How long does it take to get an electrical license in Georgia?

No. Georgia has no state license for individual electricians, and the Georgia Board of Electrical Contractors says it licenses electrical contractors, not electricians. Apprentices and journeymen work legally under the license of the contractor who employs them. You need a Class I or Class II electrical contractor license only to contract electrical work yourself.

A Class I (Restricted) electrical contractor license takes 3 years of full-time experience, and a Class II (Non-Restricted) license takes 4, with at least 2 on three-phase systems. Georgia counts 2,000 documented hours as one year under Senate Bill 553, effective July 1, 2026. A U.S. Department of Labor approved apprenticeship can qualify you for Class I, or for Class II with one more year of three-phase work.

The application fee is $110 for a Class I or Class II license, according to the Georgia Secretary of State. You pay PSI separately for the exam and pay for your own criminal background check. Renewal fees are listed in the board's fee schedule in GOALS.

No. The Georgia Board of Electrical Contractors stopped offering licensure by reciprocity effective May 2026, so electrical contractors licensed in other states apply by exam like any other applicant. Electricians can still work in Georgia under a licensed contractor without a state license.

Every two years. Renewal is online in GOALS and due by June 30 of even-numbered years, with a late renewal period from July 1 to July 31. You need 4 hours of continuing education each year, or 8 per renewal, and the hours don't carry over to the next cycle.