Contractor License from Alabama to Georgia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
A contractor license transfers from Alabama to Georgia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Office of Secretary of State), verify your Alabama license, and meet Georgia's endorsement requirements. Georgia accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Examination for the general-contractor trade exam. Georgia licenses residential (residential-basic/light-commercial) and general contractors as SEPARATE classes through the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Georgia has no license-to-license agreement covering Alabama for the selected trade, so this move runs on Georgia's case-by-case endorsement process. If you do commercial general-building work, note that Georgia accepts the NASCLA exam in place of its own trade exam. Electricians should check Georgia's NERA status.
What changes, Alabama → Georgia
| Alabama (current) | Georgia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $220–$315 (Fees are per-board, not additive: General Contractors prime application $300; Electrical reciprocal license $315 (eff. 2/14/2026); HVAC reciprocity $220 (plus $20,000 bond); Home Builders and plumbing fees separate.) | Board fee applies; specific figure not verified (board site blocked) |
| Processing time | 4+ weeks (GC reciprocity applications must be on file 30 days before a quarterly board meeting, so timing depends on the meeting calendar; other boards do not publish a processing range.) | Not verified |
| Licensing authority | Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (plus separate Home Builders Licensure Board, Board of Electrical Contractors, HACR Board, and Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board) | Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Office of Secretary of State) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Georgia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Georgia's current requirements on the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Office of Secretary of State) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Office of Secretary of State).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold an equivalent contractor license in good standing (used toward reciprocity/experience).
- Pass the Georgia Business and Law examination.
- Provide financial-responsibility documentation and required insurance.
- Pay the fees (Board fee applies; specific figure not verified (board site blocked)). Processing time: Not verified.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Georgia accept an Alabama contractor license?
A contractor license transfers from Alabama to Georgia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Office of Secretary of State), verify your Alabama license, and meet Georgia's endorsement requirements. Georgia accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Examination for the general-contractor trade exam. Georgia licenses residential (residential-basic/light-commercial) and general contractors as SEPARATE classes through the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors.
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
Georgia's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the Alabama-to-Georgia move cost and how long does it take?
Board fee applies; specific figure not verified (board site blocked). Processing time: Not verified.
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
Possibly, for the trade it covers: Georgia's board accepts a NASCLA accredited exam in place of its own trade exam (verified 2026-07-21). The business/law exam, bond and application still apply.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- NASCLA - States accepting the NASCLA Accredited Commercial GB Exam (Georgia listed) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors — Reciprocity (AR, LA, MS, NC, TN; trade exam waived, business-law not waived; 30 days on file) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board — Does the Board reciprocate? (TN, SC, MS, LA, NC; 3 years; skills exam waived, business-law not) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors — Forms and Testing (reciprocal states MS, LA, TN, NC, VA, SC, TX + NASCLA; $315 fee eff. 2/14/2026) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama HACR Board — How to Get Licensed (reciprocal states; $220 fee; $20,000 bond; letter of good standing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board — Reciprocation (Mississippi master plumber eff. 1/1/2026; Louisiana LP gas) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]