General contracting is a competitive field in Georgia. As a result, certified contractors are increasingly in demand. Whether you’re interested in becoming a general contractor yourself or simply curious about the qualifications your professional contact brings to the table, it’s good to know what it takes to become a successful, qualified, thoroughly-trained general contractor.
There is a long list of required training, examinations, and fees that applicants must tackle before receiving their license in Georgia. (Georgia is also one of the states in the nation that requires its contractors to have this license.) The Georgia Board of Residential & General Contractors sets the criteria and manages the process for all prospective contractors in the state.
These steps and certifications are necessary because they provide high professionalism and education for Georgia contractors. If you’re working with a certified Georgia General Contractor, you know that you’re working with someone who’s been vetted by your state.
First Steps: Meeting Initial Requirements to Be a General Contractor in Georgia
To start the Georgia state licensure journey, applicants must be 21 years or older. Applicants should also exhibit a good sense of financial ownership and have a four-year degree in a discipline relating to general contracting.
Typically, applicants will have a Bachelor’s degree in construction management, architecture, building construction, or a similar field. However, in some cases, the board will consider applicants who have a substantial amount of proven practical experience instead. To qualify, some of that experience should be direct employment by a qualified Georgia general contractor.
If you’re interested in becoming a general contractor, it’s important to emphasize the following three areas of general contractor training:
Formal Education
A certificate or degree in the contracting field will teach leadership skills, the nuts, and bolts of financing construction projects, how to emphasize sustainability in your projects, the benefits of different types of building materials, and more.
Relevant Experience
There’s only so much you can learn in the classroom, and contracting is no exception. Therefore, you will also need to have completed a sizable amount of work for a licensed contractor before you begin.
On-The-Job Training
Once you become a contractor, your formation is still far from complete. Between elective training you seek out to support your success to ongoing professional development, you’ll find that you’re always learning something new as a contractor.
Professional Discernment: Which Type of Georgia Contractor License Do You Need?
If an applicant fulfills all of those criteria, they can figure out the specific type of license they will need. Georgia recognizes four categories of contracting licensure. These four categories include:
Residential-Basic Contractor
This type of contractor would focus mainly on smaller family homes.
Residential-Light Commercial Contractor
A residential-light commercial contractor could work on larger properties. However, this type of contractor would still have limitations on the kind of project they could take on.
General Contractor
A Georgia general contractor enjoys no work or activity limitations on the commercial or residential properties they can develop.
Limited Tier General Contractor
This type of licensure is very similar to general contracting but has one stipulated limitation regarding the financial amount of contracts certified limited-tier general contractors can seek.
While becoming a general contractor might seem like the most attractive option, consider the type of work you’ll be most likely to take on. For example, if you concentrate naturally on smaller family homes, becoming a residential-basic contractor might be more cost-effective.
After an applicant decides which type of licensure to pursue, they will have to consider the additional requirements. First, applicants will have to provide transcripts detailing their education, letters of recommendation, and a background check. Once they submit this paperwork, a prospective Georgia general contractor will have to take the Georgia Contractors License Examination. If an applicant passes this exam, they will receive their license.
This might seem like a lot of hurdles between an applicant and a career, but general contractors have a lot of responsibility. When working with a general contractor, you want to be confident that they have the experience and training necessary to complete a project thoroughly, safely, and efficiently.
At Peak Steel Contracting, that’s exactly what we do best.
Rely on Peak Steel Contractors for the Qualified Experience You Need
When you’re taking on a construction project, you need to be 100% certain that your general contractor is ready to provide the confidence-worthy experience you need. For thorough, high-quality contracting work, turn to the certified team at Peak Steel Contractors. We can assist with everything from the initial design to the final construction of your project. Check out our past projects to see what we can do, and contact us for more information.