We’ve got your guide to choosing the best Louisiana real estate school right here. We’ve thoroughly reviewed Louisiana’s real estate schools for the features that matter to you—affordability, flexibility, instructor support, user experience, and more.
If you’re ready to start an exciting career as a real estate agent in Louisiana, you’ll need to start by taking a 90-hour prelicensing course. We’re here to help you find the school that checks all the right boxes so you can get started right away.
4 Best Louisiana Real Estate Schools for 2023
| Our Top Picks | Pricing From | Promo Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall: Colibri Real Estate | $288 | TheClose25 - Save 25% |
| Best School for Career Resources: The CE Shop | $279 | TheClose35 – Save 35% |
| Best School for Accelerated Study: Burk Baker School of Real Estate & Appraising | $195 | |
| Best Budget School: ProEducate | $100 |
(Louisiana prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
Louisiana Real Estate Schools: Helpful Info
Louisiana Real Estate Governing Board:
Louisiana Real Estate Commission
Prelicensing Requirements:
90 Hours
Postlicensing Requirements:
45 Hours Within the First Year
Continuing Education Requirements:
12 Hours Every Year
Before we get started, we rounded up what you need to know about becoming a licensed real estate agent in Louisiana.
To start, you’ll complete a 90-hour prelicensing course, followed by a mandatory course final exam. After that, you’ll be eligible to take your state license exam and apply for your real estate license.
Completing the licensing process in Louisiana includes a few steps. You’ll have to complete a background check, obtain an errors and omissions insurance policy, and sign on with a managing broker.
To help you start your first step, we’ve outlined what you can expect from the real estate programs on our best schools list.
Prelicensing
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.
Prelicensing courses will often include extra features like exam prep, instructor support, or career resources. Our top pick for best overall school goes to Colibri Real Estate because they’re affordable, offer well-designed courses, and their packages are full of helpful extras.
Exam Prep
Exam prep can be a lifesaver for standardized testing formats. You’ll cover a lot of material in your course, but exam prep will ensure you walk into your license exam with confidence.
The three top-tier prelicensing course packages from The CE Shop include Exam Prep Edge. You can expect to find resources like practice questions, quizzes, and flashcards in many of the premium prelicensing courses offered by the schools on this list.
Post-licensing
Once you become licensed, you’ll be required to take 45 hours of post-licensing coursework within your first year as an agent in Louisiana. The schools on our list offer post-licensing courses, so you can choose to stick with the same school you pick for prelicensing.
The CE Shop, our top pick for career resources, offers post-licensing hours as part of one of their prelicensing packages, making them a one-stop shop for your real estate education needs.
Continuing Education
Your real estate education continues with 12 hours of CE coursework required every year to renew your license. Continuing education courses vary by topic, so you can choose the areas that interest you most each year.
Many agents prefer to complete their CE hours online since that approach provides the most flexibility. The CE Shop is our top pick for career resources because they have been offering quality CE courses since their inception in 2005 (it’s right in their name!).
Your real estate education extends beyond getting your license, so it’s important to choose a school that sets you up for success. Let’s take a look at our top picks!
Best Overall Louisiana Real Estate School: Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate Offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam Prep
- Continuing Education
We can’t help but praise Colibri Real Estate for designing an easy-to-use online school platform for all learners. With more than 25 years of experience educating agents nationwide, Colibri Real Estate continues to perfect its online learning platform.
You can expect a seamless user experience whether you’re on your computer, tablet, or mobile device. The courses are organized into manageable sections, and they make sure you get access to instructor support whenever you need it.
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Colibri Real Estate Pricing
Colibri Real Estate is an online real estate school, and they offer four prelicensing packages for online self-study.
- The Basics ($288): Best for self-starters, this package includes your course, state-approved instructor support by phone or email, and three e-books.
- Exam Preparation ($351): In addition to everything in the Basics package, this includes a Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee and exam prep package.
- Exam Preparation Plus ($423): You’ll get everything in the above package, plus extra features like Q&A sessions with an instructor and their Live Exam Crammer Series.
- Ultimate Learning Package ($518): On top of every previous feature, this package includes a printed copy of the course textbook and membership access to professional development resources such as webinars, courses, and job aids.
(Louisiana prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
Readers of The Close can SAVE 25% on any Colibri Real Estate prelicensing course in Louisiana. Use promo code TheClose25 at checkout.
