Georgia Electrical Apprentice Hour Requirements

Georgia takes a unique approach to electrical licensing — the state does not license individual journeyman electricians. Instead, the Georgia Secretary of State's office, through the Division of Professional Licensing, licenses electrical contractors. Individual electricians work under the authority of a licensed contractor. The DOL registered apprenticeship standard for Georgia calls for 8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 576 hours of related classroom instruction, and completing this apprenticeship is the pathway to eventually qualifying for a contractor license.

The contractor licensing structure means that as an apprentice, you are building toward either working permanently under a licensed contractor or eventually obtaining your own contractor license. To qualify for a Georgia Unrestricted Electrical Contractor License, you typically need at least four years of documented experience plus passing a comprehensive exam. The 8,000-hour apprenticeship provides the foundation for meeting the experience requirement.

Georgia's system is relatively straightforward from a tracking perspective — a single category covers all types of electrical work, and the state accepts digital submissions. Georgia also has reciprocity agreements with Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Alabama, making it a practical choice for electricians who work across the Southeast. The biennial renewal cycle with 8 CE hours is among the lighter renewal requirements in the nation.

Georgia's DOL registered apprenticeship standard requires 576 hours of related technical instruction, completed over the course of the apprenticeship (typically 4-5 years).

Classroom instruction must cover the National Electrical Code (current edition), electrical theory and calculations, AC/DC circuits, blueprint reading, electrical safety practices (OSHA standards), and Georgia-specific electrical regulations.

Most apprentices complete classroom hours through their JATC or apprenticeship program. Evening and weekend classes are the typical format. If you are in an employer-sponsored program, verify that your education provider is approved by the Georgia DOL.

If you plan to pursue a contractor license, note that the contractor exam covers additional subjects including business management, insurance law, and Georgia contractor regulations. Consider supplementing your apprenticeship classroom hours with contractor exam preparation courses.

Georgia Electrical Contractor licenses must be renewed every two years (biennial renewal). The renewal fee is $75.

You must complete 8 hours of approved continuing education (CE) during each two-year renewal cycle — one of the lighter CE requirements in the nation.

CE courses must be from providers approved by the Georgia Secretary of State's office. Topics typically cover NEC updates and Georgia-specific code amendments.

Renewal can be completed online through the Georgia Secretary of State's licensing portal.

If your license expires, you must stop performing electrical contracting work. Late renewal within a grace period may be possible with additional fees. Beyond the grace period, you may need to re-examine.