Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor scope: detached one-family and two-family residences and qualifying one-family townhouses not over three stories high, including accessory buildings and structures.
Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor Exam Overview
Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor candidates must prepare for two separate examinations: the Residential-Basic trade exam and the Georgia Business & Law exam.
Both tests are open book, but passing requires more than carrying a stack of reference books into PSI. Candidates need fast reference navigation, trade knowledge and a clear understanding of which book controls each question.
Residential-Basic Trade Exam: 80 questions, 200 minutes, 56 correct answers required.
Georgia Business & Law: 50 questions, 120 minutes, 35 correct answers required.
Format: open book using PSI-approved references.
Georgia Residential-Basic Exam Structure
Prepare separately for the trade exam and Business & Law exam.
| Exam | Questions | Time | Passing Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential-Basic Trade | 80 | 200 minutes | 56 correct / 70% |
| Georgia Business & Law | 50 | 120 minutes | 35 correct / 70% |
| Combined Scored Questions | 130 | 320 minutes across separate exams | Both exam requirements must be satisfied |
License
Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor
Minimum Age
21 years old
Experience
Generally at least 2 years of proven qualifying
residential construction experience
Project Experience
Significant responsibility for at least 2 qualifying
Residential-Basic projects during the preceding 2 years
Trade Exam
80 questions | 200 minutes | 56 correct
Business & Law
50 questions | 120 minutes | 35 correct
Exam Format
Open book
General Liability
At least $300,000
Primary Residential Code
2018 International Residential Code
What Is on the Georgia Residential-Basic Trade Exam?
The trade examination covers eight major residential construction categories, with the largest share of questions going to General Code and Construction Knowledge and Carpentry.
General Code and Construction Knowledge: 18 questions.
Carpentry: 16 questions.
Associated Trades: 10 questions.
Sitework and Foundations, Concrete, Roofing, OSHA Safety and Masonry make up the rest of the exam.
Georgia Residential-Basic Trade Exam Weighting
Each bar is scaled against the 18-question General Code and Construction Knowledge category.
General Code and Construction Knowledge
18 questions
Carpentry
16 questions
Associated Trades
10 questions
Sitework, Footings and Foundations
8 questions
Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement
8 questions
Roofing
8 questions
OSHA Safety
7 questions
Masonry
5 questions
Georgia Business & Law Exam Weighting
The Business & Law exam is a separate 50-question requirement.
Estimating and Bidding
7 questions
Business Organization and Financial Management
7 questions
Project Management and Lien Law
6 questions
Contracts
6 questions
Licensing Requirements
5 questions
Tax Laws
5 questions
Labor Laws
5 questions
Environmental and Safety
5 questions
Risk Management
4 questions
Georgia Residential-Basic Exam References
Build your open-book exam prep around the PSI-approved reference library and verify the newest bulletin before testing.
| Reference | Primary Exam Prep Use |
|---|---|
| 2018 International Residential Code | Residential code, framing, building systems, structural requirements and general construction |
| OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 | Construction safety, fall protection, excavation, ladders and workplace requirements |
| Carpentry and Building Construction | Residential framing, layout, carpentry practices and construction methods |
| BCSI Wood Truss Guide | Truss handling, bracing, installation and restraint |
| Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction | Concrete placement, reinforcement, finishing and quality practices |
| Modern Masonry | Brick, block, stone and masonry construction |
| Pipe and Excavation Contracting | Excavation, trenching, sitework and underground work |
| 2015 International Energy Conservation Code | Residential energy requirements |
| Georgia State Amendments | Georgia-specific changes to applicable minimum standard codes |
| Georgia-NASCLA Contractors Guide | Business & Law, estimating, contracts, financial management and contractor administration |
Open-Book Georgia Contractor Exam Prep Strategy
Do This
- Practice with the actual PSI-approved books
- Use compliant permanent tabs
- Highlight major tables and high-frequency rules
- Know which book covers each PSI category
- Practice timed reference lookups
- Separate trade prep from Business & Law prep
- Complete full 200-minute simulations
Avoid This
- Using temporary Post-it-style tabs
- Studying from outdated exam timing
- Ignoring Business & Law
- Memorizing practice answers only
- Waiting until PSI test day to learn the books
- Spending too long on one lookup
- Ignoring OSHA and associated trades
Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor Licensing Requirements
Exam prep is only one part of becoming licensed. Applicants must also meet Georgia's age, experience, project-history, insurance and financial-responsibility requirements.
