Georgia Electrical License & Reciprocity Guide for IBEW Travelers: Local 613, 508 & 1579 (2026)

If you are traveling to Georgia to catch one of the 481 open positions across the state's Inside Wireman halls, the most important rule to know before you pack your tools is that Georgia does not require or issue a statewide individual Journeyman Electrician license. Under O.C.G.A. § 43-14-8, the Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors licenses Electrical Contractors (Class I Restricted and Class II Unrestricted), not individual wiremen working on a W-2 payroll. If you hold an IBEW Journeyman Wireman ticket and clear the hall's referral requirements, you work legally under your signatory NECA contractor's state Class II Electrical Contractor license on day one.

However, if you are a contractor, shop owner, or foreman looking to pull permits or qualify a shop in Georgia, the state made a major rule change in May 2026: Georgia discontinued electrical contractor licensure by reciprocity. Applicants from formerly reciprocal states (Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) must now apply by examination through the Georgia Secretary of State GOALS portal ($110 application fee) and pass the open-book PSI Electrical Contractor exam.

As of October 15, 2026, Georgia has 481 open calls led by IBEW Local 613 Atlanta (478 open positions across 56 active calls at $42.00/hr on the check), IBEW Local 508 Savannah (2 open positions at $35.00/hr scale, with calls paying up to $39.00/hr), and IBEW Local 1579 Augusta (1 open position at the Savannah River Site paying $37.50/hr scale plus $44.56 in site incentives). GoHereBro tracks 300 IBEW locals nationwide; the live cards below show current wages, fringes, and open call counts across Georgia's four primary Inside jurisdictions.

For live referral updates every 10 minutes, check the Georgia IBEW pay scale and local directory, compare wages across all 240 Inside locals on the 2026 IBEW pay scale table, or scan the national job call map and Hot Spots dashboard.

How Georgia electrical licensing works: W-2 travelers vs. electrical contractors

Many out-of-state travelers confuse Georgia's contractor licensing rules with individual journeyman card states like Michigan, Alaska, or Texas. The Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Electrical Contractors (237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217, phone (404) 424-9966) regulates electrical contracting at the company-qualifying level under O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 14 and Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Rule 121-3-.01.

Here is how each credential applies to you in 2026:

Why traveling wiremen do not need a Georgia state card

Because the Georgia General Assembly preempted local county and municipal electrical licensing schemes when it enacted O.C.G.A. Chapter 43-14 (confirmed by Georgia Attorney General Opinion U80-31), cities like Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, and Macon do not require W-2 journeyman wiremen to sit for a municipal trade test to step onto a union job site.

When you clear dispatch at Local 613 Atlanta for a hyperscale data center call with Inglett & Stubbs, Cleveland Electric, or Allison-Smith, the contractor's qualifying agent holds the Georgia Class II Non-Restricted Electrical Contractor license. Your dispatch qualification comes down to your IBEW Journeyman Wireman status, your OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 card, site-specific background and drug screening, and any call-specific certifications (such as 3M medium-voltage splicing or Trimble robotic layout).

The May 2026 Georgia electrical reciprocity change explained

If you search Google for "Georgia electrical license reciprocity," you will still see outdated PDFs claiming Georgia reciprocates with Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. That is no longer true for incoming applicants.

According to the official Georgia Board of Electrical Contractors FAQ, Georgia does not offer licensure by reciprocity effective May 2026. Even though Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Rule 121-2-.03 (Statewide License by Reciprocity, renumbered from Rule 121-2-.05 in March 2025) remains on the books allowing the Division to enter into written agreements, the Board suspended incoming reciprocal waivers in May 2026. In addition, Georgia does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for commercial electrical contractors.

What if you already hold a Georgia Class II Electrical Contractor license earned by examination and want to reciprocate out of Georgia? - North Carolina (NCBEEC) and South Carolina still accept a Georgia examination-based contractor license under their respective reciprocity forms ($35.00 Georgia GOALS license verification fee required). - Alabama and Tennessee have removed Georgia from their active reciprocal waiver lists. Compare how neighboring states handle Journeyman and Contractor cards in our 50-state electrician license reciprocity guide and our Memphis Local 474 & Tennessee/Arkansas traveler guide.

How to qualify for the Georgia Class I or Class II Electrical Contractor exam

If you are an IBEW member who wants to earn a Statewide Class II (Unrestricted) Electrical Contractor license in Georgia under Rule 121-3-.01, you must meet the following requirements before the Board approves you to test with PSI:

