Georgia does not issue one generic contractor license. The Board of Residential and General Contractors licenses three main categories, each with its own scope, experience requirement, and financial bar. Picking the right one is step two of getting licensed.
This is an independent guide, not affiliated with the Georgia Board of Residential and General Contractors, PSI, or NASCLA. Licensing details change, so verify current requirements against the Board's official publications before you act.
Residential-Basic
Scope: detached one- and two-family residences and one-family townhouses of 3 stories or less.
Experience: at least 2 years of verifiable experience under the direct employment of a licensed residential contractor.
Age: 21 or older.
Financial responsibility: a $25,000 net-worth affirmation, OR a bank credit reference covering 24 months, OR a $25,000 surety bond, OR a $25,000 line-of-credit letter, OR a $25,000 letter of credit. General liability of at least $300,000 per occurrence.
Continuing education: 3 hours per year.
This is the entry-level residential license. If you build or remodel single-family homes and townhouses, this is usually your category.
Residential-Light Commercial
Scope: everything in Residential-Basic, plus qualifying buildings under 4 stories and 25,000 square feet of aggregate interior floor space, or qualifying pre-engineered steel buildings up to 50,000 square feet.
Experience: a qualifying education/experience combination totaling at least 4 years, OR 4 years of verifiable active experience with at least 2 years as or in the employment of a residential contractor.
Age: 21 or older.
Financial responsibility: the same $25,000 alternatives as Residential-Basic. General liability of at least $500,000 per occurrence.
Continuing education: 6 hours per year.
The step up from Basic: small commercial buildings and larger residential work. The experience bar doubles, and the GL minimum jumps from $300,000 to $500,000.
General contractor
Scope: unlimited by type, subject to the Limited Tier restrictions below.
Experience: a qualifying combination totaling 4 years, OR 4 years of proven active experience including at least 2 years as or in the employment of a commercial general contractor and at least 1 year in qualifying administration, marketing, accounting, estimating, drafting, engineering, supervision, or project-management work.
Age: 21 or older.
Financial responsibility: minimum net worth of $150,000. General liability of at least $500,000 per occurrence.
Continuing education: up to 8 hours per year.
Limited Tier: minimum net worth of $25,000, GL of at least $500,000, and a maximum contract value of $1,000,000 per project. The Limited Tier is the on-ramp to a full General license: lower financial bar, but you cannot take a contract above $1,000,000.
How the categories compare
| | Residential-Basic | Residential-Light Commercial | General | Limited Tier | |---|---|---|---|---| | Scope | 1-2 family, 3 stories or less | Adds small commercial | Unlimited | Unlimited type, $1M cap | | Experience | 2 years | 4 years | 4 years | 4 years | | Financial | $25,000 alternatives | $25,000 alternatives | $150,000 net worth | $25,000 net worth | | GL minimum | $300,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | | CE per year | 3 hours | 6 hours | Up to 8 hours | Up to 8 hours |
Limited Tier vs. full General: which to choose
The Limited Tier exists for contractors whose balance sheet is not at the $150,000 net worth the full General license requires. With $25,000 in net worth and $500,000 in GL, you can hold a General-category license capped at $1,000,000 per contract. For most residential and light commercial builders, that cap never binds. The Limited Tier is not a lesser license in the eyes of clients; it is the same category with a project-size guardrail. Upgrade to full General when your balance sheet supports it and your pipeline demands bigger contracts.
Common classification mistakes
- Applying for General with residential-only experience. The General experience requirement specifically demands time as or under a commercial general contractor. Residential framing for four years does not qualify you.
- Choosing by prestige instead of pipeline. The General license sounds better, but if your work is single-family homes, Residential-Basic is faster, cheaper, and entirely sufficient.
- Ignoring the GL jump. Moving from Residential-Basic to any other category raises your GL minimum from $300,000 to $500,000. Price that into your decision.
- Forgetting the exam is the same. Every category takes the identical Business and Law exam. Do not pick a "easier" category hoping for an easier test; there is not one.
Which one do you need?
Match the category to the work you actually plan to do in the next two years, not the work you dream about in ten. If you build single-family homes, Residential-Basic is enough. If you are moving into small commercial, Light Commercial. If you bid commercial work of any size, General, and if your balance sheet is not at $150,000 net worth yet, the Limited Tier gets you in the game with the $1,000,000 cap.
One more consideration: every category takes the same Business and Law exam. The category changes your experience and financial requirements, not the exam.
Try the free practice quiz
Whatever category you choose, the Business and Law exam is the same. Take the free 12-question Georgia practice quiz to see where you stand, with explanations for every answer. Start the free quiz