State guide · Georgia
Georgia Contractor Business & Law Exam Study Plan
Georgia's Business & Law exam covers contract administration, lien law (90-day filing window, 12-month enforcement), prompt-pay statutes, insurance, taxes, and licensing rules. PSI administers the exam at Atlanta, Macon, Savannah, Augusta, and Tifton centers — plus remote proctoring.
Build my GA B&L plan → B&L practice examWhat the Georgia B&L exam covers
The Georgia B&L exam is required for most general and residential contractor licensing paths. It tests state-specific contracting statutes layered on top of the standard B&L topics. Verify the exact exam outline for your license class with the Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Division.
- Georgia lien law — 90-day filing window, 12-month enforcement deadline, lien waivers, conditional vs unconditional
- Georgia prompt-pay statutes — payment timelines for owners, GCs, and subcontractors
- Contract administration — types, change orders, termination, dispute resolution
- Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management – Georgia Edition — primary reference
- Insurance & bonding — general liability, workers' comp, performance bonds
- Payroll & tax compliance — Georgia withholding, sales/use tax
- Licensing statutes — Residential, General Contractor, specialty classifications
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926 — construction safety basics
Recommended 30-day study order
- Week 1 — Pull the current PSI Georgia B&L candidate bulletin. Get the Contractor's Guide (Georgia edition). Confirm exam length and reference allowance.
- Week 1 — Read Georgia lien law sections end-to-end. Build a one-page lien timeline cheat sheet (filing window, enforcement deadline, waiver types).
- Week 2 — Contract scenarios: change orders, prompt-pay, termination clauses. Daily timed lookup drills in the Georgia edition.
- Week 2 — Insurance and workers' comp. Memorize Georgia-specific thresholds.
- Week 3 — Licensing statutes and disciplinary procedures. Mixed timed practice sets.
- Week 3 — Tag every miss into: lookup speed, lien-law specifics, contracts, insurance, or licensing rules. Focus the next session on the largest miss bucket.
- Week 4 — Two full timed simulations. Final review of your one-page cheat sheet. Confirm test-center logistics with PSI.
Common confusion for Georgia B&L candidates
- Lien deadlines are state-specific — Georgia's 90-day filing window and 12-month enforcement deadline aren't generic. Don't memorize a national lien timeline.
- Two Contractor's Guide editions — make sure you have the Georgia edition, not the generic NASCLA Business guide
- Residential vs General — Georgia residential contractor and general contractor licenses have different scope and (sometimes) different exam outlines
- Reciprocity — Georgia recognizes select states for certain classifications. Confirm with the Secretary of State licensing division.
- NASCLA — accepted for some Georgia trade exams, but B&L is still required separately
Open-book strategy for GA B&L
- If your bulletin confirms open-book: tab the Georgia Contractor's Guide by topic (liens, contracts, insurance, payroll, licensing)
- Make a one-page Georgia cheat sheet for lien deadlines, prompt-pay timelines, and workers' comp thresholds
- Read every scenario question fully before opening books
- Track your average lookup time — improve it week to week
FAQ
Do I need both a trade exam and B&L?
For most Georgia general and residential contractor classifications, yes. Use the B&L checker to confirm for your specific license type.
Can I take both exams the same day?
PSI allows back-to-back exam scheduling at most Georgia centers, but it's a long day. Many candidates split them across separate sittings to perform better on each.
What about the spring renewal rush?
PSI seat availability tightens during Georgia spring renewal periods. Book your seat at least 2–3 weeks in advance if testing March–May.
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