Who can serve as a Georgia qualifying agent, how the company license works, the residential and commercial classifications, PSI exams, the $150,000 net worth rule and the 180 day replacement window.
In Georgia, a company that does residential or commercial general contracting must have at least one qualifying agent: a licensed individual who is actually engaged in the company's work by ownership or employment and who supervises its projects. The Board issues the license to that person and to the company together, so the company is licensed only while a qualifying agent stands behind it.
For the full state picture start with the Georgia contractor license requirements, read the Georgia general contractor license guide for the commercial side, and see how to get a contractor license in each state for everywhere else.
At a glance Who licenses: the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors, under the Georgia Secretary of State. Who may qualify: an owner or employee actually engaged in the company's contracting on a full time basis. Exams: the Georgia Business and Law exam plus a trade exam, both through PSI. Money: $150,000 net worth and $500,000 general liability for a commercial general contractor. If the qualifier leaves: 180 days to employ a new one and file under O.C.G.A. 43-41-9(e)(1).
What a Qualifying Agent Is Under Georgia Law
The governing law is O.C.G.A. 43-41. Section 43-41-2(7) defines a qualifying agent as a person with the skill, knowledge and experience to supervise, direct, manage and control all of a business organization's contracting in Georgia, including every project where that person pulled the building permit.
Under 43-41-9(b) the qualifying agent signs an affidavit on the Board's form. It attests that the qualifier has final approval authority for all construction work the company performs in Georgia, and on the contracts, contract performance and related financial affairs of every job where the qualifier's license was used to get the permit.
That authority carries responsibility. Under 43-41-9(h), all qualifying agents for a company are jointly and equally responsible for supervising its construction operations, all field work at all sites, and the financial matters on each permitted job.
Who May Serve as a Georgia Qualifying Agent
The statute requires the company to employ at least one licensed individual who is actually engaged by ownership or employment in its residential or commercial general contracting, provides adequate supervision and is responsible for its projects. Two paths qualify: the person owns the company, or the person is its employee.
The Board's rules add a time commitment. Rule 553-4-.03(1) for commercial general contractors and Rule 553-3-.05(1) for residential contractors require that the licensee be engaged in the company's contracting on a full time basis. A name on paper does not meet that standard; the qualifier works in the business.
A company may have more than one licensed qualifying agent. A single qualifying agent may also serve more than one company under 43-41-9(e)(2), provided the qualifier meets the criteria for each company, and each added company must show its own financial responsibility and insurance under 43-41-9(g).
The qualifier angle. For a company owner, this is the decision that matters most: the Georgia license belongs to the company only through a named person who meets the experience rules, passes the exams and works in the business full time. If no one on your team holds the license yet, a qualified professional can join as an owner or full time employee and qualify the company. Read what a qualifying agent does, or see how we place a qualifying agent with your company.
The Company License Versus the Individual License
Georgia has two ways to hold a residential or commercial general contractor license. A sole proprietor working in his or her own name or a trade name applies as an individual, and the license issues only to that person. Any other business organization, such as an LLC or corporation, applies through its qualifying agent, and the license issues to both.
| Who applies | License issued to | Money proof covers |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor | The individual | The individual |
| Qualifying agent for a company | Qualifier and company | The company |
| Joint venture | Venture or each member | Venture or each member |
Notes on the table: O.C.G.A. 43-41-9(a) sets the first two rows, 43-41-6(e)(2) puts the money proof on the company, and 43-41-9(c) treats a joint venture as its own organization.
The license is tied to the specific company named on it. A company that contracts without a license, or without a qualifying agent licensed on its behalf, falls under 43-41-17(b): a contract for licensed work signed by an unlicensed contractor is unenforceable by that contractor, and no lien or bond claim exists in its favor.
A state license also travels. Under 43-41-17(c), a licensee may work throughout Georgia within the license, and a county or city may not add its own licensing requirement for work the state license covers, apart from certain local rules in effect on July 1, 2004.
Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial and Commercial General Contractor
Georgia splits the residential license into two classifications and runs a commercial general contractor license with a limited tier. Each has its own experience rule under O.C.G.A. 43-41-6.
| Classification | Work it covers | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Residential basic | 1 and 2 family homes, townhouses to 3 stories | 2 years with a residential contractor |
| Residential light commercial | Adds light commercial under 4 stories | 4 years, 2 with a residential contractor |
| Commercial general contractor | Commercial work, no contract cap | 4 years, 2 with a commercial general contractor |
| General contractor limited tier | Contracts up to $1,000,000 | Same as commercial general contractor |
Notes on the table
- Residential basic: 43-41-2(10) covers detached one family and two family homes and one family townhouses not over three stories. Rule 553-3-.03 also asks for significant responsibility on at least two residential basic projects in the two years before applying.
- Residential light commercial: 43-41-2(11) adds multifamily and multiuse light commercial buildings under four stories and under 25,000 square feet. A relevant four year degree also qualifies under 43-41-6(c).
- Commercial general contractor: 43-41-6(d) requires four years of construction experience, at least two as or for a commercial general contractor and at least one in administration, estimating, supervision, project management or similar work.
- Limited tier: Rule 553-4-.06(8) limits each contract to $1,000,000; under Rule 553-4-.06(9), moving up requires a new application meeting the full tier's financial and other rules.
- Dollar threshold: the residential license applies when the work or compensation exceeds $2,500 under 43-41-2(9).
Every applicant must be at least 21, and experience is proven by a sworn affidavit from the employer or another person with knowledge of it.
The Exams: Business and Law Plus a Trade Exam
Every residential and commercial general contractor applicant passes two exams: the Georgia Business and Law exam and the trade exam for the classification. PSI Services runs both for the Board, and the commercial trade exam is the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors.
| Exam | Questions | Passing score | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business and Law | 50 | 70%, 35 correct | 120 minutes |
| Residential basic trade | 80 | 70%, 56 correct | 200 minutes |
| Residential light commercial trade | 90 | 70%, 63 correct | 230 minutes |
| NASCLA commercial general building | 115 | 70%, 81 correct | 330 minutes |
PSI's Georgia candidate bulletin, updated April 28, 2025, lists the exam fees: $72 for each residential application type, $106 for each general contractor application type including the limited tier, and $60 for the Business and Law exam alone. These are exam fees paid to PSI; the Board's application fee is separate and appears on the Board's fee schedule.
You must pass both exams within the one year eligibility period that starts with your exam approval letter, retaking only the one you fail. Once you pass the Business and Law exam, it counts for every other Georgia residential and general contractor license.
Two routes cut down the testing. A qualifying agent who previously obtained and continuously maintained a license from the same division may qualify a new company without retesting under 43-41-6(a). The Board's How-To Guide also lists a reciprocity application for commercial general contractors who hold an equivalent Louisiana or Mississippi license obtained by examination.
The Financial Requirements
The Board checks net worth and insurance, and for a qualifying agent application both are measured on the company, not the qualifier.
| Classification | Net worth | General liability |
|---|---|---|
| Residential basic | No set dollar figure | $300,000 |
| Residential light commercial | No set dollar figure | $500,000 |
| Commercial general contractor | $150,000 | $500,000 |
| General contractor limited tier | $25,000 | $500,000 |
Notes on the table
- Residential: Rules 553-3-.03(4) and 553-3-.04(4) set general liability of not less than $300,000 for residential basic and $500,000 for residential light commercial. O.C.G.A. 43-41-6(e)(2) sets a minimum net worth only for commercial general contractors; residential applicants still show financial responsibility, which Rule 553-3-.04(4) says is proven as the application requires.
- Commercial: Rules 553-4-.02(3)(d) and 553-4-.06(3)(d) require the qualifier to affirm that the company holds the minimum net worth; Rule 553-4-.02(4) sets general liability of not less than $500,000.
- Workers' compensation: every applicant proves coverage as Georgia law requires, and the insurance certificate stays on file with the division as a condition of renewal under 43-41-6(e)(2).
