General Contractor License Requirements in Louisiana

Licensing Authority	Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC)
License Type	Commercial / Residential / Home Improvement Registration
Experience Required	Louisiana does not require a specific number of years of experience for contractor licensing. The qualifying party must pass both the Business & Law exam and the trade exam. The qualifying party must be an original incorporator/LLC member or a full-time employee with at least 4 months of employment.
Education Substitute	No formal experience requirement, so no education substitute applies. Exam passage serves as the competency gate.
Exam Required	Yes — Louisiana Business & Law + Trade Exam (classification-specific)
Bond Required	No
Insurance	General liability: required. Workers comp: required with employees
Continuing Education	6 hours annually (residential contractors only). Commercial, mold, and home improvement contractors are exempt.
Processing Time	4-8 weeks typical. Exam scheduling available through PSI after application approval.

Fee Breakdown

Application Fee	$100
Exam Fee	$240
Fingerprinting	$40
Application (2 classifications)	$195
Business & Law exam	$120
Trade exam (per classification)	$120
Est. Initial Total	$815

Renewal: $100 every 1, 2, or 3 years (licensee's choice)

Exam Requirements

Louisiana Business & Law

50 questions2 hoursPass: 70%

Louisiana contractor lawContractsLabor lawLien lawInsurance requirementsSafety regulations

Trade Exam (classification-specific)

80 questions3 hoursPass: 70%

Building codesConstruction methodsSafetyMaterialsPlan readingEstimating

Exam provider: PSI Services LLC (effective August 2025)

License Tiers

Commercial Contractor

Projects over $50,000. Requires $50,000 net worth (or irrevocable letter of credit). Building Construction, Highway/Street/Bridge, Heavy Construction, Municipal/Public Works classifications available.

Exam: Required

Residential Contractor

Projects over $75,000. Requires $50,000 net worth (or irrevocable letter of credit). Includes subclassifications for Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Roofing.

Exam: Required

Home Improvement Registration

Existing residential structures, non-structural work, $7,500-$75,000. Requires $25,000 net worth.

Exam: Required

License Reciprocity

This state has reciprocity agreements with 5 states. You may be able to skip the trade exam if you hold a valid license from one of these states.

alabamaFormal reciprocity agreement. LSLBC will accept exam scores passed in Alabama for equivalent classifications. Must still submit full Louisiana application, meet net worth requirements, and provide insurance. Residential and Building classifications recognized.

arkansasFormal reciprocity agreement. All classifications recognized. LSLBC accepts equivalent Arkansas exam scores. Must still meet Louisiana financial, insurance, and application requirements.

mississippiFormal reciprocity agreement. All classifications recognized. LSLBC accepts equivalent Mississippi exam scores. Must still meet Louisiana financial, insurance, and application requirements.

tennesseeFormal reciprocity agreement. LSLBC accepts equivalent Tennessee exam scores. Must still meet Louisiana financial, insurance, and application requirements.

utahFormal reciprocity agreement. LSLBC accepts equivalent Utah exam scores for applicable classifications. Must still meet Louisiana financial, insurance, and application requirements.

Notes

No formal experience requirement — exam passage is the competency gate
Act 422 (effective August 2025) increased net worth from $10,000 to $50,000 for commercial/residential licenses
Act 422 eliminated surety bonds as net worth alternative; only irrevocable letters of credit accepted
Home improvement registration requires $25,000 net worth
Qualifying party must be original incorporator/LLC member or full-time employee (min 4 months)
Business registration with Louisiana Secretary of State required
Retake wait period: 30 days if exam is failed

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a general contractor license in Louisiana?

Yes, Louisiana requires a statewide general contractor license through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.

How much does a general contractor license cost in Louisiana?

The estimated initial cost is $380, including application, exam, and license fees.

Data last verified: 2026-04-02 | Source: LSLBC