In order to kickstart your real estate career in Louisiana, it’s essential to obtain a Louisiana Real Estate License. However, despite the fact that the application process is mainly completed online nowadays, many applicants can still find it quite confusing and complicated.
For this reason, this How to Get a Real Estate License in Louisiana article will break down the main steps involved in the licensing process, covering everything from educational requirements to exam preparation and having your fingerprints taken.
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Louisiana Real Estate License
In order to get your Louisiana real estate license and start working in the real estate industry, there are several key steps you’ll need to complete. These include:
- Ensuring You Meet the Licensing Eligibility Requirements
- Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
- Submitting the Initial License Application
- Passing a Background Check
- Passing the Louisiana Real Estate Exam
- Finding a Sponsoring Broker
- Finalizing Your License Application
In the sections below, we’ve explored each of these steps in more detail.
Step 1: Meet the Louisiana Real Estate License Requirements
Before continuing ahead with your application for a Louisiana real estate license, you’ll first need to confirm that you’re actually eligible for it by ensuring you meet the following prerequisites:
- You must be at 18 years of age or older
- You must have obtained a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
If you have been convicted of a felony, you’re not automatically disqualified from obtaining a real estate license in Louisiana. However, you’ll need to have your case reviewed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC), which can be initiated by filing the Felony Review Hearing Request form.
Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
In addition to the general requirements outlined above, there are certain educational prerequisites you’ll be expected to meet in order to be able to apply for a Louisiana real estate license.
In particular, you’ll be expected to complete a 90-hour pre-licensing course known as Real Estate 101.
This course covers topics like real estate principles, Louisiana laws, property ownership, and market analysis, and is designed to enhance your real estate education and prepare you for a successful career in the industry.
Important
Even though completing the courses is mandatory, it would be a mistake to think of this step as just “checking a box”. This is because your pre-licensing education is what will prepare you to both pass your exam and become a better real estate agent.
For this reason, we always encourage our readers to invest in high-quality and reliable courses, as their study materials (like real estate practice tests and flashcards) can be invaluable during the exam prep stage.
On top of this, some of the top courses also offer money-back guarantees in the event that you do not pass your exam on your first attempt after taking their course.
Recommended Course
Interested in getting started? We recommend The CE Shop’s online pre licensing education packages due to their high-quality study resources, money-back-guarantee, and flexible pricing.
Note: You’ll receive a certificate upon completing this course, which you will need in order to proceed with your license application.
Step 3: Submit the Initial License Application
After fulfilling your pre-license education requirements, you may submit the initial application for your license. Your submission should include the following items:
- Your certificate of completion from the pre-license course
- The Initial Real Estate Salesperson License Application – Part A form
- The required initial license fee of $45
All applications must be submitted via mail or in-person at the LREC office — electronic processing is not offered at the moment.
Step 4: Pass a Background Check
As mandated by Act 553 of the Louisiana Legislature’s 2022 Regular Session, all initial license applicants must undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history review that is conducted by the Louisiana State Police and the FBI.
To start the process, you will need to visit the IdentoGO website and enter the service code “27N4TH.” This will indicate that the background check is specifically for the Louisiana real estate license application.
Next, you’ll need to select “Schedule or Manage Appointment” to book a time at an IdentoGO center that’s convenient for you. The fee for this service, which covers both state and federal digital fingerprint submissions, is $60.75 and can be paid directly to IdentoGO via debit/credit card, a check, or a money order.
After your appointment, your fingerprints will be submitted electronically to the Louisiana State Police for processing.
Note: If your digital fingerprint submission is rejected by either the FBI or the Louisiana State Police, you’ll receive an email from IdentoGO/Idemia with instructions on how to reschedule your appointment without incurring additional charges.
Step 5: Pass the Louisiana Real Estate Exam
The next step you’ll need to complete is to pass the Louisiana real estate exam, which is administered by Pearson VUE.
This exam includes two parts: a state portion (55 questions) and a national portion (80 questions), and you can choose to take the state and national sections together as a combination exam or separately.
The advantage of choosing the combination exam is that it allows you to take both the state and national sections at once, saving time. Additionally, if you pass one section, but fail the other, you’ll only need to retake the section you failed in your next attempt.
In order to schedule your real estate exam, you can either make an online reservation through the Pearson VUE website or call Pearson VUE directly at (877) 619-2096.
For those opting to take the Combination State and National Exam (LARESCO1), the initial attempt costs $78. Should you need to retake the combination exam, the cost will increase to $93.
Alternatively, if you choose to take the sections individually — regardless of whether it’s the National section (LARESNA2) or the State section (LARESST3) — each attempt will be priced at $39 (for both first attempts and retakes).
