrical Contractor License: Requirements and How to Apply
What Georgia requires for a Class I (Restricted) electrical contractor license under the 2026 law: the experience routes, the affidavit and background check, the 140-question PSI exam, the review course after two failures, and renewal every two years.
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Georgia Class I Electrical Contractor License: Requirements and How to Apply
Georgia does not license journeyman electricians at the state level. It licenses electrical contractors, in two classes: Class I (Restricted) and Class II (Unrestricted). Both are issued by the Division of Electrical Contractors of the State Construction Industry Licensing Board, and PSI gives the exams. This guide covers Class I. Everything below comes from O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 14 as rewritten by SB 553 (in force since July 1, 2026), the Board's rules in chapters 121-2 and 121-3, and PSI's Candidate Information Handbook (bulletin 4783).
Who needs a license
No one may engage in electrical contracting in Georgia without a license from the Division, and an unlicensed person may not advertise electrical contracting unless the work is done by a licensed contractor. Advertising counts whether it is a newspaper ad, a website, social media, a business card or a sign on a truck.
A company qualifies through a licensed person: a partnership, LLC or corporation can do electrical contracting only if a licensee is connected with it full time. If that person leaves, the company must notify the Division within seven days.
What Class I covers
Under the 2026 law, Class I covers single-family homes of up to three levels and multifamily buildings of up to two levels, with single-phase installations of not more than 400 amperes at the service drop or lateral.
The Board's rule (121-3-.01) has not caught up: it still describes Class I as single-phase work of not more than 200 amperes. Until the rule is updated, confirm the limit with the Division before you take on work near it.
Eligibility under the 2026 law
You need one of these:
| Route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Experience | Three years of full-time experience (2,000 hours a year) covering at least five of seven listed work areas (raceways, conductors, services, motors and generators, switches and controls, special occupancies, grounding and bonding), plus competence in load calculations |
| Education | A two-year electrical contracting diploma or certificate, plus two years of full-time experience |
| Apprenticeship | Completion of a Department of Labor accredited or approved electrical apprenticeship |
You also submit a sworn affidavit of your experience, signed by the licensed contractor who supervised you (or a licensed architect or engineer), one per supervisor; a criminal background check, at your own cost; and proof of identity and lawful presence.
The Board's rule still lists the older requirement of four years of primary experience, so check the current application with the Division before you file.
How to apply
You apply to the Division first. Once the Board approves you, it notifies PSI, and PSI sends your scheduling instructions. You must also tell the Board, before you are licensed, about any felony or misdemeanor findings or guilty pleas (other than minor traffic violations); a misdemeanor more than five years old needs to be reported only if the Board asks.
The exam
| Item | Georgia Electrical Contractor Class I |
|---|---|
| Vendor | PSI |
| Scored questions | 140 (plus 15 unscored pretest questions) |
| Time | 8 hours, in two 4-hour parts with a break |
| Passing score | A scaled score of 70 |
| Format | Open book, computer-based |
| Code | 2023 NEC |
Thirty questions cover regulations, laws and administration, and 110 are technical. The full outline is in what is on the Georgia Class I exam.
Retakes
There is no waiting period in the handbook, but after two failed attempts you must complete a Board-approved review course before a third attempt. No further course is required after that.
Renewal
Licenses are valid for two years and renew every two years. You can renew late within 31 days after expiration with a late fee; after that the license lapses and you apply for reinstatement. The Division sets the continuing education for renewal, and hours do not carry forward to the next period. Missing your continuing education makes the license invalid until it is renewed or reinstated.
Moving from another state
State law lets the Division license someone from a state with substantially equivalent requirements, at its discretion. The Division's own FAQ says it offers no reciprocity agreements as of May 2026, so plan on taking the Georgia exam unless the Division tells you otherwise.
Practice for the exam
Our Georgia Electrical Contractor Class I practice test is weighted like PSI's outline, with questions on the 2023 NEC, motors and transformers at the Class I level, and Georgia licensing law. If you are aiming for the unrestricted license instead, see the Class II requirements.
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