How to get a Real Estate Salesperson license in Louisiana

Louisiana real estate agent licenses

Louisiana issues 2 real estate agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Louisiana real estate agent license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old²

High school diploma or GED

Required²

Background check

Background check required⁴
Fingerprints required⁷
Convictions for forgery, embezzlement, false pretenses, larceny, extortion, conspiracy to defraud, theft, or a felony directly related to real estate activity may alone justify refusal; the application asks about these.²
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply¹⁶

Insurance

Active licensees must carry errors and omissions insurance: the LREC group policy ($100,000 per claim/$300,000 aggregate, $1,000 deductible) or an independent policy meeting commission minimums; inactive licensees are exempt.¹⁷

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Pearson VUE¹⁸¹⁹, when you schedule.

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, cdn.prod.website-files.com)²²

Renewal

How often

Every year⁵

When it expires

Renew every year between August 1 and September 30; licenses expire December 31. Late renewal allowed October 1 – December 31 with a delinquent fee.⁵

Continuing education

At least 12 hours each renewal period⁶

Approved courses

CE through LREC-certified continuing education vendors; post-license education through an LREC-approved state-certified real estate school.⁶

Exemptions

Going inactive within 180 days of first license postpones the 45-hour post-license requirement until reactivation.²³

Late renewal

Late renewal fee (First Delinquent Renewal Period: October 1 – November 15): $50²¹ (renewed October 1 – November 15 (in addition to the renewal fee))
Late renewal fee: $200²⁴ (active licensees renewing November 16 – December 31)
Late renewal fee: $50²⁴ (inactive licensees renewing November 16 – December 31)

If it expires

Not renewed by December 31: renewal rights are forfeited and you must reapply as a new applicant; pre-license and post-license education is not repeated if you reapply by December 31 of the following year.⁵
No new fingerprint check is needed to renew.²⁴

Renew online

portal.lrec.gov²⁴

From another state

Who needs a Real Estate Salesperson license

A salesperson is sponsored by a licensed real estate broker and conducts real estate activity under that broker's supervision.¹²

Requirements for a Real Estate Salesperson license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 90 clock hours²
90 hours of LREC-approved pre-license education ("Real Estate 101"), online or in class, with a final course exam.¹⁸
Who may teach it: An LREC state-certified real estate school (distance courses must be ARELLO-approved and Internet-based).²⁵
Alternative: College/university real estate courses may be credited after a transcript review.²⁵
Alternative: Partial credit for courses taken in other states, except the 30-hour Louisiana law portion.²⁵

Education or training

45 clock hours²
Post-license education: 45 hours within 180 days after the initial license date.⁶

Exam

Louisiana real estate salesperson licensing examination (state and national portions)³
Given by: Pearson VUE¹⁸
When you can take it: After the 90-hour course and LREC processing of Application Part A; Pearson VUE then emails scheduling instructions.¹⁸
National portion¹⁸
State (Louisiana) portion¹⁸
Retakes: Failed or missed exams are rescheduled and paid for through Pearson VUE.¹⁸
Exam waived: National portion may be waived for an equivalent exam passed in another state within 5 years (license unexpired); endorsement applicants take only the state exam.⁹

Residency or citizenship

Non-residents may be licensed (they sign an irrevocable consent to service of process); reciprocal applicants must reside in a reciprocal state; endorsement applicants must live in Louisiana.²

Social Security number

Social Security number required on the application (La. R.S. 37:23).¹⁵

Also required

Sponsoring broker signs the Part B Supervision Affidavit (or request issue in inactive status if no broker yet).¹⁸

Also required

Sworn Fair Housing statement in the application.²

How much a Real Estate Salesperson license costs

Each line is a separate charge, except the line “TOTAL AMOUNT DUE WITH APPLICATION …”, which is the board’s own combined figure for other charges; do not add it to the other lines.

How to apply

1. Complete the 90-hour Real Estate 101 course at an LREC-certified school (online or classroom).¹⁸
2. Mail or drop off Initial Salesperson License Application – Part A with your course certificate, photo ID copy and the $90 fee (do not pay E&O yet).¹⁸ Form (PDF, cdn.prod.website-files.com)²²
3. Schedule and pay for the exam when Pearson VUE emails you.¹⁸
4. Get fingerprinted at IdentoGO (service code 27N4TH; $60.75 in state).¹⁸
5. Pass both the state and national portions of the exam.¹⁸
6. Submit Application Part B (Supervision Affidavit signed by your sponsoring broker) with the prorated group E&O premium or an independent E&O form and declarations page; or ask for the license to be issued inactive.¹⁸ Form (PDF, cdn.prod.website-files.com)²²
7. Within 180 days of licensure finish 45 hours of post-license education; each year complete 12 CE hours by December 31 and renew August 1 – September 30.⁶

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$35²¹ (Active license, annual. Inactive renewal: $35. Active renewals also need E&O coverage (group premium or independent-coverage form).)