BEST FEATURE: Colibri Real Estate edges out its competitors by keeping their prices low but packing the extra features into their prelicensing courses.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: The only thing Colibri Real Estate is missing from being a one-stop shop school is post-licensing courses.
BOTTOM LINE: Choose Colibri Real Estate if you’re looking for the latest and most user-friendly design of online courses on the market.
Best Louisiana Real Estate School for Career Resources: The CE Shop
The CE Shop Offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam Prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing Education
The CE Shop is our pick for career resources because they got their start offering quality continuing education nationwide. Now, you can fulfill all your real estate education needs with The CE Shop.
The CE Shop keeps agents’ entire real estate career in mind, so they include career resources in their prelicensing packages so you start your real estate career strong.
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Try The CE Shop’s FREE 5-DAY TRIAL!
The CE Shop is the only school on our list that lets you test drive their courses and features before you buy. Visit their website today!
The CE Shop Pricing
The CE Shop is an online-only real estate school, and they offer four comprehensive prelicensing packages.
- Courses Only ($279): This package includes your 90-hour course, flashcards, a study schedule, and e-books.
- Standard Package ($349): This package includes everything above, but you’ll also get a pass guarantee and Exam Prep Edge, The CE Shop’s helpful exam prep package.
- Value Package ($389): On top of everything in the standard package, this includes Building Business Courses that focus on setting youself up for success as a new agent.
- Premium Package ($539): You’ll get all of the above features, and the Louisiana 45-hour post-licensing course.
(Louisiana prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
Readers of The Close can SAVE 35% on The CE Shop prelicensing course. Use promo code TheClose35 at checkout.
BEST FEATURE: Our first favorite The CE Shop feature is the added career resources in their packages like tips on finding a managing broker or finding your niche. Our second is the free trial that allows you to check out the entire course before you sign up.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: Although The CE Shop includes many features in its packages, they don’t offer live instructor supports like Q&A sessions or webinars.
BOTTOM LINE: Choose The CE Shop if you’re interested in resources that extend into your first years as a new agent.
Can You Be a Part-time Real Estate Agent? (+ Free Guide & Videos)
Best Louisiana Real Estate School for Accelerated Study: Burk Baker School of Real Estate & Appraising
Burk Baker School of Real Estate & Appraising Offers:
- Prelicensing
- Continuing Education
Burk Baker, a certified real estate instructor since 1977, opened his school in 1981. The company offers online and in-person prelicensing courses in six locations across Louisiana.
They offer hybrid packages so if you’re looking for the accountability of in-person learning and the convenience of online courses you can have a mix of both. Their online courses offer you the option to attend in-person math sessions, math tutoring, and review sessions.
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Burk Baker School of Real Estate Pricing
Burk Baker School of Real Estate offers online, classroom, and livestream prelicensing options. Classroom courses are offered in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Mandeville, Metairie, and Monroe.
- In-person Louisiana Licensing Course ($645): Take an accelerated two-week course in the mornings Monday through Friday, or take five weeks of evening classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You’ll have access to practice tests, instructor support, a textbook, and math and review sessions.
- Online Louisiana Licensing Course 101 30-Day Access ($195): You’ll get access to online lessons, videos, practice exams, e-books, and access to in-person math and review sessions.
- Online Louisiana Licensing Course 101 90-Day Access ($295): You’ll get access to everything above for three months.
- Online Louisiana Licensing Course 101 180-Day Access ($395): You’ll get access to all of the above features for six months.
(Louisiana prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: We like Burk Baker School of Real Estate’s flexible online access options, especially if you have plans to finish quickly. Their two-week accelerated classroom course is also a great option if you’re in a hurry.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: You won’t get as many features through Burk Baker School of Real Estate’s online option as you would elsewhere, since features like math and review sessions are offered in-person only.
BOTTOM LINE: Burk Baker School of Real Estate is for you if you prefer to learn in-person, or you’re looking to finish your course quickly.
Best Louisiana Real Estate School for Students on a Budget: ProEducate
ProEducate Offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam Prep
- Post-licensing
- Continuing Education
ProEducate has been in the real estate education sphere for 33 years, and they focus on offering affordable course options. They offer online and home study self-paced courses that you can gain access to for 60, 90, or 120 days at a time.
ProEducate’s online classes are provided as PowerPoint lectures with audio, designed by their expert instructors. Plus, each course still includes exam prep, math review, and instructor support.
