Do you need a license to be a carpenter in Georgia?
No. Georgia doesn't license carpenters as a trade. Contractors need a license from GA State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors.
State license · By ChiselJobs Team · Updated
In short
Georgia does not license carpenters, but contractors on jobs over $2,500 need a license from the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors. Residential Basic needs two years of experience and two projects, Residential Light Commercial four years (or a degree plus one year), and General Contractor four years. All require an exam, and applicants must be 21 or older. Liability insurance is set by license: $300,000 for Residential Basic and $500,000 for Light Commercial, plus workers' compensation. Licenses renew every two years with yearly continuing education of 3, 6 or 8 hours depending on the license. Georgia adopted the 2024 IRC and IBC with state amendments.
Key facts
| Carpenter license | No |
| Licensing level | State |
| General contractor license | General Contractor (incl. limited tier) |
| Residential contractor license | Residential Basic; Residential Light Commercial |
| Home improvement registration | No |
| When a license is needed | Over $2,500 |
| Carpentry classification | None |
| Exam | Yes |
| Experience | Residential Basic: 2 yrs + 2 projects; Light Commercial: 4 yrs (or degree + 1 yr); GC: 4 yrs |
| Bond / insurance | Liability insurance: Residential Basic $300,000; Light Commercial $500,000; workers comp |
| Renewal | 2 years |
| Continuing education | RB 3 hrs/yr; RLC 6 hrs/yr; GC 8 hrs/yr |
| Local license | No (state license covers) |
| Board | GA State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors |
Visit GA State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors
Bond and insurance
| Insurance minimum | Required (amount not on page) |
Residential application checklist lists general liability insurance, workers' comp (if applicable) and net worth affirmation; some application types list a surety bond.
- Source: sos.ga.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (no state agency) |
Programs register through the Office of Apprenticeship; use the Partner Finder for local sponsors.
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Building code
| Code in force | IRC 2024; IBC 2024 (with state amendments) |
- Source: dca.georgia.gov · checked November 5, 2026