- GA-RLC requires passing two separate exams: a 90-question trade exam and a 50-question Business and Law exam.
- Both exams are open-book and require a 70% score, with permanent tabs allowed on approved references.
- General Code and Construction Knowledge is the largest trade domain, with 20 of 90 questions.
- Applicants must be at least 21 and document two qualifying projects plus insurance and financial responsibility.
What Is the GA-RLC Certification?
The Georgia Residential-Light Commercial Contractor License Exam (GA-RLC) is the credentialing pathway administered on behalf of the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, with testing delivered through PSI. Passing this exam is a prerequisite for obtaining a residential-light commercial contractor license in Georgia, which authorizes work on residential structures and light commercial projects across the state.
If you're just starting to research this credential, it helps to first understand what GA-RLC is and what the acronym means in the context of Georgia's licensing framework. This article assumes you already know the basics and want a practical breakdown of the exam itself, the domains it covers, and how the licensing process fits together.
The Two-Exam Structure
Unlike credentials that bundle everything into one sitting, the GA-RLC pathway splits competency testing into two parts:
- Trade Examination: 90 questions, three hours and 50 minutes, minimum passing score of 70%.
- Business and Law Examination: 50 questions, two hours, minimum passing score of 70%.
Both exams are open-book, meaning candidates may bring approved reference materials into the testing room. This changes the nature of preparation - the goal isn't pure memorization but knowing exactly where to find answers quickly under time pressure. For a full breakdown of how the scoring threshold works across both exams, see the GA-RLC passing score guide, and for a realistic assessment of what makes candidates struggle, review how hard the GA-RLC exam actually is.
Key Takeaway
Treat the trade exam and the Business and Law exam as two separate study projects with different reference books, different pacing needs, and different scheduling on exam day.
The Nine Trade Domains
The trade examination draws its 90 questions from nine defined content areas. Knowing the relative weight of each domain lets you allocate study hours proportionally instead of spreading effort evenly across topics that don't carry equal weight on exam day.
Domain 1: Sitework, Footings and Foundation
Covers site preparation, excavation, footing design, and foundation systems appropriate to residential and light commercial structures.
- Soil bearing considerations and footing sizing
Domain 2: Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement
Focuses on mix specifications, placement techniques, curing, and reinforcement placement for slabs, walls, and structural elements.
- Reinforcement spacing and placement standards
Domain 3: Metals
Addresses structural and light-gauge metal framing, fasteners, and connections used in residential and light commercial builds.
- Corrosion resistance and fastener compatibility
Domain 4: Masonry
Covers block and brick construction, mortar types, and masonry veneer systems.
- Flashing and weep-hole placement in veneer walls
Domain 5: Carpentry
Includes framing methods, rough carpentry, and finish carpentry practices relevant to light commercial and residential scopes.
- Load-bearing wall identification and header sizing
Domain 6: Roofing
Covers roofing systems, underlayment, flashing details, and material selection for common Georgia climate conditions.
- Proper flashing at valleys, penetrations, and walls
Domain 7: General Code and Construction Knowledge
The largest trade domain, with 20 of the 90 trade questions. This area spans code application, permitting concepts, and general construction principles that cut across every other domain.
- Highest point value on the trade exam - prioritize accordingly
Domain 8: Associated Trades
Touches on plumbing, electrical, and mechanical basics as they intersect with general contracting responsibilities.
- Coordination points between trades on a jobsite
Domain 9: OSHA Safety
Covers jobsite safety practices and regulatory safety expectations for residential and light commercial projects.
- Fall protection and excavation safety basics
Because Domain 7 alone accounts for more than a fifth of the trade exam's questions, candidates often benefit from tackling it early and returning to it repeatedly. A domain-by-domain walkthrough with more detail on each content area is available in the GA-RLC Exam Domains guide.
| Exam | Questions | Time Allowed | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Examination | 90 | 3 hours 50 minutes | 70% |
| Business and Law Examination | 50 | 2 hours | 70% |
Eligibility and Application Requirements
Before you can sit for either exam, you need to satisfy a set of eligibility conditions set by the licensing board. These aren't optional formalities - they're verified as part of the application review.
- Minimum age: Applicants must be at least 21 years old.
- Education and experience pathway: An approved combination of education and hands-on experience must be documented.
- Qualifying projects: Applicants must document responsibility for two qualifying projects that demonstrate relevant experience.
- Financial responsibility: Evidence of financial responsibility is required as part of the application.
- General liability insurance: Proof of general liability insurance coverage must be submitted.
These requirements exist independently of the exam content itself, so it's worth confirming your standing well before you register for a testing date. A detailed walkthrough of every prerequisite lives in the GA-RLC Requirements guide, and if you want to map out exact testing windows and deadlines, check the GA-RLC Exam Dates guide.
