Contractor License from Tennessee to Georgia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Office of Secretary of State) ↗
A contractor license transfers from Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Georgia does not have a trade agreement covering Tennessee for the selected trade, so this move runs on Georgia's case-by-case endorsement process. If you do commercial general-building work, check whether Georgia accepts the NASCLA exam — passing it once can replace the trade exam here and in about fourteen other states. Electricians should check Georgia's NERA status.
What changes, Tennessee → Georgia
| Tennessee (current) | Georgia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $250 (Initial contractor license application fee $250. The CPA-prepared reviewed or audited financial statement is a separate professional cost, and some verifying states charge a fee to complete the Board's license-verification form. Beginning July 1, 2026 exams are administered by Prov.) | Board fee applies; specific figure not verified (board site blocked) |
| Processing time | No processing-time estimate is published; applications are acted on at the Board's scheduled meetings. | Not verified |
| Licensing authority | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance) | 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)) and allow Not verified.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Georgia accept a Tennessee contractor license?
A contractor license transfers from Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee-to-Georgia move cost and how long does it take?
Board fee applies; specific figure not verified (board site blocked); processing Not verified.
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether Georgia is one on the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Office of Secretary of State) site.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- NASCLA - States accepting the NASCLA Accredited Commercial GB Exam (Georgia listed) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors — Trade Exam Waiver (Reciprocity) with Tennessee, Rev. 06/2026 (participating states, scope, TN matching classifications) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors — Get a Contractor License ($250 fee, Business & Law exam, CPA financial statement, $25,000 threshold) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]