- What Is A GAEC, Exactly?
- Who Governs the Exam and Who Administers It
- Exam Format: 140 Scored Items, Two Parts, One Score
- The 10 Domains You'll Be Tested On
- Eligibility Under the 2026 Licensing Law
- Application, Fee, and Background Check Mechanics
- Open-Book Rules: What You Can and Can't Bring
- Scoring, Retakes, and the Review Course Trigger
- After You Pass: Renewal and Continuing Education
- Building a GAEC-Specific Study Plan
- Frequently Asked Questions
- GAEC is the Georgia Electrical Contractor License Exam for the Class II Unrestricted license, administered by PSI.
- The exam has 140 scored questions plus 22 unscored beta items, split into two 4-hour parts.
- A scaled score of 70 is required to pass; approval to test is valid for one year.
- Install and Maintain Interior Electrical Systems is the heaviest domain at 16.43% of the exam.
What Is A GAEC, Exactly?
On this site, GAEC refers specifically to the Georgia Electrical Contractor License Exam (Class II Unrestricted) - the state licensure exam that qualifies an individual to hold Georgia's unrestricted electrical contractor license. It is not a national certification, a trade association credential, or a manufacturer program. It is a Georgia-specific, PSI-administered exam tied directly to state law and the licensing authority described below.
Passing this exam is the technical gateway to becoming a licensed Class II Unrestricted electrical contractor in Georgia, which permits work across residential, commercial, and industrial electrical installations without the scope limitations attached to restricted license classes. If you're weighing whether pursuing this license makes sense for your career, it helps to first understand exactly what the exam covers and how it's structured - details we break down throughout this article and expand on in our GAEC Requirements 2026 guide.
Who Governs the Exam and Who Administers It
The exam is governed by the Georgia State Board of Electrical Contractors, which sits within the broader Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board. The Board sets the rules for who can sit for the exam, what the exam covers, and what happens after you pass or fail. Day-to-day exam delivery - scheduling, proctoring, scoring - is handled by PSI, a third-party testing vendor.
This two-tier structure matters practically: policy questions (experience requirements, license renewal, continuing education) go through the Board, while logistical questions (scheduling a seat, rescheduling, testing center rules) go through PSI. Confusing the two is a common source of frustration for first-time applicants.
Exam Format: 140 Scored Items, Two Parts, One Score
The Class II Unrestricted exam is computer-based and consists of 140 scored multiple-choice questions plus 22 unscored beta questions mixed in without identification. Beta questions are field-testing new items for future versions of the exam; you won't know which questions are beta, so every question deserves full attention.
The exam is split into two parts of four hours each, for a full-day testing experience. This length is a major reason candidates underestimate the exam going in - it's not a quick multiple-choice quiz but a sustained, two-part assessment that tests both breadth and stamina. For a full breakdown of what makes this exam demanding, see How Hard Is the GAEC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Key Takeaway
Treat this as two separate 4-hour tests in one day. Pace your practice sessions accordingly - don't only train in 60-90 minute bursts.
The 10 Domains You'll Be Tested On
The exam blueprint is organized into ten domains, each weighted by percentage of the scored items. Knowing these weights lets you allocate study time proportionally instead of studying everything equally.
Domain 9: Install and Maintain Interior Electrical Systems (16.43%)
The single largest domain on the exam. Covers interior wiring methods, branch circuits, and system installation practices candidates encounter daily in the field.
- Highest point value - prioritize mastery here first
Domain 8: Install, Size, and Maintain Transformers (15%)
Transformer sizing, connections, and maintenance make up a substantial share of the exam and require comfort with calculations, not just definitions.
- Practice sizing problems, not just terminology
Domain 10: Special Equipment, Conditions, and Locations (15%)
Covers equipment and installations in hazardous locations, special occupancies, and non-standard conditions.
- Requires familiarity with Code sections governing special locations
Domain 7: Install and Maintain D-C and A-C Rotating Equipment (11.43%)
Motors, generators, and rotating machinery installation and troubleshooting.
- Know both DC and AC equipment characteristics
Domain 6: Install and Maintain Electrical Controls and Devices (10.71%)
Control circuits, switching devices, and related equipment used to manage electrical systems.
- Focus on control logic and device function
The remaining five domains - Maintain Basic Electrical Circuits (10%), Comply with Laws (7.14%), Comply with Regulations (6.43%), Comply with Administrative Requirements (4.29%), and Plan and Organize Work (3.57%) - carry smaller individual weights but collectively represent roughly a third of the exam. Skipping them to focus only on the "big three" is a common mistake. For a domain-by-domain study breakdown, see GAEC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 10 Content Areas.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Install and Maintain Interior Electrical Systems | 16.43% |
| Install, Size, and Maintain Transformers | 15% |
| Special Equipment, Conditions, and Locations | 15% |
| Install and Maintain D-C and A-C Rotating Equipment | 11.43% |
| Install and Maintain Electrical Controls and Devices | 10.71% |
| Maintain Basic Electrical Circuits | 10% |
| Comply with Laws | 7.14% |
| Comply with Regulations | 6.43% |
| Comply with Administrative Requirements | 4.29% |
| Plan and Organize Work | 3.57% |
Eligibility Under the 2026 Licensing Law
Under the licensing law effective July 1, 2026, the standard path to sit for the exam requires four years of full-time electrical experience, including at least two years installing, altering, or repairing three-phase systems. This three-phase requirement is specific and often catches candidates off guard if their experience has been mostly residential single-phase work.