Approved References and Calculator Rules
Because both exams are open-book, your reference materials function almost like a second study tool during the actual test. The rules are specific:
- Only approved reference materials are permitted in the testing room.
- References may have permanent tabs, which means you can pre-organize your books by domain or topic before exam day.
- A silent, nonprogrammable calculator is allowed for calculations related to concrete quantities, footing dimensions, and similar trade math.
Tabbing strategy is one of the most underrated parts of GA-RLC preparation. Candidates who organize their references by the nine trade domains - with extra-detailed tabs for Domain 7's code material - tend to move through questions faster than those flipping through unmarked pages. Practical tabbing checklists and reference organization tips are covered in the GA-RLC Cheat Sheet.
Renewal Cycle and Continuing Education
Passing the exams and getting licensed isn't the end of the compliance timeline. Georgia Residential-Light Commercial licenses operate on a two-year renewal cycle:
- Licenses renew on June 30 of even-numbered years.
- Licensees must complete six hours of continuing education per year.
- Beginning January 1, 2026, all required continuing education must be recorded in CE Broker.
This means the exam itself is only the entry point - staying licensed requires ongoing tracking discipline. If you're weighing whether the entire process (exam, application, and ongoing CE) is worth the investment for your career goals, the ROI analysis on GA-RLC certification breaks down the tradeoffs, and the GA-RLC Certification Cost breakdown covers the fee mechanics tied to application and renewal.
Key Takeaway
Mark your CE Broker transition now - starting January 1, 2026, undocumented continuing education hours won't count toward your renewal, even if you actually completed the training.
Who Hires GA-RLC License Holders
A Georgia Residential-Light Commercial license opens doors across a range of building-related roles, since it authorizes work spanning residential construction and light commercial scopes. License holders commonly work as independent contractors, are hired by residential remodeling firms, or take on project supervision roles for light commercial builds that fall under the license's scope. Firms bidding on residential and light commercial projects often specifically seek licensed individuals to satisfy state contracting requirements on a job.
Because the license spans multiple trade domains - from foundations and framing to roofing and associated trades - license holders are often positioned to oversee varied scopes of work rather than a single specialty. If you're evaluating what this looks like in practice, the GA-RLC Jobs guide and GA-RLC Salary Guide go into more detail on career paths tied to this license.
Building a Domain-Aware Study Schedule
Generic study advice rarely accounts for the fact that GA-RLC has two exams with very different structures and a trade exam where one domain (General Code and Construction Knowledge) carries disproportionate weight. A smarter approach is to sequence your study blocks around domain size and your own experience gaps, using short, focused sessions rather than marathon cramming.
Foundational Trade Domains
- Review Sitework, Footings and Foundation, plus Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement
- Build reference tabs for these sections as you go
Structural and Envelope Domains
- Cover Metals, Masonry, Carpentry, and Roofing
- Practice timed questions to test tab-navigation speed
Highest-Weight Domain and Safety
- Spend extra time on General Code and Construction Knowledge given its 20-question weight
- Layer in Associated Trades and OSHA Safety
Business and Law Focus
- Shift entirely to the 50-question Business and Law exam
- Run full-length timed practice under open-book conditions
Whatever schedule you build, keep sessions short and specific to a domain rather than reviewing everything at once - it's easier to notice weak spots when you isolate one content area per session. For a more complete first-attempt strategy that ties study sequencing to exam mechanics, see the GA-RLC Study Guide 2026. You can also run full practice sessions modeled on the real exam format at our GA-RLC practice test platform to see how your pacing holds up under the three-hour-fifty-minute and two-hour limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's two separate exams: a 90-question trade examination (3 hours 50 minutes) and a 50-question Business and Law examination (2 hours). Both require a 70% passing score.
Yes. Both exams are open-book, and candidates may use approved reference materials with permanent tabs, along with a silent, nonprogrammable calculator.
General Code and Construction Knowledge is the largest domain on the trade exam, with 20 of the 90 questions, making it the highest-priority content area for study time.
Licenses renew every two years, specifically on June 30 of even-numbered years, and require six hours of continuing education per year to maintain.
Starting January 1, 2026, all required continuing education hours must be recorded in CE Broker as part of maintaining an active license.
Whether you're just confirming what GA-RLC stands for or you're deep into reference-tabbing for exam day, understanding the two-exam structure, the nine trade domains, and the ongoing renewal obligations gives you a realistic picture of what this license actually demands. Pair that understanding with structured, domain-specific practice at GA-RLC Exam Prep to turn this overview into an actionable study plan.