- Two separate open-book tests: Trade (90 questions, 3 hrs 50 min) and Business & Law (50 questions, 2 hrs), each needs 70%.
- General Code and Construction Knowledge is the largest trade domain with 20 questions - study it hardest.
- PSI administers under the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors.
- You must be 21+, prove education/experience, two qualifying projects, financial responsibility, and liability insurance.
Exam Structure at a Glance
The GA-RLC is really two exams in one licensing process. The Residential-Light Commercial trade exam covers technical construction knowledge across nine domains, while the separate Business and Law exam tests contracts, lien law, licensing rules, and financial responsibility topics that apply to running a contracting business in Georgia. Both are administered by PSI on behalf of the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, and both are open-book - but open-book only helps if your references are organized before you sit down.
| Exam | Questions | Time Limit | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential-Light Commercial Trade | 90 | 3 hours 50 minutes | 70% |
| Business and Law | 50 | 2 hours | 70% |
For a deeper breakdown of how these two scores are calculated and what a "passing" result actually requires, see the GA-RLC Passing Score 2026 guide. If you're still mapping out testing logistics, the GA-RLC Exam Dates 2026 guide covers scheduling windows and deadlines with PSI.
The 9 Trade Domains, Fast
The trade exam pulls from nine content areas. Knowing the shape of each domain lets you triage your remaining study hours instead of re-reading everything equally.
Domain 7: General Code and Construction Knowledge
The largest domain on the trade exam with 20 questions - nearly a quarter of the test. Covers code application, permits, inspections, and general construction standards that cut across every trade.
- Prioritize this domain first in any review schedule
Domains 1-6: Sitework, Concrete, Metals, Masonry, Carpentry, Roofing
These cover the physical build sequence from foundation to roof. Expect questions on footing depths, reinforcement placement, framing methods, and roofing systems appropriate to residential and light commercial structures.
- Study these in the order a project is actually built - it mirrors how questions are grouped
Domains 8-9: Associated Trades and OSHA Safety
Associated Trades touches plumbing, electrical, and mechanical basics a general contractor must coordinate. OSHA Safety covers jobsite hazard recognition and required safety practices.
- Don't skip safety questions - they're straightforward if reviewed even briefly
For a full walkthrough of every domain with topic-level detail, the GA-RLC Exam Domains 2026 Complete Guide is the companion resource to this cheat sheet. And if you're wondering whether the exam's difficulty matches its reputation, How Hard Is the GA-RLC Exam? breaks down what makes candidates struggle.
Eligibility & Application Basics
Before you can sit for either exam, Georgia requires applicants to meet several non-negotiable conditions:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Complete an approved education-and-experience pathway
- Document responsibility for two qualifying projects
- Demonstrate financial responsibility
- Carry general liability insurance
These requirements exist independently of the exam content itself, so gathering documentation early avoids last-minute application delays. The GA-RLC Requirements 2026 guide walks through each pathway option in detail, and if you're trying to figure out what the license actually authorizes you to do, What Is GA-RLC? and GA-RLC Meaning both cover the basics for newcomers to the credential.
Key Takeaway
Start your two-qualifying-project documentation and insurance paperwork before you schedule your exam date - these approvals often take longer than the study process itself.
Approved References and Calculator Rules
Because both exams are open-book, what you bring matters as much as what you know. PSI test centers allow approved references with permanent tabs and a silent, nonprogrammable calculator. That means:
- Sticky notes or loose tabs are typically not sufficient - tabs need to be permanent and legible
- You cannot bring a phone, smartwatch, or programmable/graphing calculator
- Every minute spent flipping to an untabbed page is a minute lost from your already tight per-question pace
Renewal, CE, and CE Broker in 2026
Passing the exam is the beginning, not the end, of compliance. Georgia Residential-Light Commercial licenses renew on June 30 of even-numbered years, and licensees must complete six hours of continuing education per year to stay current.
The biggest procedural change for 2026: beginning January 1, 2026, all required continuing education must be recorded in CE Broker. If your CE provider doesn't report to CE Broker, or you complete a course but never confirm it was logged, you could show up to renewal with a compliance gap you didn't know existed.
- Confirm your CE provider reports directly to CE Broker before enrolling
- Check your CE Broker account periodically rather than waiting until renewal season
- Keep personal completion certificates as backup documentation
For providers and course options, see the GA-RLC Training resource. And if you're evaluating whether the licensing investment pays off over a career, Is the GA-RLC Certification Worth It? and the GA-RLC Salary Guide 2026 look at the long-term picture, while GA-RLC Certification Cost 2026 breaks down what you'll spend along the way.
A Compressed One-Week Review Map
If you're using this cheat sheet as a final review rather than a first pass through the material, a tight domain-by-domain sprint works better than generic flashcard drilling. This is not a full study plan - for that, use the GA-RLC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt - but here's how to sequence a last push:
General Code and Construction Knowledge
- Review this domain first since it carries 20 questions, the single largest share of the trade exam
- Tab your code reference sections you'll need mid-exam
Sitework through Carpentry (Domains 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
- Work through footing, concrete, metals, masonry, and carpentry in build sequence
- Practice reading spec-style questions, not just definitions
Roofing, Associated Trades, OSHA Safety (Domains 6, 8, 9)
- Finish the remaining trade domains
- Run a timed 90-question simulation to check pacing against the 3 hr 50 min limit
Business and Law
- Shift entirely to Business and Law content - contracts, lien law, licensing rules
- Run a timed 50-question simulation against the 2-hour limit
Day-of-Exam Checklist
Small logistics failures cost more candidates points than lack of knowledge. Before you leave for the test center:
- Confirm your approved references have permanent, legible tabs - not handwritten sticky flags
- Pack a silent, nonprogrammable calculator (leave phones and smartwatches in the car)
- Bring required identification matching your PSI registration exactly
- Arrive early enough to check in without rushing into a 3 hr 50 min or 2-hour clock already behind
If you want a broader sense of where you stand relative to other candidates before test day, the GA-RLC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows article is useful context. You can also sharpen your timing and question-style familiarity with realistic practice questions on the main GA-RLC practice test platform before committing to a scheduling date. Running full-length timed sets on our practice test site is one of the fastest ways to confirm you can actually finish within the time limits above, not just answer questions correctly in isolation.
FAQ
The Trade exam and Business and Law exam are separate tests with separate time limits and passing thresholds (70% each). Check current PSI scheduling policy for whether they can be combined into one appointment or must be booked individually.
Since the Trade and Business and Law exams are scored separately at 70% each, you generally only need to retake the specific exam you did not pass, not both.
No. Only a silent, nonprogrammable calculator is permitted. Phones, smartwatches, and programmable or graphing calculators are not allowed in the testing room.
Starting January 1, 2026, your six annual continuing education hours must be recorded in CE Broker. Renewal falls on June 30 of even-numbered years, so confirm your CE provider reports to CE Broker well before that deadline.
General Code and Construction Knowledge, since it's the largest trade domain with 20 questions. After that, work through the remaining eight domains in build sequence: sitework, concrete, metals, masonry, carpentry, roofing, associated trades, and OSHA safety.