How to Become an Electrician in Georgia
Georgia licenses electrical contractors at the state level through the Secretary of State's board, but it does not issue a statewide journeyman license — electricians work under a licensed electrical contractor. The real credential to aim for is the state Electrical Contractor license.
Licensing in Georgia at a glance
- How it's licensed
- State licenses contractors; no state journeyman license
- Licensing authority
- Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors (Secretary of State) →
Apprentice / electrician — No state journeyman license. You work and gain experience under a licensed electrical contractor. A typical apprenticeship runs about 8,000 hours (four years) plus roughly 576 hours of classroom instruction.
Electrical Contractor (Class I or Class II) — Be at least 21, document about 4 years of qualifying experience, provide references (including one from a licensed electrical contractor), and pass the state exam with 70% or higher. Class I covers single-phase up to a limit; Class II (unrestricted) covers all electrical work.
Renewal — Periodic, with continuing education.
No journeyman card — aim for contractor
Georgia surprises people: there's no statewide journeyman license to chase. You build your experience working under a licensed electrical contractor, and the credential that actually changes your career is the state Electrical Contractor license from the Secretary of State's board.
Building toward the contractor license
Log your years under licensed contractors and keep documentation — you'll need to prove about four years of qualifying experience to sit for the contractor exam. Decide between Class I (limited) and Class II (unrestricted) based on the work you want to do.
The pay picture
Georgia — metro Atlanta especially — has strong construction demand, so experienced electricians and licensed contractors do well.
Your next step
Get hired by a licensed electrical contractor, log documented experience, and work toward the state contractor exam. For the trade overall, read the national How to Become an Electrician guide.
⚠️ Always verify current requirements
Licensing rules change and often vary by city or county. Before you count on anything here, confirm the current requirements directly with Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors (Secretary of State).