How to Get a Broker License in Louisiana

Obtaining a Louisiana Real Estate Broker License is crucial if you’re looking to advance your real estate career. Despite the streamlined online application process, many aspiring real estate brokers find the requirements and procedures complex and challenging.

This How to Get a Broker License in Louisiana article will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you have a clear understanding of what it takes to achieve this license and elevate your real estate career as quickly as possible.

Louisiana Real Estate Broker License

In order to get your Louisiana real estate broker license and take your career to the next level, there are several key steps you’ll need to complete, including:

1. Meeting the Eligibility and Experience Requirements
2. Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
3. Submitting a License Application
4. Passing a Background Check
5. Passing the Louisiana Broker Licensing Exam
6. Obtaining Errors and Omissions Insurance

In the sections below, we’ve explored each of these steps in more detail.

Note: If you’re just starting out, you’ll need to check out our Louisiana Real Estate License guide instead.

Step 1: Meet the Louisiana Eligibility and Experience Requirements

Before proceeding with the application process for your Louisiana real estate broker license, you’ll need to first make sure that you meet the general prerequisites outlined under La. R.S. 37:1437:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must either be a high school graduate or hold an equivalent certificate
• Must be able to demonstrate the honesty, trustworthiness, and competence necessary to act as a real estate broker in a way that protects the public’s interest

It’s important to note that, regardless of whether or not you feel a conviction or misdemeanor on your record may affect your chances, you should never lie on your application as any false statement is sufficient in itself for the Commission to refuse your application.

If you’re worried about the impact of any past offenses, you can ask for a determination of your pre-application eligibility by submitting a Felony Review Hearing Request form to the Commission via email.

In addition to the general eligibility requirements outlined above, you’ll also be expected to satisfy the following experience requirements under the same section of Louisiana law:

• Must have been an active real estate licensee for at least four years
• At least two of these four years must have taken place immediately prior to your application for a broker license

For the purposes of the regulations above, you can use experience that you gained as a licensed salesperson in or outside of Louisiana.

However, if you were previously licensed in a state other than Louisiana, you’ll be required to provide Certified License History documents listing your license’s active status in order to demonstrate that you satisfy this experience requirement.

Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education

Beyond the general requirements mentioned earlier, you must also fulfill specific educational prerequisites under La. R.S. 37:1437(C)(1)(a) to be able to apply for a Louisiana real estate broker license.

In particular, this will involve completing a total of 150 hours of pre-licensing education approved by the Commission. This total time must be split accordingly between the following courses:

• Real Estate 201: Foundational course that covers the fundamentals of real estate (90 hours)
• Real Estate 202: A course that covers the applicable laws and regulations (30 hours)
• Real Estate 203: A final course covering typical real estate broker responsibilities (30 hours)

After completing all of the required modules listed above — which can be done either online or in-person — you should receive a completion certificate from your course provider. Make sure to hold onto this as you’ll need it in order to be able to submit your broker license application (see Step 3).

Step 3: Submit a License Application

After completing your pre-licensing education and ensuring that you satisfy all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move on to submitting your license application.

This is typically done by filing a completed Initial Real Estate Broker License Application with LREC either by mail or in-person at the following address:

9071 Interline Ave.
Baton Rouge LA 70809

Alongside this application, you’ll also be expected to include a $165 fee and the following documentation:

• Completion certificate for the 150-hour pre-licensing education
• Copies of the front and back of an acceptable form of ID
• Certified License History documents (if applicable)
• Disciplinary History (if applicable)
• Legal Proceedings (if applicable)

According to LAC 46:LXVII §701, once you submit an application for a real estate license in Louisiana, that application is valid for a period of one year. This means that if you don’t complete the required steps within this time frame, you’ll need to submit a new application.

After successfully submitting this application form, you should shortly receive an email from Pearson VUE with instructions on how to schedule your exam. As soon as LREC processes your application and grants you authorization to test, you’ll be able to pay the applicable fee and schedule this exam (see Step 5).

Note: The application form can either be filled out electronically or by hand — if you choose the latter, be sure to only use either black or blue ink.

Step 4: Pass the Background Check

Before sitting the broker exam, you’ll be required to undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history review administered by the FBI and the Louisiana State Police according to Act 553 of the 2022 Regular Legislative Session.