Step 6: Find a Sponsoring Broker
At this stage of the licensure process, you’ll need to decide whether you want to have the LREC issue your license in “active” or “inactive” status.
If you plan to immediately engage in real estate activities, you’ll need to find a sponsoring broker who’ll sign the Initial Real Estate License Application – Part B Supervision Affidavit.
This affidavit confirms their commitment to supervise you according to the LREC Rules and Regulations, ensuring your practice complies with established guidelines.
Conversely, if you don’t intend to begin practicing real estate immediately or if you haven’t yet secured a sponsoring broker, you may request the LREC to issue your license in “inactive” status.
To do this, you will need to complete the Request to Issue Initial License in the Inactive License Status form and include it with your overall application submission to the LREC.
Note: The Supervision Affidavit is a required part of your licensing application regardless of if LREC will issue your license as “active” or “inactive.” Even if you don’t find a sponsoring broker to sign it for an active license, you’ll still need to submit it with your application.
Step 7: Finalize Your License Application
After passing the state real estate exam and satisfying all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to submit your license application. You can do this by completing the Initial Real Estate License Application – Part B Supervision Affidavit.
This form not only serves as a declaration of your supervision arrangements, but also requires you to secure Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance.
If you opt for the LREC Group Errors and Omissions Insurance Program, you can handle this requirement directly with the LREC by including the appropriate premium with your application fee (see the prorated rates listed on the form).
If, on the other hand, you prefer to secure E&O insurance through an independent provider, you’ll have to submit the Independent E&O Coverage form to the LREC along with your application to prove your coverage meets the LREC’s standards.
Regardless of your insurance choice, you’ll need to pay a $10 Research and Education Fund fee, a $10 Recovery Fund fee, and a $25 Application Processing fee, and then submit the completed license application to the LREC either in person or by mail.
Step 8: 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 receive a letter from the LREC containing a license document 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: For updates on the status of your license application or any other inquiries, please contact the LREC at info@lrec.gov.
Louisiana Real Estate License Renewal
In order to keep your license valid and continue working as a real estate salesperson, you’ll need to renew your license annually.
To do this, you must fulfill the continuing education (CE) requirements mandated by the LREC. This entails completing 12 hours of approved coursework each year.
Regarding costs, if you have opted for the LREC Group E&O Insurance Policy, the total cost for renewing your license — including E&O coverage — will be $219, which will need to be paid directly to the LREC.
If you opt to secure E&O insurance through a third party, the renewal fee will be $70 plus an additional $7 processing fee to update your insurance details for a total of $77.
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.
Recommended: Interested in getting started? We recommend The CE Shop’s online post licensing education packages due to their high-quality study resources, money-back-guarantee, and flexible pricing.
Louisiana Real Estate Commission
Mailing Address:
9071 Interline Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Phone: (225) 925-1923
Fax: (225) 925-4501
Email: info@lrec.gov
Website: https://lrec.gov/
Louisiana Real Estate License FAQ
How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Louisiana?
The time it will take for you to become a real estate agent in Louisiana will depend on how quickly you complete the required steps, which include finishing a 90-hour pre-licensing course, passing the state exam, undergoing a background check, and submitting your license application.
Most candidates will require a minimum of four months to complete all of these steps. For more information, you can check out our state-specific How to Get a Real Estate License guide.
How much does it cost to get a realtor license in Louisiana?
To obtain a real estate salesperson license in Louisiana, you’ll need to cover various fees. These include $45 for the initial application fee, $60.75 for the background check fee, $78 for the exam fee, and an additional $45 to submit and finalize your license application to the commission.
Additionally, you’ll need to cover the cost of the required pre-licensing education and obtain Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance. Prices will vary, depending on the provider for each.
Is the Louisiana real estate exam hard?
The Louisiana real estate exam can be considered challenging due to its comprehensive coverage of both state and national real estate laws and practices.
Having said that, you can significantly increase your chances of passing on the first attempt with thorough preparation and a dedicated study regimen.
For more information on this topic, check out our How to Get a Real Estate License in Louisiana guide.
What is required to become a real estate agent in Louisiana?
To become a real estate agent in Louisiana, you must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, complete a 90-hour pre-licensing course, pass a background check, and successfully pass the state real estate exam.
With the successful completion of the state exam, you’ll need to obtain Errors and Omissions insurance prior to activating your license. This will enable you to begin your real estate practice.
What are the educational requirements for obtaining a salesperson license in Louisiana?
To obtain a real estate salesperson license in Louisiana, you must complete a pre-licensing course provided by a real estate school accredited by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC).
This course, consisting of 90 credit hours, offers in-depth training in key areas like property law, agency relationships, real estate finance, market analysis, and ethical practices.
If you’re interested in becoming a licensed real estate broker instead, see our How to Get a Louisiana Real Estate Broker License guide.