In this guide you’ll learn all the details you need to know to get your license and become a real estate agent in Louisiana.
You’ll learn the basic real estate licensing requirements in Louisiana, information about the exam including pass rates and test prep, reciprocity rules, county by county breakdowns of the most expensive real estate in Louisiana, and more.
Okay, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s start at the beginning.
Basic Louisiana Real Estate Licensing Requirements
Getting a real estate license in Louisiana is rather easy compared to other states. You only need a total of 90 classroom hours of commission-approved pre-licensing courses. In comparison, to get a license in Texas, real estate licenses require applicants to complete 180 hours of courses. Here’s a quick breakdown of the real estate licensing requirements in Louisiana.
Pre-licensing Courses Required in Louisiana
In order to get a real estate license in Louisiana, you will need to complete 90 hours of real estate pre-licensing courses that will cover:
- The Real Estate Business
- License Law and Qualifications for Licensure
- License Law and Commission Rules
- Authorized Relationships, Duties, and Disclosure
- Real Estate Brokerage Activities and Procedures
- Violations of License Law, Penalties, and Procedures
- Federal and State Laws Pertaining to Real Estate
- Property Rights: Estates and Tenancies, Condominiums, Cooperatives, and Time Sharing
- Title, Deeds, and Ownership Restrictions
- Legal Descriptions
- Real Estate Contracts
- Residential Mortgages
- Types of Mortgages and Sources of Financing
- Computations and Closing of Transactions
- The Real Estate Market and Analysis
- Real Estate Appraisal
- Real Estate Investments and Business Opportunity Brokerage
- Taxes Affecting Real Estate
- Planning, Zoning, and Environmental Hazard
Louisiana Real Estate Exam Information
While the Louisiana Real Estate License exam has a higher passing rate than other states, you should still take studying for the test seriously.
If you’re looking for help in studying for the test, we recommend Real Estate Exam Scholar’s Exam prep course. They offer top-notch exam prep for an affordable price. Even better, they also offer a money back guarantee if you don’t pass on the first try.
Visit Real Estate Exam Scholar
Louisiana Pre-Licensing Exam Questions
- Total of 135 multiple-choice questions (to be finished in 180 minutes)
- 80 questions on national portion
- 55 questions on the state portion
What to Bring to the Exam
- 2 valid forms of identification and a calculator.
Passing Score
You must earn a score of 70% to pass the Louisiana Real Estate Exam (56/80 for the national portion and 40/55 for the state-specific portion).
Pass Rate
N/A
Louisiana Real Estate License Fee
$45
Exam Fee in Louisiana
$90
Education Requirements
You need to have at least a high school diploma or GED in order to apply for a license in Louisiana.
Age
Applicants must be at least 18 of age or older
Residency
Any U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien can apply.
Exemptions
Any active member of the Louisiana Bar who is in good standing and qualified under the real estate license law is exempt from taking the real estate sales associate prerequisite course.
Criminal Background
Applicants who have an existing criminal record may still apply for a real estate license. It would be best if applicants were to include their criminal history along with the necessary documents related to the conviction, if any, on their application. After submitting your fingerprints, your application will be forwarded to the Division of Criminal Justice Information Systems and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon investigation, each applicant will be considered on their own merits.
Processing Time
On average, it will take 4-12 weeks for your application to be processed and approved.
Online Real Estate Schools in Louisiana
While taking your real estate pre-licensing course in person can be helpful, online courses are much cheaper and offer the exact same courses. Career WebSchool is a solid choice.
Louisiana Real Estate License Reciprocity and Portability
If you plan on working in states besides Louisiana, then you need to know the real estate license reciprocity and portability laws for Louisiana.
- Reciprocity: Louisiana has mutual recognition agreements with the following 9 states:
- Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
- Portability: Cooperative
To learn more about real estate license portability in Louisiana, check out our guide on real estate license reciprocity and portability here.
How to Choose the Right Real Estate Company to Work For in Louisiana
Let’s face it. Choosing the right brokerage to work for in any state isn’t easy. In order to make your choice a little bit easier, check out our in-depth guide on choosing the right real estate company to work for.
Once you’ve finished reading the guide, check out our buyer’s guide comparing Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Century 21 here.
If you’re curious about which Louisiana brokerages are the most successful, check out Real Trends list of the top real estate brokerages in Louisiana for 2017 below.
New Orleans
| Real Estate Brokerage | |
|---|---|
| Latter & Blum ERA Powered | |
| Gardner, Realtors | |
| Keller Williams Realty Services | |
| Keller Williams Realty | |
| Keller Williams Realty-New Orleans |
Baton Rouge
| Real Estate Brokerage | |
|---|---|
| Keller Williams Premier Partners | |
| Latter & Blum ERA Powered | |
| Keller Williams - Red Stick Partners, LLC | |
| RE/MAX First | |
| Keller Williams Realty First Choice |
*Data from Real Trends Market Leaders 2017
Louisiana Counties with Highest Average Listing Price and Highest Median Sales Price 2017
Let’s face it, higher listing prices mean higher commission checks! To get a sense of which counties offer the best opportunities for big bucks in Louisiana check out this sales data from Trulia’s Louisiana home price page below.
| County | ||
|---|---|---|
| West Feliciana | ||
| East Carroll | ||
| Orleans | ||
| Cameron | ||
| Saint Tammany | ||
| Plaquemines | ||
| Pointe Coupee | ||
| East Feliciana | ||
| East Baton Rouge | ||
| Ascension |
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