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ProEducate Pricing
ProEducate offers online or home study prelicensing packages priced for 60-, 90-, or 120-day access.
- Online or Home Study Real Estate Fundamentals 60-Day Access ($100): You’ll get access to a hardcopy or digital textbook, real estate math review, a real estate glossary, test skills review, and access to an instructor by email for two months.
- Online or Home Study Real Estate Fundamentals 90-Day Access ($115): You’ll get access to everything above for three months.
- Online or Home Study Real Estate Fundamentals 120-Day Access ($135): You’ll get access to all of the above features for four months.
(Louisiana prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: ProEducate’s prices are the lowest on our list, so they’re a good option for anyone looking to complete their course without many extra features.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: The course materials are a little bare, relying primarily on audio recordings over PowerPoints, though the information is solid. You’ll need to be self-motivated with good study skills to complete your course.
BOTTOM LINE: ProEducate is for anyone looking for the cheapest course option who can go without extra features.
Louisiana Real Estate Schools FAQs
Got more questions? Scroll down to check out our most frequently asked questions below. If there’s a question we didn’t answer, we’d love to hear from you in the comment section!
How do I become a real estate agent in Louisiana?
Getting your real estate salesperson license in Louisiana requires several steps, but it is a straightforward process.
First, complete a 90-hour prelicensing course and a required course final exam. Next, you’ll apply for your state license exam and your background check. You will have to complete an application for your real estate salesperson license and find a managing broker to sponsor you to complete your licensing process.
To get started, check out Colibri Real Estate, our pick for top overall school, for packages that make completing your prelicensing course a walk in the park.
For more information, check out the prelicensing checklist created by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission.
How long does it take to become a Realtor in Louisiana?
You can become a real estate salesperson in Louisiana in as little as three months, though people take between four and six months on average.
How long it takes to get your real estate license depends on two factors. You’ll need to take a 90-hour prelicensing course, which can take anywhere from weeks to months to complete. Accelerated courses from Burk Baker School of Real Estate & Appraising can take as little as two weeks to complete.
The other part of the process that can take a few months is getting your results from your national background check. By starting this process early, you can focus on completing your course.
How hard is the Louisiana real estate license exam?
The Louisiana real estate salesperson license exam isn’t a walk in the park, but if you hone your study skills, you’ll be successful.
The exam has 135 questions total and is divided into a national portion and a state portion. You’ll find out whether or not you passed right away when you take your license exam.
Which Louisiana real estate school is the best choice for me?
Our pick for the top overall real estate school in Louisiana is Colibri Real Estate for its expertly designed courses and easy-to-use platform. Their online courses provide you with the flexibility to learn anywhere, anytime.
If you learn best in a traditional classroom setting, consider checking out Burk Baker School of Real Estate, a local school with six locations in Louisiana. They also offer accelerated courses so you can finish in as little as two weeks.
Does Louisiana have reciprocity with any other states?
Yes—if you already hold a real estate license in another state, you may be eligible for a Louisiana real estate license by reciprocity.
Louisiana allows full reciprocity with real estate license holders from the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
For more information about reciprocity, visit the Louisiana Real Estate Commission website.
How much does it cost to become a Realtor in Louisiana?
On average, it costs $750 to get your real estate license in Louisiana. Around half of the cost comes from your prelicensing course, while the other half are associated fees.
The cost of your prelicensing course can vary since you’ll be in charge of choosing the extra features you’d like to include in your package. The licensing fees are one-time payments when you’re ready to apply for your license:
- The Salesperson License Application Part A is $90
- The license exam is $85 per attempt
- The background check costs $49
- Errors & omissions insurance (pro-rated) costs between $17 and $163
How many Realtors are there in Louisiana?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ October 2022 data, there are 16,918 real estate agents in Louisiana. This is a very slight decrease from the previous month, and about a 3% increase from October 2021.
How much do real estate agents make in Louisiana?
It all depends on the number of deals and the commission splits, but according to Indeed.com, a real estate agent in Louisiana can expect to make an average of $81,352. That is 14% below the national average.
What’s the average home price in Louisiana?
According to Zillow’s reporting, the median home price in Louisiana is $217,587, which is a 10% increase from last year.
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Bringing It All Together
We hope you feel empowered to take your next step into an exciting real estate career. We design our guides to give you the clearest and most current answers you’re looking for. Have a question or a comment? Let us know in the comments below!
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