To do this, you’ll need to schedule an appointment on the IdentoGO website to have your fingerprints digitally scanned at one of their many locations.

Be aware that you’ll need to input the unique service code “27N4TH” during the scheduling process, as the results of this criminal background history check cannot be delivered to LREC without it. This code is the unique identifier that allows the IdentoGO’s system to figure out which agency you’re requesting this check for.

After selecting a date and time that are convenient for you, you’ll be required to pay a $60.75 fee to IdentoGO in order to finalize your reservation. At this point, all that’s left to do is attend the appointment and have your fingerprints taken and electronically submitted to the Louisiana State Police.

If you have any doubts or queries regarding the fingerprinting process, be sure to get in touch with IdentoGO for further assistance by calling them at (844) 539-5543 during regular business hours.

Note: If you’re not able to visit an IdentoGO Livescan location in person, you can obtain a fingerprinting card from local law enforcement and send it by mail to the IdentoGO offices.

Step 5: Pass the Broker Licensing Exam

Louisiana’s real estate broker exam is four hours long, administered by Pearson VUE, and entails 135 questions divided across two sections: a National portion (80 questions) and a State-Specific portion (55 questions).

Keep in mind that you’ll be required to pay $78 to take both of the exam’s portions in one sitting, or $39 to only take one of them. These fees will only apply for your first attempt at the broker exam, and any repeat attempts that you need will instead cost $93 to take both exam portions.

In order to pass, you’ll need to obtain a scaled score of at least 75. It’s important to note that since this score is scaled, it doesn’t directly equate to 75% — instead, the actual raw mark will vary based on the exam’s difficulty.

If you only fail one of the exam’s portions, you’ll only need to retake this part of the exam. However, you’ll need to retake both if you failed the entire combination exam (i.e., national and state portions together).

Note: After obtaining a passing score on the Louisiana broker exam, you’ll have one year to complete the rest of the application process.

Step 6: Obtain Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance

In line with the civil law regulations laid out in R.S. 37:1466, the last step you’ll need to complete is to provide proof of Errors and Omissions insurance prior to your license being issued by LREC.

You’re able to satisfy this insurance requirement in one of two different ways:

• LREC’s Group E&O Program: The Commission has partnered with Rice Insurance Services Company (RISC) to offer a group program issued by the Continental Casualty Company. This has been designed to meet the state’s requirements and can easily be obtained through RISC’s website
• Independent Coverage: If you decide to go with a separate insurance carrier in lieu of this group policy, you’re required to submit an Independent E&O Coverage form in addition to a copy of your policy’s declaration page to demonstrate it satisfies the state’s requirements

At this time, it’s also a good idea to complete and print out a Termination of Supervision form, which you’ll need to submit alongside your application in order to upgrade from a salesperson license.

Step 7: Application Review

If you’ve managed to get this far, congratulations!

With your application submitted and all the other licensing requirements satisfied, in most cases you should hear back from LREC regarding the status of your application within 10 business days.

Be sure to take some time to celebrate your accomplishment. You’ve put in a lot of work and effort and deserve a celebration!

Note: If you’re not sure what’s happening with your license and it’s been longer than expected, we recommend reaching out to LREC directly by phone or email.

Louisiana Real Estate License Renewal

In order to keep your real estate broker license valid, you’ll need to renew it every year. In Louisiana, this is generally done online through the MyLREC Portal by September 30.

Renewal applications must be submitted to LREC alongside a fee of either $254 (if you choose the LREC Group E&O Policy) or $112 (if you purchase E&O through a third party).

While renewals can technically still be made up until December 31, those made after the timely filing deadline will be exposed to a late fee that ranges up to $200.

In addition to renewing, you’ll also be expected to complete at least 12 hours of continuing education (CE) each year to keep your license valid. That being said, you don’t have to complete all your CE before the renewal deadline, as you’ll have until December 31 to complete it instead.

Finally, all newly licensed real estate professionals are required to complete 45 hours of post-licensing education before passing an exam on course content. This is a one-off requirement and must be satisfied within 180 of your initial license date.

We always encourage our readers to think of the post licensing course they take as an investment in their future career — higher quality, more reliable course content is a central part of ensuring you continue to grow professionally.

Louisiana Real Estate Commission

Mailing Address:
9071 Interline Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm

Phone: (225) 925-1923

Email: licensing@lrec.gov 

Website: https://lrec.gov/