If you’re like many residents in Louisiana, your dream of becoming a real estate agent has been simmering like a bubbling pot of gumbo. The Bayou State is home to some of the most picturesque landscapes in all of America, and its abundant real estate opportunities are sure to provide the building blocks for your success as a real estate professional.
But how can you take advantage of this vast market and break into exciting new territory? Well, that’s where we come in. Follow these six easy steps and before long, you’ll be helping clients buy and sell shotgun houses in New Orleans, French colonials in Baton Rouge, and Creole cottages across the state.
How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Louisiana
To be eligible for a Louisiana real estate license, you must:
1. Complete a 90-hour Prelicensing Course
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Pricing: $313-$542 (through Colibri Real Estate) -
Time commitment: 1-3 months -
Helpful resource: 4 Best Online Real Estate Schools in Louisiana
Prelicensing courses kick off your real estate career, and you’ll have your choice of completing them online or in person. Your choice of course format will depend on your learning style and what suits your schedule best.
The amount of time you’ll need comes down to how much class time you allot per week. You can complete all 90 hours online; those who study at a faster pace will finish in a shorter amount of time. If you approach it like a 40-hour workweek, you’ll finish in less than three weeks.
The 90 hours of coursework will cover these topics:
If completing online classes appeals to you, we recommend Colibri Real Estate, a powerhouse in the real estate education space offering expertly designed and affordable prelicensing courses.
Readers of The Close can get 30% off tuition at Colibri using coupon code “TheClose30“.
2. Submit Part A of Your Louisiana Real Estate Salesperson License Application
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Cost: $90 -
Time commitment: 1 hour -
Helpful resource: Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC) website
Once you complete your prelicensing education, you’ll turn in your certificate of completion, the salesperson license application part A form, and the $90 application fee to LREC. Louisiana is somewhat unique in that its real estate license application is split into two parts. You’ll submit Part B after you pass your license exam.
3. Pass the Louisiana Real Estate Exam
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Cost: $78 -
Time commitment: 4 hours -
Helpful resource: LREC candidate handbook
Cost:
$78
Time to Complete:
4 hours
Format:
Computer-based, 135 questions
Bring to the Testing Center:
One current government-issued photo ID that includes your signature
Passing Grade:
70%
Once LREC processes part A of your application, you’ll receive an email from Pearson VUE about scheduling your exam through their website. The company runs testing sites in the following cities:
You should arrive 30 minutes early at the testing site and bring one form of government-issued identification. Pearson’s candidate handbook offers a lengthy list of items you’re prohibited from bringing to the exam room (including common items like calculators, pens, and cell phones).
You’ll learn whether you passed or failed as soon as you’re done with the multiple-choice exam. If you don’t pass, you’ll be given a detailed score report that will help you prepare for the retake. You can take the exam as many times as you’d like within two years following the date on which you sent in your original exam application, but you will need to pay $93 for each retake.
4. Submit to a Background Check
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Cost: $60.75 -
Time commitment: 1 hour -
Helpful resource: LREC website
After passing the exam, you’ll need to submit to a background check. To begin the process, visit the IdentoGO website and use the code 27N4TH to schedule an appointment at any IdentoGO location.
Once you’re done, the Louisiana State Police will process your background check and send the results to LREC.
5. Find a Sponsoring Broker to Hire You
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Cost: None -
Time commitment: 2-4 weeks -
Helpful resource: What’s the Best Real Estate Company to Work For?
Louisiana requires that you work under a broker after passing the real estate salesperson exam. A broker has received additional training, worked successfully in the industry for a minimum period of time, and passed the broker’s license exam.
Finding a broker to work under will feel like applying for a job. Once you’ve landed some broker interviews, you’ll want to ask each broker about the split (or how you and the brokerage will divide sales commissions). You’ll find that some brokerages will ask for a 50-50 split on commissions, while others will offer a larger share. Usually, brokerages that offer an even split will not charge monthly desk fees.