1. Minimum age: At least 21 years old (Rule 121-3-.01(2)).
2. Four years (8,000 hours) of Primary Experience: Under Rule 121-3-.01(4), you must document at least 4 years of primary field experience installing electrical systems covered by the National Electrical Code under a licensed electrical contractor:
3. Up to 1 year of the 4-year requirement may come from Secondary Experience or Education credited at 50% (Rule 121-3-.01(5)), such as a 2-year technical diploma/certificate program, electrical inspection, or estimating/project management.
4. For a Class II (Unrestricted) license, you must specifically document hands-on experience with installations exceeding single-phase, 200-ampere systems (Rule 121-3-.01(6)) and document work across all eight NEC categories in Rule 121-3-.01(7)(a)-(h): raceway systems, conductors/terminations, service entrances/switchboards, motors/generators, switches/controls, Chapter 5 special occupancies, bonding/grounding, and feeder/branch load calculations.
5. Three notarized references: You must submit three original notarized reference forms attesting to your electrical experience, and at least one reference must be a licensed Electrical Contractor who includes their registration number (Rule 121-3-.01(3)).
6. Submit via the GOALS portal: File your application online through the Georgia Secretary of State GOALS portal (goals.sos.ga.gov) with the $110.00 application fee. Once the Board approves your packet, your exam approval letter is valid for one year.
7. Pass the 8-hour open-book PSI exam:
8. Provider & fee: Administered by PSI Exams (psionline.com), exam fee $288.00.
9. Format & passing score: 8-hour two-part open-book exam covering the 2023 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), business/law administration, and load calculations. You need a minimum score of 70% to pass (Rule 121-3-.01(2)). If you fail the exam twice, Rule 121-2-.06 requires completing a Board-approved review course before sitting a third time.
10. Biennial renewal & CE Broker: Georgia Electrical Contractor licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years (Rule 121-4-.02). Renewal requires 4 hours of continuing education per year (8 hours per 2-year cycle under Rule 121-4-.05), tracked through CE Broker as of January 1, 2026.

2026 Georgia IBEW local pay scales, fringes, and active job calls

Whether you are chasing 56-hour data center calls around Metro Atlanta, port industrial work in Savannah, or Department of Energy incentives along the Savannah River, here is how Georgia's five Inside Construction locals compare on the check and in the books as of October 15, 2026:

(Note: IBEW Local 84 in Smyrna at 2791 Woodland Terrace, Smyrna, GA 30080 is a utility/outside local representing Georgia Power and utility workers rather than Inside construction dispatch.)

1. IBEW Local 613 (Atlanta): 478 open positions across QTS, Switch, Equinix, and Plant Yates

IBEW Local 613 (501 Pulliam Street SW, Suite 250, Atlanta, GA 30312, jobline (800) 526-1064) is the largest Inside dispatch hub in the Southeast, carrying 478 open positions across 56 active calls with only 37 travelers on Book 2. Inside Journeyman Wireman scale is $42.00/hr plus $8.00/hr H&W and $4.80/hr pension ($56.06/hr total package including NEBF). For a full breakdown of Local 613's sign-in rules and job board, read our dedicated IBEW Local 613 Atlanta traveler guide.

Major active calls on the Local 613 board right now include: - Inglett & Stubbs (QTS Fayette Data Center): 66 JW working 4-10s & 1-8s Mon-Fri with optional Saturdays (6:30 AM start, safety-toed boots required, orientation Mon & Wed). - Inglett & Stubbs (Switch Data Center, Cartersville): 29 JW at $42.00/hr plus 2 Medium-Voltage Cable Splicers at $42.90/hr (3M training required) working 4-10s & 1-8s (6:00 AM start). - Inglett & Stubbs (DataBank, Fulton Industrial & Wellstar Paulding Hospital): 20 JW at DataBank (4-10s & 1-8, Saturdays optional) and 15 JW at the Wellstar Paulding Hospital high-rise addition (4-10s & 1-8). - Cleveland Electric Company (DC Blox West, Equinix Hampton & South Fulton): 10 JW at DC Blox West in Lithia Springs (4-10s & 2-8s Mon-Sat, 56 hrs/week), 12 JW across two calls at the Equinix Data Center in Hampton (4-10s & 1-8), and 5 JW on Plummer Road in South Fulton (4-10s & 1-8). - Plant Yates (Newnan, GA, SCMMA Agreement): Cleveland Electric (4 JW on 6-10s) and Electrical Corporation of America (5 JW on 5-10s & 1-8) paying $42.18/hr under the Southern Company Maintenance and Modification Agreement (SCMMA), with paid drug test and orientation hours. - Allison-Smith (QTS Fayetteville): 9 JW across two calls (8 JW crew + 1 JW Trimble robotic layout) working 4-10s & 2-8s Mon-Sat (56 hrs/week).

2. IBEW Local 1579 (Augusta): Savannah River Site ($44.56 incentives + $2.00/hr account deposit)

IBEW Local 1579 (1250 Reynolds Street, Augusta, GA 30901, phone (706) 722-6357) covers the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) and the massive Department of Energy Savannah River Site (SRS) across the river. Base Inside JW scale is $37.50/hr with $7.72/hr H&W and an $8.32/hr defined pension ($54.67/hr total package), with 25 on Book 1 and 13 on Book 2.

Currently, Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) has an active call for 1 JW at the Savannah River Site working 4-10s at scale plus $44.56 in stated site incentives, 4 paid holidays, and $2.00 per hour worked deposited into an account (paid half in June and December, or in full upon layoff). Because SRS is a federal nuclear facility, security badging and onboarding typically take 7 to 21 days after referral.

