Georgia Electrician License: Journeyman, Master & Contractor Requirements
If you're searching for how to get a Georgia journeyman or master electrician license, you need to know one thing upfront: Georgia does not issue statewide journeyman or master electrician licenses. Instead, Georgia licenses Electrical Contractors through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) under the Secretary of State. Individual electricians work under a contractor's license rather than holding their own. See our Georgia state exam prep page for practice questions aligned to the Georgia contractor exam.
This is different from most states, and it changes the path entirely. Here's exactly how Georgia licensing works in 2026 — what licenses exist, what it takes to get one, and how the exam works.
Georgia Electrician License Overview
Georgia's electrical licensing is administered by the Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors, which operates under the Secretary of State (SOS). The Board is commonly called the CILB — Construction Industry Licensing Board.
The IEC Atlanta chapter confirms it directly: "There is not a journeyman licensing phase in Georgia, however, they do work under the license of an Electrical Contractor." [Source: iecatlantaga.org]
Individual electricians — apprentices, journeymen — work in the field under their employer's contractor license. Once you accumulate enough verified experience, you apply for your own Electrical Contractor license and take the PSI exam.
License Types in Georgia
Georgia's CILB issues Electrical Contractor licenses in two classes [Source: sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-board-electrical-contractors]:
Class I — Restricted Restricted to electrical contracting involving single-phase installations that do not exceed 200 amperes at the service drop or service lateral. [Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 121-3-.01 via law.cornell.edu] Requires the same 4-year experience requirement as Class II.
Class II — Non-Restricted (Unrestricted) The full, statewide electrical contractor license. Authorizes electrical contracting work on any type of electrical system — residential, commercial, and industrial. No limitations on scope of work. If you want to contract without restrictions, this is your target.
Georgia also licenses Low-Voltage Contractors and other specialty categories through the CILB, but these are separate from the standard Electrical Contractor license.
Note on "Journeyman" and "Master" terminology: Some apprenticeship programs (IBEW, IEC, ABC) award journeyman certificates upon completing their programs, but these are program credentials — not state licenses. Georgia has no state-issued journeyman electrician license and no state-issued master electrician license. The contractor license is the only state-issued electrician license in Georgia.
Becoming an Electrician in Georgia: The Path to a Contractor License
Working as an Electrician (Pre-License)
Before applying for a contractor license, most Georgia electricians complete an apprenticeship. The IEC Atlanta program, for example, requires 576 classroom hours and 8,000 on-the-job training (OJT) hours (approximately 4 years) to earn a Journeyman Certificate. [Source: iecatlantaga.org/apprenticeships-new-2024]
During this time you work under a licensed electrical contractor. Your employer's license covers your work — you do not need a personal state license to work in the trade.
Qualifying for the Contractor License
To apply for a Class I or Class II license, you must demonstrate 4 years of verifiable electrical experience working under a licensed electrical contractor. [Source: Georgia Electrical EXAM Application — sos.ga.gov]
Additional requirements:
- Age: At least 21 years old
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- References: Three letters of reference
- Background check: Criminal background check conducted during application
- Licensed employer: Experience must be under a licensed contractor — time under an unlicensed contractor does not count toward the 4-year requirement
Educational or technical training may partially substitute for hands-on experience. Check the current CILB application for precise substitution rules.
Application contact: Georgia Board of Electrical Contractors 3920 Arkwright Rd., Suite 195, Macon, GA 31210 Phone: (844) 753-7825 Website: sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-board-electrical-contractors
The Board must approve your application before PSI will schedule you for the exam.
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Georgia's CILB issues a statewide contractor license — valid across the state. However, municipalities including Atlanta, Savannah, and Augusta may require separate permits or local contractor registration in addition to the state license. The City of Atlanta, for example, requires presentation of your state-issued contractor license card to obtain local building permits. [Source: atlantaga.gov online permitting]
Before starting work in any specific city or county, confirm local permit and registration requirements directly with that jurisdiction — requirements vary.
