Renewal cycle
Rules 553-12-.01, .05 and .06 set a two-year renewal, with the fee due by June 30 of even-numbered years.
- Using odd-numbered years is the listed common error.
- Renewal is not annual.
- December 31 is not the renewal deadline; it is the end of the late period.
The late period
Under Rules 553-12-.05 and .06:
- Renewal from July 1 through December 31 is allowed with a penalty fee. It is not penalty-free.
- Not renewing by December 31 has the same effect as revocation. A lapsed license cannot simply be reinstated after December 31; believing it can is the listed common error.
- Someone who uses the penalty period cannot use it again in the next renewal cycle, so it is not available every cycle.
Continuing education
Rule 553-12-.02 sets CE hours per year, with each CE year running July 1 to June 30.
- Residential-Basic: 3 hours per year.
- Residential-Light Commercial: 6 hours per year.
The trap is giving Light Commercial the 3-hour Basic figure. Four hours is not a figure in the rule, and saying Light Commercial needs no CE is wrong.
Retaking the exam
Rules 553-3-.01 to 553-3-.04 require anyone taking the exam a third or later time to:
- wait at least one calendar year after the last exam; and
- submit a new application with the exam fees.
The wait applies before the third attempt, not after the first failure; that mix-up is the listed common error.
Reciprocity
Rule 553-2-.13 applies only to licensees from a state with a reciprocal agreement with the Georgia board. The applicant must:
- hold a license that is substantially equivalent to Georgia's criteria, including an exam; and
- pass the Georgia Business and Law exam.
Assuming reciprocity waives every Georgia exam is the listed common error. Requiring the trade exam but not Business and Law reverses the rule. Retaking the home-state exam is not required, since that license already had to be issued on an exam.