Engineering Grads, Trades Gain Boost Under New Reforms

Senator Larry Walker: Clearing Red Tape So Georgians Can Get to Work

Hardworking Georgians are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work—but too often, outdated rules and licensing delays stand in the way. That’s why Sen. Larry Walker sponsored Senate Bill 125 and carried House Bill 579, a pair of measures aimed at clearing the path for qualified workers while keeping professional standards strong.

“Hardworking Georgians shouldn’t be stuck on the sidelines because of red tape,” Walker said in a recent statement. “That’s why I sponsored SB 125 and carried HB 579 to clear the path for folks who are ready to work.”

Both measures focus on one core idea: when someone has the skills and education to do the job, government shouldn’t slow them down with unnecessary barriers.

Letting Engineering Graduates Move Forward Sooner

One of the most significant changes in SB 125 involves how Georgia treats newly minted engineers.

Under previous law, the path to becoming a licensed professional engineer followed a strict sequence: a graduate became an engineer-in-training, then accumulated years of qualifying experience, and only afterwards could sit for the professional engineer’s exam. SB 125 changes this order by decoupling the sequence of experience and examination requirements for professional engineers in Georgia law.

The bill revises Code Section 43-15-9 so that passing the written examination in the principles and practice of engineering is no longer required to occur “subsequently” to the experience. Instead, the law simply requires that an applicant obtain engineer-in-training status, meet the experience requirement, and pass the exam—without dictating the order in which the experience and exam must occur.

As Sen. Walker put it, “SB 125 lets engineering students take their licensing exam right after graduation, so they can start their careers without waiting years.” Experience is still required before full licensure, but qualified graduates gain the opportunity to clear the exam hurdle earlier in their careers, aligning state law with how many graduates are already preparing professionally.

Helping High-Demand Trades Get Licensed Faster

While SB 125 focuses heavily on engineers and the construction-related licensing framework in Title 43, HB 579 targets a broader problem: workers in high-demand trades who are slowed down by licensing backlogs and outdated processes.

“HB 579 helps people in high-demand trades get licensed faster, reducing the delays that have held our communities back,” Walker said.

Together, the two bills aim to make it easier for Georgians in skilled professions to move from training to the workforce, especially in fields where demand is high and communities rely on timely, quality work.

Walker emphasized that these steps are about removing unnecessary obstacles—not about lowering expectations. “We’re not lowering standards—we’re cutting unnecessary barriers so more Georgians can get good jobs and keep our state moving forward,” he said.

A Modern System for Continuing Education Compliance

SB 125 also makes a key update that affects professional licensing boards under the Secretary of State.

The bill creates a continuing education tracking solution for all professional licensing boards under the Secretary of State that require continuing education. This system is designed to monitor whether licensees are meeting ongoing education requirements and to verify compliance at the time of license renewal.

Under new Code Section 43-1-4.1, the Secretary of State’s office is authorized to implement this tracking system, including the option to contract with third parties to provide the software. Beginning January 1, 2026, professional licensing boards will not renew a license unless the licensee’s continuing education compliance has been verified through this system, subject to any waivers or penalties that boards are already authorized to apply.

This move is intended to bring consistency and clarity across professions, giving boards a standardized way to ensure that licensees stay current in their fields.

Keeping Georgians Working—and Georgia Growing

With these updates to Georgia’s professional licensing laws, Sen. Walker aims to ensure that qualified Georgians can move into their careers without unnecessary delay. By allowing engineering graduates to take their licensing exam sooner, helping high-demand trades secure licenses more efficiently, and establishing a statewide system for tracking continuing-education compliance, SB 125 and HB 579 streamline processes while preserving the state’s required standards for training, safety, and professional practice.

Under both measures, Georgia maintains its existing experience requirements and oversight authority—but removes procedural barriers that have slowed workers down for years. These reforms take effect July 1, 2026, aligning state law with a more modern, practical approach to getting people into the workforce.

As Sen. Walker emphasized, the goal is straightforward: empower qualified Georgians to put their skills to work and support the state’s continued growth by reducing the hurdles that keep people on the sidelines.e in the practice of a profession, business, or trade in this state” and conform cross-references in social services law. That Act, like SB 125, carries an effective date of July 1, 2026.