The PSI Exam
Exam Vendor
The Georgia Electrical Contractor exam is administered by PSI Exams. Contact PSI at (800) 733-9267 or candidate.psiexams.com. You must receive Board approval before scheduling. [Source: mikeholt.com/statelicense.php?id=GA, citing sos.ga.gov]
Exam Format
The exam consists of two parts, both taken on the same day with a break:
| Part | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Regulations, Laws & Administrative Functions | 30 (Class II) / 15 (Class I) | 4 hours |
| Technical Functions | 110 questions | 4 hours |
Pre-test (unscored) questions: 22 for Class II, 15 for Class I. Total exam time: 8 hours. Passing score: 70% on each part. [Source: mikeholt.com/statelicense.php?id=GA; 70% passing score per Georgia proposed rule R 121-2-.01 — sos.ga.gov]
Open-Book — Reference Materials Allowed
The Georgia electrical contractor exam is open-book. You may bring your NEC codebook and other approved reference materials. However, books with excessive markings or alterations may be rejected at the testing center. Tab and organize your references carefully before exam day.
NEC Edition
As of 2026, PSI tests the 2023 NEC for Georgia contractor exams. Georgia adopted the 2023 NEC statewide effective January 1, 2025, and PSI transitioned to it for Georgia exams on June 20, 2025. [Source: mikeholt.com/statelicense.php?id=GA]
How to Prepare
The Georgia electrical contractor exam is open-book — but open-book doesn't mean easy. With 140 questions across two parts in 8 hours, finding the right NEC section quickly is critical. Candidates who walk in without knowing the code architecture waste time hunting and run out of clock.
The Georgia contractor exam is administered by PSI and tests the 2023 NEC — the same code used on journeyman and master exams in other states. GetLicenseReady has 1,600+ NEC 2023-aligned practice questions in exam mode — 100 questions, timed, same format as the real PSI test. You practice NEC lookup speed under pressure, which is exactly what the exam tests.
Try 10 questions free at getlicenseready.com/demo — no account required. Create a free account to unlock 25 questions.
Effective preparation also means:
- Tabbing and indexing your 2023 NEC — know the article structure cold before you walk in
- Practicing timed open-book questions — you should be able to locate and confirm answers in seconds, not minutes
- Reviewing Georgia regulations — the Regulations/Laws part covers state-specific administrative rules, not just the NEC
Renewal Requirements
Georgia Electrical Contractor licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years and must be renewed every two years. [Source: mikeholt.com/statelicense.php?id=GA, citing CILB]
Continuing education (CE) requirements before renewal:
- Licensed 2 or more years: 8 hours of CE (4 hours per year)
- Licensed more than 1 year but less than 2 years: 4 hours of CE
- Licensed 1 year or less: No CE required for the first renewal
CE must be completed before submitting your renewal. Renewal is processed through the Board's website at sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-board-electrical-contractors.
FAQ
Does Georgia have a journeyman or master electrician license?
No. Georgia does not issue statewide journeyman or master electrician licenses. The Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses Electrical Contractors (Class I and Class II). Individual electricians work in the field under their employer's contractor license. [Source: iecatlantaga.org, sos.ga.gov]
What is the difference between a Class I and Class II license?
Class I (Restricted) is for limited-scope electrical contracting, generally residential and light commercial. Class II (Non-Restricted) is the full, unrestricted contractor license with no limitations on the type or size of electrical systems. Both require the same 4-year experience requirement and PSI examination.
Can I bring my NEC codebook to the exam?
Yes. The Georgia electrical contractor exam is open-book. You may bring your NEC and other approved reference materials. Books with excessive markings may be rejected at the testing center — confirm PSI's specific guidelines when you schedule your exam.
How do I apply for the Georgia Electrical Contractor license?
Submit your application (with fee, references, and documentation) to the Georgia Board of Electrical Contractors at 3920 Arkwright Rd., Suite 195, Macon, GA 31210, or online through the SOS. Once the Board approves your application, PSI will contact you with exam scheduling information. Visit sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-board-electrical-contractors for current applications and fees.
All requirements in this guide are drawn from the Georgia Secretary of State, the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (sos.ga.gov), and PSI Exams, verified as of March 2026. Georgia licensing requirements are subject to change — always confirm at sos.ga.gov before submitting any application.
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