Georgia · plumber licensing · verified July 2026
Georgia plumber license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Georgia licenses plumbers statewide through the Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers of the State Construction Industry Licensing Board (Secretary of State). Tiers are Journeyman Plumber (minimum 1 year of qualifying experience since the March 19, 2025 rule change), Class I Master Plumber (restricted; 5 years experience including 2 as a licensed journeyman), and Class II Master Plumber (unrestricted; same experience plus documented commercial/industrial work), each requiring a PSI-administered exam with a minimum score of 70. Licenses renew biennially by November 30 of even-numbered years with 8 hours of CE per cycle, and Georgia has no reciprocity with any other state.
Do you need a license to work as a plumber in Georgia?
Georgia licenses plumbers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Georgia explicitly has no reciprocity with any other state for Master or Journeyman Plumbers. The Board does not register plumbing companies; only licensed Master Plumbers may operate a plumbing business. Licensed plumbers may add a state Medical Gas Piping certification via a Board-approved training program (Rule 121-2-.11). If an applicant fails the exam twice, a Board-approved review course is required before a third attempt. Exam category details (journeyman 1-year change) are confirmed by Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 121-3-.02 as filed through July 9, 2026.
What licenses does Georgia issue?
The Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board - Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (Georgia Secretary of State) issues the credentials below for this trade. Boards often list further classes for specialties and business licenses; these are the ones this page covers.
Hours are what each class asks for on its own terms. Where a senior class shows fewer than a journeyman, the board is counting time served after the earlier license rather than from the start; the prerequisite column says which.
| License | On-the-job hours | Classroom hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class I Master Plumber (restricted) | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class II Master Plumber (unrestricted) | not published | not published | Yes |
Source: Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board - Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (Georgia Secretary of State) (rules.sos.ga.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Georgia require?
Journeyman Plumber examination (minimum score 70). Administered by PSI.
Class I Master Plumber examination (minimum score 70). Administered by PSI.
Class II Master Plumber examination (minimum score 70). Administered by PSI.
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: Biennial, renew online via GOALS by November 30 of even-numbered years (late renewal December 1-31 of even-numbered years)
Continuing education: 4 continuing education hours required annually (8 hours total per biennial renewal); random CE audits conducted
How does the apprenticeship route work?
Georgia's board does not register apprentices; unlicensed workers accumulate 'Primary Experience' installing plumbing under the supervision of a licensed Master Plumber (or 'Secondary Experience' such as county water department or inspection work), and 1 year of such experience qualifies an applicant for the Journeyman exam. Time licensed as a Journeyman (minimum 2 years) then counts toward the 5-year Master Plumber requirement.
Which states does Georgia have license reciprocity with?
No published agreement for this trade names Georgia. That is not the same as a closed door: states without a published list usually take out-of-state applicants through an endorsement or equivalency review instead, decided case by case on the requirements set out above.
How does Georgia compare to neighboring states?
Requirements stop at the state line, which matters if you live near one or expect to move. Here is what the neighboring states ask of the same trade.
| State | Journeyman hours | Licensing model |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | not published | Statewide |
| Alabama | not published | Statewide |
| Florida | 12,000 | Contractor level only |
| North Carolina | not published | Statewide |
| South Carolina | not published | Contractor level only |
| Tennessee | not published | Contractor level only |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- Georgia SOS - Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers FAQ (tiers, PSI, renewal, CE, no reciprocity)
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 121-3-.02 - Statewide Master and Journeyman Plumber License (official Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia)
- Georgia SOS - How-To Guide: Plumber License
- Georgia SOS - Georgia State Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers
Last verified July 2026. Found an error? Report it and it will be corrected and logged on the corrections page.
Other states with published requirements for this trade: Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois.
Price the whole path with the license cost estimator, or weigh earning against paying for school with the apprenticeship comparison. Back to plumbers overview.
Licensing requirements change between our verification sweeps. This page is informational only, so confirm current requirements with Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board - Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (Georgia Secretary of State) before making decisions. Not legal advice.