Qualifications of applicants

(a) No auctioneer’s license shall be issued to any person who has not attained the age of 18 years, nor to any person who is not a resident of this state unless he or she has fully complied with Code Section 43-6-12, nor to any person who is not a citizen or has not filed his or her intent to become a citizen of the United States. (b) Each applicant for an auctioneer’s license shall be required to pass an examination in a form prescribed by the commission. (c) Each applicant for licensure as an auctioneer must prove to the commission that he or she is reputable, trustworthy, honest, and competent to transact the business of auctioning in such a manner as to safeguard the interest of the public. 211 43-6-11.1 (d) Each applicant for licensure as an auctioneer shall have successfully graduated from an accredited high school or obtained a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) and have graduated from an auctioneers school approved by the commission prior to making an application for an auctioneer’s license. History. Code 1933, § 84-311A, enacted by Ga. L. 1975, p. 53, § 1; Ga. L. 1979, p. 1268, § 2; Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 43; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1686, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1989, p. 1409, § 2; Ga. L. 1991, p. 801, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 1030, § 3; Ga. L. 1996, p. 657, § 4; Ga. L. 2011, p. 752, § 43/HB 142; Ga. L. 2014, p. 294, § 4/HB 1042; Ga. L. 2022, p. 168, § 10(1)/SB 397. The 2022 amendment, effective July 1, 2022, substituted “state approved high school equivalency (HSE)” for “GED” in subsection (d). 43-6-11.1. Application by company for registration; exemptions; trust accounts. (a) No company shall be registered to engage in the business of auctioning unless such company furnishes to the commission: (1) A completed application form as prescribed by the commission; (2) Satisfactory evidence approved by the commission that the company employs or shall employ an auctioneer licensed under the provisions of this chapter to conduct any auctions in this state; and (3) If such company is a foreign corporation, satisfactory evidence approved by the commission that such company is authorized to do business in this state and is registered in accordance with Chapter 3 of Title 14. (b) A company owned by or employing one or more full-time auctioneers licensed by the commission may be exempt from subsection (a) of this Code section, provided that such company is directly supervised by a licensed auctioneer. (c) A company licensed under Chapter 47 and Chapter 48 of this title which engages in the business of auctioning on behalf of insurance companies and financial institutions shall not be subject to the requirements of paragraph (3) of Code Section 43-6-18. (d) An auction company must maintain at all times an active trust account and register such account with the Georgia Auctioneers Commission. History. Code 1981, § 43-6-11.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1987, p. 596, § 3; Ga. L. 1989, p. 1409, § 3; Ga. L. 1991, p. 801, § 2; Ga. L. 1996, p. 657, § 5.