How to get your Louisiana real estate license

You must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED to apply for a Louisiana real estate license. A criminal background check is required — most non-violent offenses are reviewed case-by-case.

Note: You'll complete the 90-hour Real Estate 101 pre-licensing course from an LREC-approved school, online or in a live classroom. Heads up: Louisiana also requires a 45-hour post-license course within 180 days of getting your initial license, so budget for that too.

• Enroll in the 90-hour Real Estate 101 pre-licensing course with an LREC-approved school (online self-paced or live classroom) — typically $300-$700 depending on the provider and package.
• Complete the coursework and pass the school's final exam to earn your certificate of completion.
• Submit your completion certificate with your Salesperson License Application Part A to the LREC — this is what unlocks your authorization to sit for the state exam.
• After you're licensed, complete the 45-hour post-license course within 180 days of your initial license date (those hours can also count toward part of your first year's 12-hour CE requirement).

Louisiana uses Pearson VUE (Louisiana moved to Pearson VUE — some older guides still say PSI, which is outdated) to administer the licensing exam. You'll need a passing score of 70 scaled score on both the national and state portions (brokers need 75; the scaled score is not a simple percentage of questions correct). The exam fee is $81. Expect roughly 100 national questions and 40–50 state-specific questions. Format: Computer-based at Pearson VUE test centers. The combo exam has 135 scored questions (80 national + 55 state) plus 10-15 unscored pretest questions, with 240 minutes total. Many sites still list an $85 exam fee — the current Pearson VUE candidate handbook lists $81 for the first combo attempt and $96 for repeat combo attempts (retaking a single failed portion is $42 national / $39 state)..

• Submit Salesperson License Application Part A with your 90-hour course completion certificate and the initial application fee (about $90) to the LREC — by mail or in person. You must be 18+ with a high school diploma or GED.
• Complete the fingerprint-based criminal history review through IdentoGO (service code 27N4TH) — $60.75 for in-state digital fingerprinting ($95.74 out-of-state at an IdentoGO office; $55.75 by mailed fingerprint card). Louisiana State Police and the FBI both run your prints; this is required by Act 553 of 2022.
• Watch for an email from Pearson VUE after LREC processes your application — you'll schedule your exam and pay the $81 exam fee directly to Pearson VUE. Your authorization to test is good for one year with unlimited attempts (you pay each attempt).
• Pass both the national and state portions of the salesperson exam (70 scaled score on each).
• Submit Initial Real Estate License Application Part B with proof of errors & omissions (E&O) insurance and your sponsoring broker's information. You can buy E&O through the LREC group policy (prorated by month) or independently with a declarations page.
• No broker yet? You can request your license be issued in inactive status using the Request to Issue in the Inactive License Status form — no sponsoring broker or E&O needed until you activate.

Your Louisiana license stays inactive until a licensed broker sponsors you. Interview at least 2–3 brokerages, compare commission splits, training, and lead sources, and pick the one that fits your career goals — not just the highest split.