Contractor License from Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas 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 does not have a trade agreement covering Texas 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, Texas → Georgia
| Texas (current) | Georgia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $30–$115 (Fees differ by agency and trade: TDLR journeyman electrician $30 and master electrician $45; TSBPE reciprocal license verification $40 non-refundable, plus the IdentoGO fingerprint fee; TDLR ACR out-of-state application $115. There is no state general-contractor license fee because Texas does not license general contractors.) | Board fee applies; specific figure not verified (board site blocked) |
| Processing time | No single figure applies. TSBPE states a reciprocal plumbing license arrives by US mail within 30 days of the completed online application and payment; TDLR publishes no processing time for electrician or ACR reciprocity. | Not verified |
| Licensing authority | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (plumbers); no state general-contractor license | 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 Texas contractor license?
A contractor license transfers from Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas-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)
- TDLR — Transfer Your Out-of-State Electrician License to Texas (master and journeyman reciprocal states; $45/$30 fees; hour requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TDLR — Licensing Reciprocity for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (Georgia and South Carolina license-to-class mapping) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TDLR — Out of State Applicants, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration ($115 fee; insurance minimums; exam may still be required) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TSBPE — Reciprocal License Verification Request (Louisiana and Arkansas only; $40 fee; IdentoGO fingerprints; per-state conditions) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TSBPE — Reciprocal License Agreement with Louisiana (~30 days by mail) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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