How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Louisiana?
In this article, we walk you through how much obtaining a real estate license in Louisiana is going to cost you.
From the background check to continuing education, costs of getting a real estate license in Louisiana total up fast.
Keep reading to make sure you’re aware of the total financial investment a real estate license in the state requires.
Getting Your License
Pre-Licensing Course: $250+
The very first fee you’ll pay for your Louisiana real estate license is for pre-licensing coursework. The total amount of hours and overall cost will vary between license types.
For a salesperson license, you’ll need to complete a 90-hour course covering basic real estate fundamentals.
You can take classes in person or online through any of the approved providers offering the best real estate courses in Louisiana.
For a broker’s license, you’ll need to complete 150 classroom hours, or its equivalent, in courses approved by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC), which are as follows:
- Real Estate 201, covering basic fundamentals
- Real Estate 202, covering license laws, rules, and regulations
- Real Estate 203, covering broker responsibility
The first course is 90 hours, and the other two are 30 hours each. All courses must be taken through an approved school, but both in-person and online options are available.
To know which method of education can help you complete this part of the requirement fast, refer to our article comparing real estate classes online vs classroom courses.
Pearson VUE, the test administrator, also offers real estate license exam support materials. You can purchase an online practice test for the national portion of either test for $19.95.
License Application: $90 for a Salesperson License; $165 for a Broker License
After you’ve finished your pre-licensing coursework, you must submit a certificate of completion, along with Part A of the real estate license application, to the LREC.
This is when you pay your licensing fee. It’s $90 for a salesperson license and $165 for a broker license.
This fee includes the initial licensing fee, a research and education fund fee, a recovery fund fee, and a processing fee.
Exam Registration: $78
The real estate license exam in Louisiana has a fee of $78. This is the same fee regardless of whether you’re getting a salesperson license or a broker license.
You must come to your testing location properly prepared in order to not forfeit this fee. Required items include a valid primary ID.
You should also report to the Pearson VUE testing location 30 minutes in advance to have enough time to check in with a test center administrator.
To register for your real estate license exam, you’ll need to create an online account with Pearson VUE.
Read our tips on studying for the real estate exam to be completely prepared before you register for the test.
Exam Retake: $54+
If you fail to pass one or both sections of the Louisiana real estate exam on your first attempt, you do have unlimited retakes. The only caveat is there’s only a one-year authorization period.
Passing scores are no longer valid after the year expires, and you’ll have to begin the process from scratch.
To retake the exam, costs are the same regardless of what kind of license you’re applying to get. To retake one section only, the cost is $54. To retake both, you’ll have to pay $93.
Background Check/Fingerprinting: $49
In Louisiana, you’re not able to request a background check until you’ve passed both portions of the licensing exam. When you’re ready, you must make the request through Clearbox.
The cost is $49, and the results remain valid for one year from the date the complete report is issued.
We tackle the background check process in the state and more in our article – Can You Get a Louisiana Real Estate License with Violations?
Errors & Omissions Insurance Premium: $136
The final step to getting your real estate license in Louisiana is submitting Part B of the license application. This includes the purchase of Errors & Omissions insurance.
To purchase the insurance through the LREC, the price depends on the month in which you’re getting your license. The premium goes down the further into the year you are.
The most you’ll pay is $136 in January. From there, the LREC’s E&O premium goes down by $11 each month. By December, the premium is only $17.
You do have the option to get E&O insurance from an independent source, but going that route could cost you anywhere from $500-$1,000 per year, which is much more.
Post-Licensing Course: $115+
Once you’ve received your license, you have to enroll for a 45-hour post-licensing coursework.
New agents are given 180 days from the date their initial license was issued to complete this course.
The cost for this single course is around $115 and can be taken from the same approved schools that offer the pre-licensing classes.
For those getting a salesperson license, there’s one final requirement they need to fulfill: to be sponsored by a licensed real estate broker.
