Home / General contractor / Louisiana
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors · checked 2026-10-21
Louisiana General contractor License Requirements
Louisiana licenses building contractors through the LSLBC: a residential building license for residential projects of $50,000 or more (or any structural work), a commercial license for commercial projects of $50,000 or more, and a home improvement registration for home improvement projects over $7,500 up to $50,000. Commercial license (building construction): the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- 1HI · Home improvement registration registration
- 2RB · Residential building license time not stated
- 3CB · Commercial license (building construction) time not stated
License levels in Louisiana
The Louisiana path has 3 steps on this page: Home improvement registration, Residential building license and Commercial license (building construction).
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HI Home improvement registration | none stated | — | registration | Not stated | Not printed |
| RB Residential building license | none stated | — | time not stated | Yes | Not printed |
| CB Commercial license (building construction) | none stated | — | time not stated | Yes | Not printed |
Home improvement registration (HI)
Registration for home improvement projects over $7,500 and up to $50,000, with general liability insurance of at least $100,000 and proof of workers' compensation. Source: LSLBC, Licensing Requirements for Contractors in Louisiana (PDF).
Residential building license (RB)
Business and law course and the trade exam where applicable; a financial statement showing at least $50,000 net worth, current within 12 months; general liability insurance of at least $100,000 and proof of workers' compensation. Source: LSLBC, Licensing Requirements for Contractors in Louisiana (PDF).
Commercial license (building construction) (CB)
Business and law course and the trade exam where applicable, and a financial statement showing at least $50,000 net worth, current within 12 months. Source: LSLBC, Licensing Requirements for Contractors in Louisiana (PDF).
Exam
2 of the 3 levels listed here require an exam: Residential building license and Commercial license (building construction). The source does not print a pass mark.
Fees, insurance and bond
The Louisiana source read prints no dollar amounts for this license. The LSLBC summary prints no fee amounts.
Insurance: Residential building license and home improvement registration: general liability of at least $100,000 plus workers' compensation (LSLBC summary).
When a license is needed: Residential building and commercial licenses apply at $50,000 or more; home improvement registration applies above $7,500 up to $50,000. (LSLBC, Licensing Requirements for Contractors in Louisiana (PDF))
Reciprocity
The Louisiana sources read for this trade name no reciprocity agreement and no route for out-of-state licensees.
Seen from the other side: Alabama and Georgia list Louisiana among their partners on their own board pages (Alabama, Georgia). Each state applies its own conditions, so read both pages.
How Louisiana compares
Louisiana's source states no minimum time for the commercial license (building construction), so it is not ranked against the other states on this site.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Florida · Pennsylvania · North Carolina · Michigan. All states side by side: General contractor license requirements by state.
Other trades in Louisiana
- Electrician: Commercial license, electrical classification: the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- HVAC: Commercial license, mechanical classification: the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- Plumber: Master plumber: 3.5 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Louisiana trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · How trade license exams work.
Questions
Who issues the general contractor license in Louisiana?
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). Louisiana licenses building contractors through the LSLBC: a residential building license for residential projects of $50,000 or more (or any structural work), a commercial license for commercial projects of $50,000 or more, and a home improvement registration for home improvement projects over $7,500 up to $50,000.
How long does it take to qualify for the Commercial license (building construction) in Louisiana?
The source read (LSLBC, Licensing Requirements for Contractors in Louisiana (PDF)) states no minimum time for the Commercial license (building construction). Business and law course and the trade exam where applicable, and a financial statement showing at least $50,000 net worth, current within 12 months.
Does Louisiana have general contractor license reciprocity?
The Louisiana sources read name no reciprocity agreement for this trade.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) | 2026-10-21 |
| HI requirements | LSLBC, Licensing Requirements for Contractors in Louisiana (PDF) | 2026-10-21 |
| RB requirements | LSLBC, Licensing Requirements for Contractors in Louisiana (PDF) | 2026-10-21 |
| CB requirements | LSLBC, Licensing Requirements for Contractors in Louisiana (PDF) | 2026-10-21 |
| Law cited | La. R.S. 37:2150 et seq. (LSLBC summary; statute not read) | 2026-10-21 |
This page summarises what the Louisiana source said on 2026-10-21. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.