When the Qualifying Agent Leaves
Under O.C.G.A. 43-41-9(e)(1), a qualifying agent who ends the affiliation informs the division, and if that person was the company's only qualifier, the company must promptly notify the division that the relationship has ended.
The company then has 180 days from the end of the affiliation to employ another qualifying agent and submit a license application under the new qualifier. That window has applied since Senate Bill 503 took effect on July 1, 2024. Filing the application keeps the company's licensed status in place while the division reviews it.
If the division denies the new application, the company stops being licensed after the later of the 180 day period or the denial, until a new application is approved. In that case the division grants a temporary nonrenewable license to the financially responsible officer, the president or chief executive officer, a partner, or the general partner of a limited partnership. That temporary license only lets the company finish incomplete contracts already awarded or won.
Under 43-41-9(d), the company must furnish corrected application information within 45 days of any change, and under 43-41-6(e)(4) the licensee reports changes in mailing address, insurance or affiliated entities in writing within 30 days.
The departing qualifier does not lose the individual license. Under 43-41-9(e)(2) and (i), that person can qualify another company after showing its finances and insurance, stays answerable for matters during the period of service, and is not responsible for a predecessor's actions.
The Licensing Steps in Order
- Pick the classification. Match your work to residential basic, residential light commercial, commercial general contractor or the limited tier, using the scope definitions in O.C.G.A. 43-41-2.
- Register the company. A qualifying agent application needs a Letter of Authority (Certificate of Authority) from the Secretary of State Corporations Division.
- Confirm the qualifier. The qualifying agent must own the company or be its full time employee and meet the classification's experience rule, proven by affidavit.
- Assemble the money proof. Gather the net worth affirmation or financial documents, the general liability certificate and workers' compensation proof, all in the company's name.
- Apply in GOALS. The Board accepts applications only through its GOALS portal; include the notarized application, the Qualifying Agent Affidavit, the Employment Affidavit and project references.
- Pass the exams. After exam approval, schedule the Business and Law and the trade exam with PSI and pass both within one year.
- Board review. The Board generally processes applications within 20 business days; a deficiency letter restarts the count, and an unfixed deficiency can mean withdrawal after 60 days.
- Keep it current. Renew by June 30 of even numbered years, complete any required continuing education, and report every change on time.
The Specialty Trades and Their Own Qualifier Rules
Electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low voltage and utility contracting are licensed by five divisions of the State Construction Industry Licensing Board under O.C.G.A. 43-14, which Senate Bill 553 rewrote effective July 1, 2026. Our Georgia law changes guide tracks that rewrite.
| Trade | Licensing division | Company rule |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Division of Electrical Contractors | O.C.G.A. 43-14-8(d) |
| Plumbing | Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers | O.C.G.A. 43-14-13(e) |
| Conditioned air | Division of Conditioned Air Contractors | O.C.G.A. 43-14-14(e) |
| Low voltage | Division of Low Voltage Contractors | O.C.G.A. 43-14-9(d) |
| Utility | Division of Utility Contractors | O.C.G.A. 43-14-10 |
Notes on the table
- Electrical: a partnership, LLC or corporation needs a licensed person regularly connected with it and actively engaged on a full time basis, with notice to the division within seven days if that connection ends. See the Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors and our Georgia electrician license guide.
- Plumbing: the company needs a full time Master Plumber Class I or Class II regularly connected with it, with the same seven day notice. See the Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers and our Georgia plumbing license guide.
- Conditioned air: a full time licensee is required, plus one licensee stationed in each branch office that does conditioned air work. See the Georgia State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors and our Georgia HVAC license guide.
- Low voltage: a full time licensee must supervise all low voltage work, with a licensee in each branch office and seven day notice of any severance. See the Georgia State Board of Low Voltage Contractors.
- Utility: the company needs a full time utility manager certificate holder at each permanent office; after one leaves, notice within seven days earns a 90 day grace period, with one more 90 days for good cause and no more than 180 days in any two years. See the Georgia State Board of Utility Contractors.
