Plumber License Requirements in Georgia
- Training hours
- —
- Upfront cost
- $40
- Exam
- Journeyman Plumber Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Georgia Secretary of State, State Construction Industry Licensing Board — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 50-36-1) requires the Board to verify lawful U.S. presence for any applicant 18 years or older applying for a state benefit such as a license, and the application affidavit itself states the applicant must be 18 or older. A background check submitted directly from the applicant's local law enforcement agency is required with the application; applicants must also disclose and document any arrests/convictions and provide 3 notarized references from licensed plumbers (at least 1 a licensed Master Plumber). [3]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete the required training. Georgia qualifies applicants by experience, not classroom hours. Per current Board Rule 121-3-.02 (in effect through this record's access date) and the Board's own FAQ, a statewide Journeyman Plumber applicant must document a minimum of 1 year of Primary or Secondary plumbing experience covered by the Georgia State Plumbing Code. An older initial-application form on the Board's own site (revised 02/23, titled for INITIAL LICENSURE or REINSTATEMENT of a license LAPSED 3+ YEARS) instead states a 3-year experience minimum for Journeyman — per source-rule precedence this record follows the current rule text (1 year) and flags the discrepancy here rather than silently picking one. No fixed classroom-hour or approved-program requirement exists; experience can be Primary (direct installation under a licensed Master) or Secondary (related work/training, e.g. municipal water-department maintenance or inspection). [1]
- 3
Journeyman Plumber Examination
Pass the Journeyman Plumber Examination. Offered on a continuous basis at various locations, once the Board approves the applicant to sit; PSI contacts approved candidates directly to register, pay, and select a date/time. Minimum passing score is 70. No fixed exam fee is published on the Board's own site — PSI communicates current pricing directly to approved candidates. An applicant who fails twice must submit a certificate of completion for a Board-approved review course before retesting. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Georgia Secretary of State, State Construction Industry Licensing Board — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers with the $40 application fee. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Georgia Secretary of State, State Construction Industry Licensing Board — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers issues your Statewide Journeyman Plumber License for Georgia.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $40 |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | None specified |
| Journeyman Plumber Examination [2] | None specified |
Per the Board's own initial-application form: $40 Initial Application Fee ($30 application fee + $10 processing fee), non-refundable. No separate license-issuance fee beyond this application fee was found. The Board's current fee schedule is served dynamically through the GOALS online portal rather than a static page, so this record could not confirm the renewal fee amount on an official page; 'renewal' is left null rather than citing a non-official aggregator figure.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 8 continuing education hours required per cycle.
License renewal is completed online through the GOALS portal by November 30 of even-numbered years (late renewal window is December 1-31). Continuing education is required at 4 hours annually, totaling 8 hours per 2-year renewal cycle; licensees may be randomly audited for CE compliance.
Reciprocity
No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.
No interstate compact covers plumbing. The Board's own FAQ states plainly: 'Georgia does not have reciprocity with any other states for Master or Journeyman Plumbers.' Out-of-state plumbers must apply and test through the same experience/exam pathway as any other Georgia applicant.
3 state-approved training providers in Georgia — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $40
Frequently asked questions
How much experience does Georgia require for a Journeyman Plumber license?
Per current Board rule, at least 1 year of experience in plumbing work covered by the Georgia State Plumbing Code (Primary or Secondary experience). An older Board application form states 3 years for the same license — this record follows the current rule text and flags the discrepancy.
Who administers Georgia's Journeyman Plumber exam?
PSI/AMP, under contract with the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board. Exams are offered continuously once the Board approves the applicant to sit; PSI then contacts the candidate directly to register and schedule.
What does it cost to apply for a Journeyman Plumber license in Georgia?
A $40 non-refundable initial application fee ($30 application + $10 processing). No separate license-issuance fee was found; the current renewal fee could not be confirmed on a static official page since Georgia's fee schedule is served through the GOALS online portal.
How often does a Georgia Journeyman Plumber license need to be renewed?
Every 2 years, by November 30 of even-numbered years (late window December 1-31). 4 hours of continuing education are required annually, totaling 8 hours per renewal cycle.
Can I transfer my out-of-state plumber license to Georgia?
No. Georgia's Board of Plumbers states directly that it does not have reciprocity with any other state for Master or Journeyman Plumbers — out-of-state plumbers must apply and test through the standard Georgia pathway.
Sources
- [1] rules.sos.state.ga.us/GAC/121-3-.02 — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] sos.ga.gov/page/division-master-and-journeyman-plumbers-faq — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/48%20Application%20-%20Plumbing%20EXAM.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12