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Georgia Plumbing

Georgia plumbing license guide

Georgia plumbing licensing is handled by the Georgia State Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers through the Secretary of State. The official sources distinguish journeyman, Class I master, Class II master, medical gas, renewal, and business-operation rules.

The short answer

Georgia plumbers should start with the Secretary of State's plumber license how-to guide and board FAQ. The FAQ says Georgia offers journeyman, Class I master, and Class II master plumber licenses, and that only licensed master plumbers may have a plumbing business.

Who this applies to

  • Georgia plumbers should confirm whether the journeyman, Class I master, Class II master, or medical gas path fits the work they plan to sell.
  • Contractors planning to operate a plumbing business should review the master-plumber business rule before using a company offer in public copy.
  • Homeowners and contractors can use GOALS to verify plumbing license status before hiring or subcontracting.

Requirement snapshot

Authority Georgia State Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers.
License types The board FAQ lists journeyman plumber, Class I master plumber, and Class II master plumber license types.
Journeyman experience The board FAQ says journeyman plumbers must have at least 1 year of experience in plumbing work covered by the Georgia State Plumbing Code.
Master experience The board FAQ says statewide master plumber applicants must document at least 5 years of covered plumbing experience, including at least 2 years licensed as a journeyman; Class II applicants must also document commercial or industrial plumbing experience.
Business note The FAQ says the licensing board does not register plumbing companies and notes that only licensed master plumbers may have a business.
Renewal and CE The FAQ says renewal is due by November 30 of even-numbered years and that 4 continuing education hours are required annually, for 8 hours per renewal.

Practical application path

  1. Start with the Georgia plumber license how-to guide and choose journeyman, master restricted, master non-restricted, reinstatement, renewal, or medical gas as applicable.
  2. Create or log into GOALS and complete the selected application path.
  3. Prepare background check, experience, references, secure/verifiable document, affidavit of citizenship, and journeyman verification materials where applicable.
  4. Wait for board approval before scheduling the PSI exam through the instructions provided by board staff.
  5. Before advertising plumbing jobs through a company, confirm the master plumber and business-operation requirements.

Watchouts before you sell the work

  • Journeyman, Class I master, Class II master, medical gas, reinstatement, and renewal paths solve different problems.
  • Georgia's FAQ says there is no reciprocity with other states for master or journeyman plumbers.
  • A plumbing license does not replace local permits, code inspections, insurance, medical gas certification, or separate business/entity requirements.

Official source links

Georgia Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-division-master-and-journeyman-plumbers Georgia plumber license how-to guide https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-plumber-license Georgia plumbers FAQ https://sos.ga.gov/page/division-master-and-journeyman-plumbers-faq Georgia GOALS license search https://goals.sos.ga.gov

FAQ

Who licenses plumbers in Georgia?

The Georgia State Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers handles plumber licensing through the Secretary of State.

Can a Georgia journeyman plumber operate a plumbing business?

The board FAQ says only licensed master plumbers may have a plumbing business, not journeyman plumbers.