Under 43-41-17(e), a company licensed in one of these trades may contract directly with an owner when the job is mainly its own trade and the other work is incidental, not above the greater of $10,000 or 25 percent of the contract value.
Renewal and Continuing Education
Residential and commercial general contractor licenses renew every two years under 43-41-6(i), and the Board's renewal deadline is June 30 of even numbered years through the GOALS portal.
As a condition of renewal, 43-41-6(k) lets each division require continuing education of up to three hours a year for residential basic, six hours for residential light commercial and eight hours for commercial general contractors. The Board tracks residential continuing education through CE Broker.
Common Questions About Georgia Qualifying Agents
Can one qualifying agent qualify more than one Georgia company? Yes. O.C.G.A. 43-41-9(e)(2) lets a qualifying agent serve more than one business organization if the qualifier meets the criteria for each one. Each added company shows its own financial responsibility and insurance under 43-41-9(g).
Does the qualifying agent have to own part of the company? No. The statute accepts a qualifier who is engaged by ownership or by employment. The Board's rules require that person to work in the company's contracting on a full time basis and to supervise its projects.
How long does a Georgia company have to replace its qualifying agent? The company has 180 days from the end of the qualifier's affiliation to employ a new qualifying agent and file an application, under O.C.G.A. 43-41-9(e)(1).
Does a new qualifying agent have to retake the exams? Not always. A qualifier who previously obtained and continuously maintained a license from the same division can qualify a new company without an exam under 43-41-6(a).
Is a license required for a small residential job in Georgia? The residential contractor license applies when the value of the work or the contractor's compensation exceeds $2,500 under 43-41-2(9). Repair work that does not affect structural integrity is exempt when the person discloses to the owner that he or she is unlicensed, under 43-41-17(g).
Does a commercial general contractor license cover electrical or plumbing work? No. Electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low voltage and utility work need their own licenses from the State Construction Industry Licensing Board under O.C.G.A. 43-14. A commercial general contractor does not have to list those subcontractors' license numbers on a bid envelope under 43-41-17(l), but the trade work itself must be done by the licensed trade.
Talk to Us About Qualifying Your Georgia Company
The Licensing Company was founded by Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, two of the industry's recognized authorities on contractor qualification. Our team works with companies that need a licensed Georgia qualifying agent who meets the Board's experience, exam and full time rules and joins the business as an owner or employee.
If your company is entering Georgia, replacing a qualifier inside the 180 day window, or adding a specialty trade, call us at 615-219-2110 or start at Hire a Qualifying Agent.
Sources
- O.C.G.A. 43-41-9, qualifying agents, 2025 Code of Georgia (Justia), retrieved 2026-09-29
- O.C.G.A. 43-41-6, eligibility, exams, renewal and continuing education (Justia), retrieved 2026-09-29
- O.C.G.A. 43-41-2, definitions (Justia), retrieved 2026-09-29
- O.C.G.A. 43-41-17, unlicensed contracts and exemptions (Justia), retrieved 2026-09-29
- O.C.G.A. 43-14-8, electrical contractors (Justia), retrieved 2026-09-29
- O.C.G.A. 43-14-9, low voltage contractors (Justia), retrieved 2026-09-29
- O.C.G.A. 43-14-10, utility contractors (Justia), retrieved 2026-09-29
- O.C.G.A. 43-14-13, plumbing contractors (Justia), retrieved 2026-09-29
- O.C.G.A. 43-14-14, conditioned air contractors (Justia), retrieved 2026-09-29
- Board Rules Chapter 553-3, residential contractor qualifications, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Board Rules Chapter 553-4, general contractor qualifications, retrieved 2026-09-29
- State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors, retrieved 2026-09-29
- How-To Guide: Commercial General Contractors, Georgia Secretary of State, retrieved 2026-09-29
- PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, Georgia Residential and General Contractors, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Georgia State Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Georgia State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Georgia State Board of Low Voltage Contractors, retrieved 2026-09-29
- Georgia State Board of Utility Contractors, retrieved 2026-09-29
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.