Not all contractors need to have a state
general  or residential contractors licenses. Specialty contractors and handymen are examples of contractors that do not need to a state general or residential contractors license. If a contractor claims to be a specialty contractor, they should include that information in their contract and you can verify their scope of permitted work with the State Licensing Board for  Residential and General Contractors which establishes specialty contractors by Board policy. Some common examples: Roofers, Outdoor Environmental (pool and spa  professionals). There are over 100 types of specialty contractors (click the link for the  full list) and the list continues to be expanded. Specialty contractors may also  perform a limited amount of work that would other be performed by a state  licensed residential or
general contractor provided that the work falls within  the statutory test. 
  
Some of these types of contractors may need to have local licenses. Pool and spa professionals often have to have a local county license.

Here is a simple story of a good company inaccurately  accused of being an unlicensed company.
 
Nonprofit Group Not Licensed By State -- Original Story  inaccurately accused of unlicensed contracting.
 
Follow up story inaccurately claiming state was  "investigating" -- investigations being conducted by
the state are not  publically disclosed. At best a complaint asking for an investigation may have  been requested. 

Correction and Retraction of Inaccurate
Claims. In addition to  clarify the matter, the state board at my urging also issued a specialty  contractor scope of work for this type of exempt non-licensed work. 
 
Let's be clear. I don't blame CBS Atlanta for   misunderstanding the law and the requirements. Its hard to comprehend and the State Board needs to take action to make the law easier for consumers and contractors to understand.

Repair persons are another type of contractors need to have a state general or residential contractors licenses. A repair person is limited in their scope of work and must provide a written disclosure. 

Contracts for Construction work under $2,500 does not require a state contractor's license. 

Chapter 14 Professionals
Some construction professionals have been licensed by a different board (the Georgia Board of Construction Industry not the State Licensing Board for  Residential and General Contractors). These include Electrical Contractors,   Conditioned Air, Low Voltage, Utility Manage and Plumbers. Their licenses are also available to be checked online with the links above (you may need their license numbers).