SWGTC to Offer Contractor's License Course

July 1, 2008 is the deadline for all contractors operating in the State of Georgia to satisfy all requirements by the State Residential and General Contractor Licensing Board to become licensed and be able to continue to conduct business within Georgia.  There are many things contractors need to do to prepare for licensure.

Southwest Georgia Technical College, in cooperation with Loblolly Lumber Company, will offer courses to prepare area contractors for the Residential Contractors and Light Commercial Contractors tests. The classes will meet at SWGTC Monday through Thursday, from 4 to 6 p.m. beginning April 14. The courses will prepare students for the State required Business and Law test and the Construction Trades examination.

The eight-week long Residential Contractor’s course will cost $500, which includes the needed books. The twelve-week Light Commercial Contractors class will cost $750, which includes books. “Lloyd Cline will teach both courses,” said Gary Pitts, Vice President of Economic Development at SWGTC. “Mr. Cline is the former Chief Building Official for the City of Thomasville and he is an International Code Certified (ICC) Building Official, ICC Certified Residential Inspector, and licensed general contractor.”

“These courses are extremely vital to the many contractors we have in our area,” said SWGTC President Dr. Glenn Deibert. “With the deadline fast approaching for contractors to be licensed in the state we are happy to be able to offer this valuable training and information. “
Georgia’s residential and general contractor licensing law represents a multi-year industry wide effort to raise the bar for practice and to stop the proliferation of local license requirements within the state. To obtain a state license as a Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, or General Contractor, you must submit a completed application for licensure, a non-refundable fee, and all the supporting documents requested within the application, along with submitting to and passing an examination, required for the particular license.

The new law creating the licensing board and setting forth licensing requirements for contractors went into effect July 1, 2005, however, the date a license is actually required for practicing as a contractor in Georgia is July 1, 2008.  On July 1, 2008 the law becomes fully enforceable and is required as a condition of doing business in the state of Georgia. No building permits will be issued to unlicensed contractors performing residential or general contracting in the State of Georgia after his date.

More information on the Contractor’s Licensing classes at SWGTC may be obtained by calling Ruby Barron at 229-227-2579.