The Georgia Department of Auctioneers FAQ
The Georgia Department of Auctioneers Frequently Asked Questions
More information about the The Georgia Department of Auctioneers
Find out if an individual has an active license using the Licensee Search. Enter the requested information, click "search", and the license information should populate.
Complaints should be submitted from within GOALS. Learn more about filing online complaints on the How To Submit A Licensing Complaint page. Complaints are confidential by Georgia law in OCGA § 43-1-2 (k) (4) and OCGA § 43-1-19 (h) (2) and are not subject to the Open Records Act. The Board encourages complainants to provide as much detail and supporting documents as possible.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 43-6-19, licensure is not required for any nonprofit organization conducting an auction where the funds are to be used in a way as to benefit persons with physical or mental disabilities or disorders or for research related to cures or prevention of such disabilities or disorders, or where the funds are to be used for the preservation of wildlife or its habitats.
Applications should be submitted through the applicant’s GOALS account. For detailed instructions on how to apply, visit the How to Guide: Apply to be an Auctioneer page.
No. Due to the Governor’s signing of House Bill 1254 during the 2026 legislative session, effective July 1, 2026, licensure for Auctioneer Companies is no longer required and all licenses for Auction Companies that were active prior to the change were made null and void.
Consult the relevant How To Guide to find more information on license requirements in the State of Georgia.
Applicants for an Auctioneer license must be at least 18 years of age, must have a high school diploma from an accredited high school or GED certificate, and must have graduated from an Auctioneer School approved by the agency. (Before attending the school, make sure they are a Georgia-approved school. This can be verified through our website.) Upon receipt of a completed application, which includes the application fee, the applicant will be made eligible for the Laws & Rules Exam, which is administered by PSI. PSI will contact the applicant to inform them of the eligibility and to provide information on how to register online for the exam.
All licenses expire on February 28, of the even-numbered years.
Licenses are renewed through the licensee’s GOALS account. Renewals open typically about 90 days prior to the expiration date, which you’ll be notified of via email.
Yes, the agency requires 8 hours of continuing education to be obtained in the previous two years to renew an Auctioneer license. All continuing education hours must be completed by February 28 of the even-numbered year. Licensees are required to register and report their continuing education coursework and submit proof of completion of continuing education to CE Broker.
The agency is authorized to reciprocate licensure with other states that have licensing requirements that are substantially similar to the agency’s law. When considering applying for reciprocity, the applicant should review the law of the Georgia Department of Auctioneers and the law of the state in which the applicant is licensed to ensure that the requirements for licensure are substantially similar. The agency does not reciprocate with states that do not have state licensure requirements. States that only have local licensure requirements are not eligible for reciprocity.
Visit the Rules website to review the rules regarding continuing education.
Sometimes referred to as a letter of good standing, a verification of licensure can be purchased by the licensee through their account in GOALS. Log into you GOALS account, go to the “Licenses” section, click “Take Action” for the license that you need a verification for, and then click “Request a Verification” and follow the prompts.
Login into your GOALS account to print a copy of your license or to purchase a paper copy of your license to be mailed to you. After logging in, go to the “Licenses” section, click “Take Action” for the license that you need a copy of your license for, and then click “Print License”.
You can find a list of approved auction schools via the Licensee Search page on our website. NOTE: Approved schools will have a status of "ACTIVE" beside their name. Those with a "Lapsed" status are not currently approved as a Georgia provider.
Address change requests can be made through your GOALS account. A change in mailing address can be submitted as an amendment for each license, and a change in residential address can be completed through the “My Profile” section.
Requirements for reinstatement can be found in Rule 55-3-.04.
The Department's interpretation is: if you perform any of the acts of an auctioneer or engage in the business of auctioneering in Georgia (for example, if you have an auction storefront in Georgia, if you take consignments for auction in Georgia, if you write a contract to sell goods at auction in Georgia, if you receive funds following an auction on behalf of the seller or pay a seller in Georgia, and/or if there is a physical presence of personal property offered to be auctioned in Georgia), you must be licensed as an auctioneer in Georgia. Please note that there is no exemption in Georgia law for online auctions.
Yes, a licensed auctioneer must also be licensed with the Georgia Real Estate Commission to auction real property.