Beyond the standard experience path, education credit and U.S. Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship pathways are also available for candidates who qualify. These alternative routes can shorten or supplement the direct-experience requirement depending on the documentation provided.
Because eligibility rules directly determine when you can even schedule the exam, review the full eligibility breakdown in GAEC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before assuming you meet the threshold.
Application, Fee, and Background Check Mechanics
The current licensure-by-examination application fee is $110. Beyond the fee itself, the application requires several supporting components:
- Work-experience documentation covering your qualifying years
- Affidavits or references verifying that experience
- Identity and lawful-presence documents
- A background check
Missing or incomplete documentation is one of the most common reasons applications stall. Gather your experience records and references before you submit rather than after. If you're budgeting for the full process - application, exam, and any retake costs - see GAEC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown for a full accounting.
Open-Book Rules: What You Can and Can't Bring
The Class II Unrestricted exam is open book, but strictly limited to approved references. Understanding the exact rules here is critical, since violating them can disqualify your attempt:
- Permanent tabs are allowed in your approved reference materials
- Highlighting and underlining are allowed
- Handwritten notes are prohibited - you cannot annotate margins with your own commentary
- A silent, nonprogrammable calculator is permitted
This means your prep should focus heavily on knowing where to find information quickly in your approved references, not memorizing every code table verbatim. Tabbing strategy - organizing your reference by the domains above, especially the transformer sizing and interior systems sections - can save significant time during the two 4-hour parts.
Scoring, Retakes, and the Review Course Trigger
You need a final scaled score of 70 to pass. Scaled scores convert raw performance to a standardized scale, so 70 does not necessarily mean 70% of raw questions correct - treat it as the passing benchmark rather than a literal percentage. For a deeper explanation of how scaled scoring works for this exam, read GAEC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Your exam approval is valid for one year from the date it's granted, so you need to schedule and sit within that window. If you fail, you can retest, but after two failures, the Board requires you to complete a Board-approved review course before attempting the exam again. That makes your first two attempts especially high-stakes - going in prepared the first time is far more efficient than treating the exam as a low-cost trial run.
For candidates wondering how attempts typically go and what separates a pass from a retake, our GAEC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows article looks at the data available on outcomes.
Key Takeaway
Two failed attempts means a mandatory review course before you can try again - plan your first attempt as if it's your only shot.
After You Pass: Renewal and Continuing Education
Passing the exam is a milestone, not the finish line. Licenses under this program renew by June 30 of even-numbered years, and license holders must complete 8 continuing-education hours per cycle, reported through CE Broker. Missing the renewal window or the CE hours can put your license into lapsed status, so mark these dates well ahead of time.
Once licensed, the Class II Unrestricted credential opens work with general contractors, electrical contracting firms, and independent contracting opportunities across residential, commercial, and industrial projects - since the license carries no scope restriction. If you're evaluating whether the time and cost investment pays off long-term, Is the GAEC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and GAEC Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis dig into that question in more depth.
Building a GAEC-Specific Study Plan
Generic study techniques - spaced repetition, timed practice blocks, active recall - work best when they're mapped directly onto this exam's domain weights rather than applied evenly across every topic. Given that Interior Electrical Systems, Transformers, and Special Equipment/Conditions/Locations together account for nearly half the scored questions, your schedule should reflect that imbalance.
Foundation + Heaviest Domains
- Review Install and Maintain Interior Electrical Systems (16.43%)
- Work transformer sizing problems for Domain 8 (15%)
- Begin tabbing your approved reference by domain
Equipment and Circuits
- Study Special Equipment, Conditions, and Locations (15%)
- Cover rotating equipment (Domain 7) and controls/devices (Domain 6)
- Drill basic circuit calculations (Domain 5)
Compliance and Administrative Domains
- Cover Laws, Regulations, Administrative Requirements, and Plan/Organize Work
- These smaller domains still total roughly 21% combined - don't skip them
Full-Length Timed Practice
- Simulate two 4-hour sessions to build stamina
- Practice locating information in your approved reference under time pressure
For a structured, week-by-week plan built specifically around this exam's format and content areas, see the GAEC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. Pairing a domain-weighted schedule with realistic timed practice on our practice test platform is the most direct way to identify weak domains before exam day rather than after it.
Frequently Asked Questions
On this site, GAEC stands for the Georgia Electrical Contractor License Exam (Class II Unrestricted). See What Does GAEC Stand For? for a closer look at the terminology.
The exam contains 140 scored multiple-choice questions plus 22 unscored beta questions, split across two 4-hour parts.
You need a final scaled score of 70. See GAEC Passing Score 2026 for details on how scaled scoring is calculated.
The exam is open book using only approved references. Permanent tabs, highlighting, and underlining are allowed, but handwritten notes are prohibited. A silent, nonprogrammable calculator is permitted.
After two failed attempts, the Board requires completion of a Board-approved review course before you can sit for the exam again.
Exam approval is valid for one year from the date it's granted, so you must schedule and complete testing within that window.
Understanding exactly what the GAEC is - its domains, format, fees, and eligibility rules - is the foundation for any effective prep plan. Explore our related guides on GAEC Certification, GAEC Training, and GAEC Jobs for a fuller picture of the path ahead, and start practicing with realistic questions on GAEC Exam Prep when you're ready to test your knowledge.