Required topics

At least 4 of the 12 hours in subjects the commission specifies (annual mandatory topic); post-license hours cannot satisfy the mandatory topic.²
2026 Mandatory – Transparency, Technology, and Trust (salespersons and brokers renewing active); commercial agents may substitute "Money Matters & RPR for Commercial Agents".⁶
Post-license education: 45 hours within 180 days of the initial license; may count for 8 of the 12 CE hours in the year completed.²

Moving to Louisiana with a license from another state

These are the routes LREC publishes for the Real Estate Salesperson license. The other real estate agent licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Real Estate Broker

A broker may operate independently, sponsor salespersons and associate brokers, or act as qualifying broker for a licensed company. An associate broker holds a broker license but works sponsored by another broker.¹²

Requirements

Education or training

At least 150 clock hours²
150 hours of LREC-approved broker pre-license education: Real Estate 201 (90 h fundamentals), 202 (30 h laws and regulations) and 203 (30 h broker responsibility). The 90 salesperson hours do not count.¹⁹
Who may teach it: An LREC state-certified real estate school; at least 30 hours in broker responsibilities.²⁸
Alternative: College credit and real estate experience may substitute in part; designation courses may earn partial credit; up to 120 out-of-state hours.²

Education or training

45 clock hours²
Post-license education: 45 hours within 180 days after the initial broker license date.⁶

Experience

At least 4 years²
Licensed as an active real estate licensee for four years, two of them immediately before applying (certified license history needed if licensed outside Louisiana).¹³
License you must hold first: A real estate license (any state) held for 4 years.⁸
Substitute: A broker whose license lapsed may reapply by December 31 of the following year without re-meeting the 4-year rule.²

Exam

Louisiana real estate broker licensing examination (state and national portions)¹⁹
Given by: Pearson VUE¹⁹
When you can take it: After the 150 hours and LREC processing of Broker Application Part A.¹⁹
National portion¹⁹
State (Louisiana) portion¹⁹
Retakes: Failed or missed exams are rescheduled and paid for through Pearson VUE.¹⁹
Exam waived: National portion may be waived for an equivalent exam passed elsewhere within 5 years (license unexpired); endorsement applicants take only the state exam.⁹

Residency or citizenship

Non-residents may be licensed under commission conditions.²

Social Security number

Social Security number required (La. R.S. 37:23).²⁹

Business requirements

Brokering through a corporation, partnership or LLC requires a separate company broker license (statutory initial fee $120); branch offices need a branch office license ($45).¹³

Also required

Associate broker applicants also file Part B (Supervision Affidavit); salespersons upgrading file a Termination of Supervision form.¹⁹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge, except the line “TOTAL AMOUNT DUE WITH APPLICATION …”, which is the board’s own combined figure for other charges; do not add it to the other lines.

How to apply

1. Hold a real estate license for 4 years (2 immediately before applying); out-of-state licensees get a certified license history.¹³
2. Complete Real Estate 201, 202 and 203 (150 hours).¹⁹
3. Mail or drop off Initial Broker License Application – Part A with the course certificate and $165 fee.¹⁹ Form (PDF, cdn.prod.website-files.com)²²
4. Schedule and pay for the Pearson VUE exam; get fingerprinted at IdentoGO.¹⁹
5. Pass the state and national portions.¹⁹
6. Submit E&O proof/payment (if going active), a Termination of Supervision form if upgrading, and Part B if becoming an associate broker.¹⁹
7. Finish 45 hours of post-license education within 180 days.²

Renewal

Renewal fee

$70²¹ (Active license, annual. Inactive renewal: $35. Active renewals also need E&O coverage (group premium or independent-coverage form).)

Required topics

At least 4 of the 12 hours in subjects the commission specifies (annual mandatory topic); post-license hours cannot satisfy the mandatory topic.²
2026 Mandatory – Transparency, Technology, and Trust (salespersons and brokers renewing active); commercial agents may substitute "Money Matters & RPR for Commercial Agents".⁶
2026 Broker Mandatory – Broker Leadership & Compliance (brokers and associate brokers renewing active).⁶
Post-license education: 45 hours within 180 days of the initial broker license; may count for 8 of the 12 CE hours in the year completed.²

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a real estate agent in Louisiana, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Louisiana is on the Louisiana license lookup page.

Look up a license

portal.lrec.gov³⁰

File a complaint

portal.lrec.gov²²

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• La. R.S. 37:1430 et seq. (Louisiana Real Estate License Law); 37:1431 definitions
• La. R.S. 37:1435.1 (criminal history record information)
• La. R.S. 37:1436 (licensing required)
• La. R.S. 37:1437 (application; age, education, experience, CE)
• La. R.S. 37:1437.3 (inactive license)
• La. R.S. 37:1438 (applicability / exemptions)
• La. R.S. 37:1440 (examination)
• La. R.S. 37:1442 (issuance and renewal)
• La. R.S. 37:1443
• La. R.S. 37:1466 (errors and omissions insurance)

Common questions

Real estate agent licenses in other states

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• District of Columbia
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