Assess your candidates carefully when choosing a real estate brokerage firm to work for. You can then refer to our directory of the top real estate brokers in Louisiana to make your selection.
Survey of Experts
In your opinion, was the cost of getting your real estate license reasonable?
Approximately how much did it cost you to get your real estate license? Including school fees, study materials, and other related expenses.
Expert Insight
What were your ‘surprise costs’?
There was a minimal fee to have a proctor for the course’s final exam. I was able to go to the local library and pay a fee of $20.
Maintaining Your License
Continuing Education: $50+ per Year
Additionally, licensed real estate agents in Louisiana have a continuing education requirement to meet each year.
This includes a total of 12 hours, four of which are in a mandatory topic assigned by the LREC. This topic can vary between years, but the cost for all 12 hours is about $50.
In the first year you get your license, eight hours of this requirement is covered through your post-licensing coursework. You still have to take the 4-hour special topic course, though.
License Renewal: $35
A real estate license in Louisiana is only good for one year. It expires each year on December 31. To renew, you must use the MyLREC portal.
Renewal fees are $35, and you must renew on time or face delinquent fees. If you fail to renew within three months, your license is considered expired.
Expert Insight
What were your ‘surprise costs’ after getting your license?
While I was well prepared for the costs associated with a real estate license because I did my research in advance, it still seemed like everywhere wanted money.
There are dues for the MLS, Supra (Bluetooth door access), brokerage fees, and E&O insurances to purchase just to get up and rocking to get to work.
Then came the fees for the SaaS services I selected, real estate signs to purchase, business cards, and website creation.
It was a bit overwhelming at first, and I was very much in the red until my first commission check a few months later.
Overall, the investment was well worth it, but I do feel some of the people recruiting others to join the real estate industry often minimize the initial investment.
I would have appreciated more transparency at the career event I attended. They did, however, talk about all the money you could make. But they are salespeople, and their job is to get you to say yes to the course.
I am glad I had the funds available to make the initial investment. My real estate career has changed my life in so many positive ways.
How to Reduce Real Estate License Education Costs
While there are a lot of fees associated with getting your real estate license in Louisiana that you can’t argue with, there are ways to save a little money.
- Avail of a package that combines the course with additional materials and support. This could end up being less expensive than buying everything separately.
- Take an online course, where you’re able to work at your own pace. This means less instructor time, which may end up being cheaper than going in person.
- Spend enough time studying so you’re able to pass the Louisiana real estate exam the first time. This will definitely help remove the need to pay retake fees.
You can also save a little if you’re a self-employed/independent contractor real estate agent. In this case, you can deduct the costs of real estate school. It’s considered a business expense.
Expert Insight
What costs could have been avoided and how?
I suppose if there was a free test proctor service, this fee could have been avoided.
Once you know the financial investment involved in acquiring a Louisiana real estate license, you can check that one off your list and move on to the next steps to become a successful agent.
It also helps if you can estimate the time needed to complete all the steps in the licensing process. Read our article on how long it takes to get a Louisiana real estate license.
These actions may include reading up on useful resources that guide you on what to do after getting a real estate license.
To get you up to speed when establishing your career in the state, refer to helpful insight from industry experts discussing the pros and cons of being a real estate agent as a career.
Don’t forget to check out our article on how to join a real estate team. This will let you in on the essentials to be able to get accepted in the best team.
To help you build and grow your real estate career quickly, we at Real Estate Bees created a directory for real estate professionals.
It’s designed to help you get more exposure for your business, including receiving leads. Create a free profile by signing up here.
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About the Author
Kristina Morales is a REALTOR® with over 20 years of professional experience. She actively practices real estate in Ohio but also has practiced real estate in California and Texas. Conducting her real estate business in three states has allowed her to gain unique experiences that make her a well-rounded realtor. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and her MBA with a concentration in Banking and Finance. Prior to real estate, Kristina had an extensive corporate career in banking and treasury. She ended her finance career as an Assistant Treasurer at a publicly traded oil & gas company in Houston, TX.