Georgia doesn't issue a state journeyman or master electrician license — it licenses Electrical Contractors only, through the Construction Industry Licensing Board. This guide covers Class I (Restricted) vs. Class II (Unrestricted), how to apply, what's on the PSI exam, which reference books are allowed, and a real gap in the state's own published materials worth knowing about before you buy a codebook.
Quick Answer: What Do You Need?
| Licensing authority | Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors (via the Secretary of State) |
| License type | Electrical Contractor only — Class I (Restricted) or Class II (Unrestricted). Georgia has no state journeyman or master license. |
| Testing provider | PSI Services LLC |
| Experience needed | 4 years (~8,000 hours) working under a licensed Electrical Contractor |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Application fee | $110, plus a $40 exam application fee ($30 + $10 processing) and $110 per exam part paid to PSI |
| Exam format | Computer-based, multiple choice, in two parts (Regulations/Admin + Technical). 8 hours total, 4 per part. Passing scaled score: 70. |
| NEC edition | Unclear as of our last check — see the dedicated section below before buying a codebook. |
Why There's No Georgia "Journeyman" License
If you searched for a "Georgia journeyman electrician exam," here's the honest answer: it doesn't exist at the state level. The Board's own FAQ states plainly: "Does the Board license electricians? No, the Board licenses Electrical Contractors, not electricians."
Journeyman-level work is regulated locally — individual cities and counties (Atlanta included) issue their own journeyman cards with their own requirements. If you're working toward journeyman status, check with your specific city or county building department; this guide covers the statewide Electrical Contractor license, which is what you'll eventually need to run your own electrical business or pull permits in your own name.
Class I (Restricted) vs. Class II (Unrestricted)
- Class I (Restricted): requires experience in at least 6 of the Board's defined Primary Experience areas.
- Class II (Unrestricted): requires experience in all Primary Experience areas, plus experience with electrical installations exceeding single-phase, 400-ampere systems, gained while working under a Class II contractor.
Each class has its own PSI exam. Both cover the same content categories — Regulations/Laws/Administrative Functions and Technical Functions — but Class II weights more heavily toward transformers, 3-phase rotating equipment, and higher-voltage systems, consistent with its broader scope.
Eligibility Requirements
- At least 21 years old
- 4 years (roughly 8,000 hours) of experience working under a licensed Electrical Contractor — experience under an unlicensed contractor does not count
- 3 completed reference forms, at least 1 from a licensed electrical contractor
- A background check from your local law enforcement agency
- A Secure & Verifiable Document (government-issued photo ID) and an Affidavit of Citizenship
- Board approval to sit for the exam before you can register with PSI
How to Apply
- Create an account in GOALS, the Board's online licensing portal.
- Select Electrical Contractor — Restricted or Non-Restricted, and complete the application with your $110 fee.
- Submit your background check, references, work experience documentation, and identification/citizenship documents.
- Wait for Board review — applications are generally processed within 20 business days, though incomplete applications restart that clock once you submit the missing items.
- Once approved, you'll receive an Exam Approval Letter (valid 1 year) with instructions to register with PSI.
- Pay the $40 PSI exam application fee, then schedule and pay $110 per exam part on test day.
What Is on the Exam?
Both the Class I and Class II exams are split into two content areas, covered across two 4-hour sessions (8 hours total, including unscored beta/pretest questions):
| Category | Class I Questions | Class II Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Regulations, Laws & Administrative Functions | 30 | 30 |
| Technical Functions | 110 | 110 |
| Total scored questions | 140 | 140 |
| Unscored beta questions | 15 | 22 |
Technical Functions covers basic circuits, motor controls, rotating equipment, transformers, interior electrical systems (conduit, grounding, panels, service entrances), and special equipment/locations (pools, health care facilities, hazardous locations, over-600-volt systems). Regulations covers workers' comp, OSHA, the NEC, NFPA, bonding/insurance, estimating, and reading drawings. There's no penalty for guessing, and you may bookmark and revisit questions before submitting.
What NEC Edition Does Georgia Use? (An Open Question)
This is worth reading carefully before you buy anything. Two things are both true as of our last check, and they don't fully line up:
- Georgia adopted the 2023 NEC as the statewide minimum electrical code, effective January 1, 2025 (with Georgia amendments following January 1, 2026).
- The Board's own currently-published exam reference list — titled the "2025 Exam Reference List" and stated to apply through December 31, 2025 — still lists "Georgia State Electrical (2020 National Electrical Code or National Electrical Code Handbook)" as the allowed codebook. We could not find a published 2026 reference list as of this check, even though that document's own stated expiration date has passed.
Third-party exam-prep sources report that PSI moved Georgia's exam content to the 2023 NEC around June 2025, but we could not confirm that directly against an official Board or PSI document. Our honest recommendation: before you buy a codebook, call the Board at 404-424-9966 or PSI at (800) 733-9267 and ask directly which NEC edition your specific exam will reference on your test date. Don't rely on the code adoption date alone — exam content and code adoption don't always move on the same schedule, as this gap shows.
What Books Are Allowed?