As a commissioned salesperson, your income entirely depends on your abilities and effort. Some brokerages may offer you 70% of your commissions, a ratio that may rise to 100% after you’ve met a specific sales goal (or cap) for the year.
It’s important to be realistic about your earning potential in the first few months as it takes time to launch your new business. Some new agents choose to work part time so they can still bring in additional revenue as they’re learning the ropes.
What Brokers Want: 9 In-demand Real Estate Agent Skills
6. Complete the Licensing Process
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Cost: None (fee paid in step 2) -
Time commitment: 1 hour -
Helpful resource: LREC website
Congratulations! Once you’ve passed both portions of the license exam, you’ll only need to complete the initial real estate license application part B form and furnish proof of your errors and omissions (E&O) coverage.
You may purchase E&O insurance through the LREC group policy by paying the applicable fee found in the part B form linked above. If you opt to purchase your E&O insurance from an independent vendor, you’ll need to submit an independent errors and omissions form along with a copy of your policy declaration page. After completing and submitting everything, your license will be issued in five to 10 business days. To view your license, visit the MyLREC portal.
4 Best Online Real Estate Schools for Louisiana
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Real Estate Agent in Louisiana?
Louisiana Real Estate Governing Board:
Louisiana Real Estate Commission
Prelicensing Requirements:
90 hours
Price Range for Prelicensing Courses:
$313-$542 (through Colibri Real Estate)
Total Estimated Cost:
$540-$1,100
It costs between $540 and $1,100 to get your real estate license in Louisiana, including your prelicensing education. Some of the costs are fixed, such as the state’s licensing and exam fees. The price of the required 90-hour prelicensing courses (and optional exam prep materials) will vary depending on the provider you choose.
Sample Louisiana Real Estate License Costs
| Prelicensing classes (90 hours) | $313-$542 (through Colibri Real Estate) |
| Exam prep (optional) | $115-$219 |
| Exam registration | $78 |
| Exam retake | $93 |
| Background check | $61 |
| License application | $90 |
| Total cost | $542-$1,083 |
|---|
(Louisiana real estate license costs as of November 2023)
Do Real Estate Agents Make Good Money in Louisiana?
According to The Close’s salary information database, real estate agents in Louisiana make $65,100 per year, which is lower than the national average of $73,985. Remember, real estate sales is a commission-based career. With additional skills, good work ethic, and dedication, there is no limit to your income as a real estate agent.
How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Louisiana: FAQs
Still not sure about the path forward? Get answers to common questions about how to become a real estate agent in Louisiana below.
Is the Louisiana real estate exam hard?
The passing rate for the Louisiana real estate salesperson exam is 70%. If you put in the proper effort, you should pass on your first attempt.
In case you fail only the state or national part of the exam, you’ll only need to retake that portion. However, you must reapply for examination eligibility from LREC and pay $93 for another attempt.
What if I have a real estate license in another state?
Louisiana offers reciprocity for current legal residents and license holders in these states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
You may only apply for the same license type that you currently hold in your state. Applicants will need to complete license application forms A and B, submit a certified license history, pass a background check, and provide proof of E&O insurance. To learn more about license reciprocity and portability, read our state-by-state guide.
How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Louisiana?
The average amount of time that people take from start to finish is generally three to six months. The two steps that take the most time when getting your license are prelicensing classes and test preparation.
Can I get my Louisiana real estate license online?
Unfortunately, you’ll need to go to a testing site to take the Louisiana real estate salesperson exam. But the good news is that you can complete the required 90-hour classwork and submit your LREC applications from the comfort of your home.
More Career Resources From The Close
Now that you’ve learned how to become a real estate agent in Louisiana, you’re likely to have more questions. Luckily, The Close is here to answer them for you. To get a steady stream of career help, subscribe to our newsletter. You’ll get the latest news, actionable real estate strategies, and insight from the world’s best real estate agents.
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