A Georgia law effective July 1, 2027, bars licensing boards from automatically rejecting applicants based on criminal records alone.
Most professional services owners don't realize that Georgia's licensing boards can no longer use a blanket policy to deny someone a professional license based on criminal history. That's the practical effect of SB207, a law that rewrites how dozens of licensing boards—from accountants to cosmetologists to pest control operators—evaluate applicants with records.
Here's what changed and why it matters to your business.
Under the new law (Sections 1-4, Page 6, lines 137-139), Georgia licensing boards covering professions like accounting, engineering, real estate, chiropractic care, cosmetology, pest control, and insurance cannot automatically deny a license application because an applicant has a criminal record. Instead, they must conduct an individualized review of each applicant's circumstances.
That individualized review must include:
This is a meaningful shift. Previously, many boards could reject applicants based on conviction type alone, without weighing factors like how long ago the offense occurred, whether it relates to the profession, or the applicant's rehabilitation since.
If your professional services firm hires licensed practitioners—or if you employ people who need licenses to do their jobs—this law directly expands your potential talent pool. Workers with criminal records who were previously ineligible now have a path to licensure, provided the board conducts a proper individualized review.
This applies to licensing applications submitted on or after July 1, 2027, when Parts I through IV of SB207 take effect.
The practical implication: you may encounter qualified candidates with criminal histories who can now pursue or maintain professional licenses in Georgia. Some candidates who were previously blocked may now be approved by their licensing board.
This doesn't eliminate boards' authority to deny licenses. It simply requires them to justify that decision based on the specific facts of each case, not a categorical rule. A board can still deny a license if it determines the applicant's record genuinely poses a risk to the public or the profession—but it must explain why in writing.
For employers, this means the licensing landscape for certain professions is becoming less predictable. A candidate rejected five years ago might now qualify. Conversely, boards may approve applicants you'd expect to be denied, depending on their individualized assessment.
The law takes effect July 1, 2027, for Parts I through IV. Any professional license application submitted on or after that date falls under the new rules. If your firm is planning hiring or workforce development, it's worth monitoring how your industry's licensing board implements these requirements as the effective date approaches.
For a detailed, profession-specific summary of how SB207 applies to your industry, contact your state licensing board or professional association.