3. IBEW Local 508 (Savannah): Coastal industrial and instrumentation calls

IBEW Local 508 (1526 Dean Forest Road, Savannah, GA 31408, phone/jobline (912) 964-5080) covers Georgia's coastal industrial corridor, port facilities, and the Hyundai Metaplant supplier footprint. Base scale is $35.00/hr plus $6.80/hr H&W and $4.76/hr contribution pension ($47.61/hr total package), with only 1 traveler on Book 2.

Local 508 currently lists 2 open positions: Southeast Electric at $39.00/hr ($4.00/hr over base scale, requiring instrumentation and controls experience) and Miller Electric for a shop foreman/general foreman (5-8s or 4-10s). To put your name on the day's referral list at Local 508, call the hall between 7:45 AM and 8:00 AM.

Step-by-step checklist before you travel to a Georgia IBEW local

Even though you do not need to apply to the Georgia Secretary of State for a journeyman license, Georgia's hyperscale data center, defense, and utility contractors enforce strict gate compliance. Bring these items in your folder before signing Book 2 (and review our Book 2 traveler guide if this is your first road trip):

1. Paid-up IBEW yellow dues receipt and travel letter from your home local.
2. Active OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 Construction card (mandatory on QTS, Switch, Equinix, DataBank, and Plant Yates calls).
3. Two physical forms of unexpired government ID (driver's license plus original Social Security card, certified birth certificate, or U.S. Passport) for I-9 verification and federal/utility badging (such as Lockheed Martin in Marietta/Kennesaw or the Savannah River Site).
4. Clean drug screen and background history: Utility calls under the SCMMA agreement (Plant Yates) and defense/nuclear sites (Lockheed, Savannah River Site) require pre-hire drug testing and 7-to-10-year background checks.
5. ERISA / ERTS reciprocity login: Verify that your pension and health & welfare reciprocity elections in ERTS are pointed back to your home local's trust funds before your first Friday paycheck clears.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Georgia require a statewide journeyman electrician license for IBEW travelers?

No. Under O.C.G.A. § 43-14-8, the Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors licenses Electrical Contractors (Class I and Class II), not individual journeyman electricians. W-2 union wiremen dispatched through IBEW Local 613, 508, 1579, 1316, or 1531 work legally under their signatory contractor's Class II Unrestricted Electrical Contractor license.

Does Georgia have electrical license reciprocity with other states in 2026?

No. Effective May 2026, the Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors discontinued incoming licensure by reciprocity. Electrical contractors from formerly reciprocal states (Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) must now apply by examination in the GOALS portal and pass the Georgia PSI exam.

What is the difference between a Georgia Class I and Class II Electrical Contractor license?

Under Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Rule 121-3-.01(1), a Class I (Restricted) Electrical Contractor license is limited to single-phase electrical installations that do not exceed 200 amperes at the service drop or service lateral. A Class II (Unrestricted) Electrical Contractor license covers all electrical contracting work regardless of phase or amperage.

How much does a Georgia Electrical Contractor license cost and what is the exam?

Applying for a Class I or Class II Electrical Contractor license costs $110 through the Georgia Secretary of State GOALS online portal. Once approved by the Board, the open-book 2023 NEC examination is administered by PSI Exams for $288, takes up to 8 hours, and requires a minimum passing score of 70%.

How many hours of experience are required for a Georgia Electrical Contractor license?

Under Rule 121-3-.01(4), applicants must document a minimum of 4 years (8,000 hours) of primary field experience installing electrical systems under a licensed electrical contractor, plus submit three notarized reference forms (at least one from a licensed electrical contractor).

Which Georgia IBEW local has the most open job calls in October 2026?

As of October 15, 2026, IBEW Local 613 in Atlanta leads Georgia with 478 open positions across 56 active calls, driven by hyperscale data center builds for QTS (Fayetteville), Switch (Cartersville), Equinix (Hampton), DataBank (Fulton Industrial), DC Blox (Lithia Springs), and Plant Yates in Newnan.

What is the 2026 Journeyman Wireman pay scale in Georgia?

Inside Journeyman Wireman scale in Georgia is $42.00/hr at IBEW Local 613 (Atlanta, $56.06/hr total package), $37.50/hr at Local 1579 (Augusta, $54.67/hr total package), $35.00/hr at Local 508 (Savannah, $47.61/hr total package) and Local 1316 (Macon), and $31.00/hr at Local 1531 (Albany).

What do I need to take a Book 2 job call in Georgia if no state journeyman card is required?

You need a current paid-up IBEW dues receipt, a travel letter from your home local, two physical forms of government ID for I-9 verification, an OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 card, safety-toed boots, and the ability to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check for data center, utility, or federal sites.

Official sources

• Georgia Secretary of State: State Board of Electrical Contractors FAQ (May 2026 Reciprocity & Licensing Rules)
• Georgia Secretary of State: Electrical Contractor Continuing Education & CE Broker Requirements
• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Rule 121-3-.01: Statewide Electrical Contractor License (Class I & Class II Experience Rules)
• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Rule 121-2-.03: Statewide License by Reciprocity (Cornell LII)
• IBEW Local 613 Atlanta: Official Union Hall & Dispatch Portal
• IBEW Local 508 Savannah: Official Union Hall Website