Per the Board's currently-published reference list, these are the only references permitted in the exam room for both Class I and Class II:
- American Electricians' Handbook, 2021, 17th edition (McGraw-Hill)
- Contractors Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management — Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, 5th edition (NASCLA)
- Employer's Tax Guide, Circular E, 2021 or 2022
- Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29, Part 1926 (OSHA), latest available edition
- Georgia State Electrical — the NEC or NEC Handbook (edition currently listed as 2020 — see note above)
- Printreading Based on 2017 NEC (American Technical Publishers)
- Ugly's Electrical References, 2020
Notably, Georgia is one of the few states in our guide series that explicitly allows Ugly's in the exam room — the opposite of states like Massachusetts and Oklahoma. You may bring as many or as few of these seven as you want; no other materials are permitted.
Tabs, Highlighting, and Notes
The Board's notice to candidates is direct:
- Tabs: allowed, but must be permanent tabs.
- Highlighting and underlining: allowed.
- Handwritten notes: not allowed, even if pasted or written directly into the reference book.
- Photocopied materials: not allowed under any circumstances.
Anything beyond the seven listed references — including notes taped or glued into an otherwise-approved book — will be confiscated, and you may be removed from the exam entirely. This is a harder line than most states: some allow pre-exam margin notes; Georgia does not.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial application (Class I or Class II) | $110 |
| Exam application fee (to Board) | $40 ($30 application + $10 processing) |
| Exam fee (to PSI, per part) | $110 |
| Reinstatement (lapsed 3+ years) | $310 |
| Duplicate score report | $25 |
| License verification | $35 |
Retesting Rules
Fail the exam, and you simply re-register and pay to test again — there's no mandatory waiting period stated in the Handbook. However, if you fail twice, you must complete a Board-approved review course (Board Rule 121-2-.06) before you're allowed to sit for a third attempt. If you fail again after completing that course, no further coursework is required — you can keep testing.
Reciprocity (Another Contradiction)
Here's a second inconsistency across the Board's own web pages, worth flagging the same way we flag exam-content gaps:
- The Board's FAQ page states: "Does Georgia have reciprocity with other states? No, Georgia does not currently offer licensure by Reciprocity at this time (effective May 2026)."
- The Board's How-To Guide page, at the same time, still describes an "Electrical Contractor — Non-Restricted, Reciprocity" application pathway available to licensees from Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee with a current license and no violations.
Our read: the FAQ's explicit "effective May 2026" date suggests reciprocity was discontinued more recently than the How-To Guide page was last updated, making the FAQ the more current statement — but since both pages are live on the same official site at the same time, if you're relying on reciprocity to get licensed in Georgia, call the Board directly at 404-424-9966 before assuming either page is accurate for your situation.
Renewal & Continuing Education
Licenses renew every two years, due by June 30 of even-numbered years (a late renewal window runs July 1–31 with an added fee). Continuing education is required: 4 hours per year, 8 hours per renewal cycle, through Board-approved providers under Rule 121-4-.07(4). You may be randomly audited for CE compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Georgia journeyman electrician license?
No, not at the state level. Georgia's Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses Electrical Contractors only. Journeyman-level licensing is handled by individual cities and counties.
What's the difference between Class I and Class II?
Class I (Restricted) requires experience in at least 6 of the Board's Primary Experience areas. Class II (Unrestricted) requires experience in all Primary Experience areas plus work on systems exceeding single-phase, 400 amperes.
Can I bring Ugly's Electrical References to the exam?
Yes — Georgia is one of the few states in our guide series that explicitly permits it, alongside the American Electricians' Handbook, OSHA 29 CFR 1926, and several other named references.
Can I write notes in my codebook?
No. Handwritten notes are prohibited even if pasted into an otherwise-approved reference book. Highlighting, underlining, and permanent tabs are allowed.
Does Your Book Spot USA guarantee I'll pass?
No. We sell official, correctly-prepared reference materials — no book or study guide can guarantee an exam result, and we don't claim otherwise.
Get the Right Reference Materials
Because the currently-published Georgia reference list and the state's own code-adoption timeline don't clearly agree on which NEC edition your exam will use, confirm your edition with the Board or PSI directly before ordering. Once confirmed, browse our full electrical code selection below.
Ordering for a crew or training program? Request bulk pricing.
Official Sources
- Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors — Candidate Information Handbook, rev. 11/2024
- Georgia Secretary of State — Board of Electrical Contractors FAQ (sos.ga.gov/page/board-electrical-contractors-faq)
- Georgia Secretary of State — How-To Guide: Electrical Contractors (sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-electrical-contractors)
- Georgia Secretary of State — Electrical Contractors Suggested Reference List, "2025 Exam Reference List" (checked August 31, 2026)
- Georgia Department of Community Affairs — 2023 NEC statewide adoption, effective January 1, 2025
Your Book Spot USA is not affiliated with the Georgia Secretary of State, the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, PSI Services LLC, or NFPA. Candidate bulletins and licensing rules change — this page reflects our verification as of the date above. Spot something outdated? Let us know and we'll correct it.
