Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 553 - RULES OF STATE LICENSING BOARD FOR RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL CONTRACTORS
Chapter 553-3 - QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE - RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTOR DIVISION
Rule 553-3-.04 - Licensure Requirements for an Individual Acting as a Qualifying Agent for a Business Organization Seeking to Engage in the Profession of Residential-Light Commercial Contracting in the Name of the Business Organization

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 553-3-.04

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024

(1) An individual person affiliated by ownership or employment with and acting as a qualifying agent for a business organization seeking to engage in the profession of residential-light commercial contracting in the name of the business organization in accordance with and pursuant to Code Section 43-41-9shall file an application on a form provided by the residential contractor division, accompanied by an application fee as provided by the board.

(2) Additionally, such applicants must submit to and successfully pass an examination prepared by the residential contractor division, except where an applicant is otherwise qualified for licensure and has satisfied the residential contractor division requirements and regulations for licensure pursuant to Code Section 43-41-8exempting such applicant from the examination requirement or where the applicant is an individual acting as a qualifying agent for a business organization and has previously obtained and maintained continuously a license issued by the residential contractor division.

(3) A person shall be eligible for licensure as a residential-light commercial contractor by the residential-light commercial subdivision if the person:

(a) Is at least 21 years of age;

(b) Is of a good character and is otherwise qualified as to competency, ability, and integrity;

1. Has received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the field of engineering, architecture, construction management, building construction, or other field acceptable to the division and has at least one year of proven experience working as or in the employment of a residential contractor, general contractor, or other proven experience deemed substantially similar by the division;

2. Has a combination acceptable to the division of academic credits from any accredited college-level courses and proven practical experience working as or in the employment of a residential contractor, general contractor, or other proven experience deemed substantially similar by the division equaling at least four years in the aggregate. For purposes of this subparagraph, all university, college, junior college, or community college-level courses shall be considered accredited college-level courses; or

3. Has a total of at least four years of proven active experience working in a construction industry related field, at least two of which shall have been as or in the employment of a residential contractor, or other proven experience deemed acceptable by the division; and

(d) Has had significant responsibility for the successful performance and completion of at least two projects falling within the residence-light commercial category in the four years immediately preceding application. To prove "successful performance and completion" the applicant must include, together with the application for licensure, an appropriate reference letter from a Georgia registered architect, a designer, a licensed professional engineer (predominately practicing structural engineering), or any other reference acceptable to the subdivision.

(e) In order to satisfactorily prove (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, each applicant must swear on the application for licensure that the applicant satisfies each requirement and submit satisfactory proof of such when and where directed to do so by the application. In completing and submitting the application to the residential contractor division, the applicant consents to the division performing a background check, including a criminal history, on the applicant if the division so chooses.

(4) Before being entitled to take an examination or otherwise qualify for issuance of a license, an applicant must show to the satisfaction of the residential contractor division from the application and proofs furnished that the applicant is possessed of a good character and is otherwise qualified as to competency, ability, integrity, and financial responsibility. In order to satisfactorily prove "financial responsibility", each applicant must submit satisfactory proof as required by the application for licensure. In addition, the application shall include a list of all persons, entities, and business organizations that the applicant will be affiliated with as a licensed residential contractor, whether by way of employment, ownership, serving as an owner or director, partnership, or membership or by serving as a qualifying agent under this chapter. Additionally, all applicants shall provide satisfactory proof of general liability insurance of not less than $500,000 for the residential-light commercial category and satisfactory proof of workers´ compensation insurance as required by the laws of this state in their name. All applicants shall also provide the federal taxpayer identification numbers of any business organization for which the applicant is seeking licensure as a qualifying agent. The decision of the residential contractor division as to the qualifications of applicants shall be conclusive. A certificate by the insurer or other appropriate evidence of such coverages shall be maintained with the residential contractor division and shall be a condition of renewal. A licensee, where acting as a qualifying agent on behalf of the business organization so qualified, must notify the residential contractor division in writing within 30 days of any changes in the information required to be on file with such division, including, but not limited to, the business organization's current mailing address, insurance coverages, and affiliated entities.

(5)

(a) The residential contractor division shall conduct an examination of all qualified applicants, except those exempted from the examination requirement pursuant to Code Section 43-41-8.

(b) The residential contractor division shall conduct an examination for applicants for residential-light commercial licenses for the purpose of determining a particular applicant's ability to make a practical application of his or her knowledge of the profession of residential-light commercial contracting; the applicant's qualifications in reading plans and specifications; his or her knowledge of building codes, estimating costs, construction, ethics, contracting, and other similar matters pertaining to such residential-light commercial contracting business; his or her knowledge as to the responsibilities of a residential-light commercial contractor to the public and to owners, subcontractors, and suppliers; and his or her knowledge of the requirements of the laws of this state relating to residential-light commercial contractors, construction, workers´ compensation, insurance, and liens.

(c) If the results of the applicant's examination are satisfactory to the residential contractor division, or he or she is exempted from the examination requirement under Code Section 43-41-8, and if he or she and any affiliated business organization has met the other qualifications and requirements set forth in this Code section, then the residential contractor division shall issue to the applicant a license to engage in business as a residential contractor in this state, as provided in such license, in his or her own name as a qualifying agent for the affiliated business organization and in the name of such business organization, pursuant to and in accordance with the requirements set forth in Code Section 43-41-9. The residential contracting license shall indicate that the licensee is qualified as residential-light commercial.

(6) Any otherwise qualified applicant failing this examination may be reexamined at any regularly scheduled examination within one year of the date of original application upon payment of a reexamination fee, in an amount to be set by the board, without need to resubmit an application, unless any information set forth in the previously submitted application is no longer accurate or complete. Anyone requesting to take the examination a third or subsequent time shall wait at least one calendar year after the taking of the last examination and shall submit an application with the appropriate examination fees.

(7) A residential-light commercial contractor license shall be issued to an applicant who successfully completes the requirements therefore upon the payment of fees prescribed by the board.

O.C.G.A. Secs. 43-41-5, 43-41-6.

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