Experience Requirements
- At least 21 years old
- At least two years of qualifying experience
- Residential-Basic or substantially similar construction work
- Significant responsibility on qualifying projects
- At least two completed Residential-Basic projects in the preceding two years
Financial and Insurance Requirements
- At least $300,000 general liability insurance
- Workers' compensation when legally required
- Financial-responsibility documentation
- Applicable net-worth or credit documentation
- Georgia application and Board approval
Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor Licensing Roadmap
Move from qualifying residential experience through PSI trade testing, Business & Law and final licensing.
1
Build qualifying residential experience
Document at least two years of qualifying residential construction experience or substantially similar experience.
2
Document qualifying projects
Show significant responsibility for at least two qualifying Residential-Basic projects within the required period.
3
Prepare financial and insurance documents
Gather liability insurance, workers' compensation when required, and applicable financial-responsibility documents.
4
Prepare for the Residential-Basic trade exam
Focus on code, carpentry, associated trades, foundations, concrete, roofing, OSHA and masonry.
5
Prepare for Georgia Business & Law
Study estimating, financial management, taxes, labor, contracts, lien law, risk and licensing.
6
Complete timed open-book practice
Build speed with permanent tabs, book indexes, timed lookups and full simulated exams.
7
Complete the Georgia licensing process
Pass the required exams and complete remaining Board requirements before contracting.
Six-Week Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor Exam Prep Plan
Week 1
Books and IRC
- Organize references
- Permanent tabs
- 2018 IRC navigation
- Diagnostic exam
Week 2
Carpentry
- Framing
- Trusses
- Layout
- Residential construction methods
Week 3
Site and Structure
- Sitework
- Footings
- Foundations
- Concrete and masonry
Week 4
Roofing and Trades
- Roofing
- Associated trades
- Energy requirements
- OSHA safety
Week 5
Business & Law
- Estimating and bidding
- Financial management
- Contracts and lien law
- Taxes, labor and risk
Week 6
Simulation
- 200-minute trade simulation
- 120-minute Business & Law simulation
- Slow-lookup review
- Final reference check
Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor Exam Prep Options
Residential-Basic Exam Prep
Trade Exam Preparation
- 80-question PSI blueprint
- Residential code
- Carpentry and foundations
- Concrete and roofing
- OSHA and masonry
Georgia Business & Law Prep
Contractor Business Preparation
- Licensing requirements
- Estimating and bidding
- Financial management
- Contracts and lien law
- Risk and safety
Reference Navigation Prep
Open-Book Exam Strategy
- Permanent tab organization
- Book highlighting
- Find-and-confirm lookup method
- Timed reference drills
- Practice exam strategy
Know the Georgia Residential-Basic License Scope
Residential-Basic is a defined Georgia contractor classification, not a generic home-improvement credential.
· Detached one-family residences
· Detached two-family residences
· Qualifying one-family townhouses not over three stories
· Accessory buildings and structures
· Trade exam + Georgia Business & Law + licensing requirements
Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor Exam Prep FAQ
Residential-Basic Trade Exam
The Residential-Basic trade exam contains 80 questions.
Candidates receive 200 minutes.
Candidates need 56 correct answers out of 80,
which equals 70 percent.
Yes. The trade exam is open book using PSI-approved references.
General Code and Construction Knowledge is the largest
category with 18 questions.
Carpentry accounts for 16 questions.
The current PSI bulletin lists the 2018 International
Residential Code for the Residential-Basic trade exam.
Georgia Business & Law
The Georgia Business & Law exam contains 50 questions.
Candidates receive 120 minutes.
Candidates need 35 correct answers out of 50,
or 70 percent.
Yes. Georgia Residential-Basic candidates must satisfy
both the trade and Georgia Business & Law exam requirements.
Licensing and Experience
The classification covers detached one-family and two-family
residences and qualifying one-family townhouses not over
three stories, including accessory buildings and structures.
Georgia generally requires at least two years of proven
residential construction experience in the Residential-Basic
category or substantially similar experience accepted by the Division.
Applicants must generally show significant responsibility
for successful completion of at least two qualifying
Residential-Basic projects during the two years immediately
before applying.
Georgia currently requires at least $300,000
in general liability insurance for Residential-Basic applicants.
Open-Book Exam Prep
Yes. PSI permits compliant permanent tabs in approved references.
Temporary Post-it-style tabs are not permitted.
Candidates seeking a third or later attempt generally must
wait at least one calendar year after the last examination
and follow Georgia's reapplication requirements.
Start with General Code and Construction Knowledge and carpentry.
Then study associated trades, sitework, foundations,
concrete, roofing, OSHA, masonry and Business & Law.
Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor Exam Prep Video
Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor Exam Prep Resources
Prepare for the Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor Exams
Build residential-code knowledge, carpentry skill, foundation and concrete knowledge, OSHA awareness, Business & Law proficiency and fast open-book reference navigation for Georgia Residential-Basic contractor licensing.
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