Hello,
we are an out of state painting subcontractor working under a general contractor in the state of GA. Is it necessary for us to get a license?
1 reply
Jan 3, 2020
Contractor licensing in Georgia is regulated by the GA State Licensing Board for Residential & General Contractors. There are two things you'll want to take into consideration; (1) does the work require a license? and (2) if so, does Georgia offer reciprocity for out-of-state licensed contractors?
Does the work performed require a license in Georgia?
The GA State Licensing Board does provide some exemptions to the licensing requirements for specialty contractors under OCGA §43-41-17. This statute refers to a list of traditional speciality contractors who may perform limited, specialty, or specific trade work. However, this exemption is only applicable if the contractor contracted directly with the owner. If working as a sub, this will likely not apply.
Does Georgia offer reciprocity for out-of-state licenses?
If currently licensed in another state, Georgia does have some reciprocity agreements with a few states depending on the license. Under the General Contractors Division, reciprocity is allowed for those licensed in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. As for the Residential Contractors Division, reciprocity is allowed for those licensed in Mississippi and South Carolina. However, in both scenarios, the out-of-state contractor will still need to sit for and pass the GA business and law exam before being issued a GA license.
For more information, the GA State Licensing Board FAQs page may prove helpful.