GEORGIA · plumber
Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted)
Georgia Secretary of State — Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers →Scope of Work
Georgia licenses plumbers at the state level through the Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers, a division of the Secretary of State. The state issues three credentials: Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber Class I (restricted), and Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted). Only a licensed Master Plumber may pull permits and contract for plumbing work in the plumber's own name; a Journeyman works under the supervision of a Master Plumber. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 121-3-.02 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/georgia/Ga-Comp-R-Regs-R-121-3-.02).
Journeyman Vs Master
A Journeyman Plumber performs plumbing work under the supervision of a licensed Master. A Master Plumber Class I (restricted) may contract for plumbing work in single-family dwellings, one-level dwellings designed for not more than two families, and commercial structures not exceeding 10,000 square feet. A Master Plumber Class II (unrestricted) may contract for any plumbing work with no area or structure limitations. Class II is the credential required for commercial and industrial plumbing contracting at scale. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 121-3-.02.
Experience
Journeyman Plumber: minimum 1 year of experience in plumbing work (primary or secondary experience accepted under the rule). Master Plumber (both Class I and Class II): minimum 5 years of experience in plumbing work, with at least 2 of the 5 years being licensed as a Journeyman Plumber. Class II additionally requires documented experience in commercial or industrial plumbing. Primary experience is direct installation work supervised by a licensed Master Plumber; secondary experience includes related training, municipal inspection, or water-department maintenance. Applicants must submit three references from licensed plumbers. For Class I, at least one must be a Master Plumber; for Class II, at least two must be Master Plumbers. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 121-3-.02.
Exam
Administered by PSI Services at Georgia test centers. The Journeyman exam is a two-part, 100-question exam covering general laws, plumbing code, pipe cutting and joining, plumbing system installation, system tests, maintenance and repair, safety, and business law; candidates have 5 hours total (2.5 hours per part). A minimum score of 70 is required on the appropriate examination. Master exams include business/law and trade portions with the same 70% passing threshold. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 121-3-.02; Division FAQ (https://sos.ga.gov/page/division-master-and-journeyman-plumbers-faq).
FEES
Published third-party compilations cite an application fee of $100, exam fee of $207, and biennial renewal fee of $100 per license type; another source cites an application fee of $30, exam fee of $220 ($110 per part), initial license fee of $200, and renewal fee of $75. Fees change. Verify current schedule with the Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers before applying. A criminal background check from a local law-enforcement agency is required with the application.
Renewal and CE
2-year renewal cycle; licenses expire November 30 of even-numbered years. Georgia requires at least 4 hours of continuing education per year of instruction related to the profession, totaling 8 hours per biennial renewal cycle for both Journeyman and Master credentials. Records of completed CE must be retained for at least 5 years and are subject to random audit by the Division. Approved providers include colleges, vocational-technical schools, and recognized trade associations. Source: Division FAQ.
Reciprocity
Georgia does not maintain formal statewide reciprocity agreements for plumbers. Out-of-state licensees may apply for Georgia licensure by documenting a current out-of-state license in an appropriate classification and meeting the Georgia experience prerequisites; the Georgia exam may still be required. Verify current reciprocity posture directly with the Division before relying on an out-of-state license.
Municipal Layer
Plumbing permits and inspections are handled at the municipal or county level (e.g., City of Atlanta, DeKalb County, Gwinnett County). The state Master Plumber license is a prerequisite for pulling permits, but local jurisdictions may require separate business registration, bonds, or local contractor cards on top of the state license. Always confirm local permit rules with the authority having jurisdiction before bidding work.