RESOURCES
Frequently Asked Questions
To apply for an initial salesperson real estate license in the state of Louisiana, you must be at least 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma or GED. Additionally, you must receive a certificate of completion for a 90 hour pre-licensing course from a state certified school, pass the state licensing exam, pay all related fees, and submit a criminal background check. Applicants currently on probation or ever convicted of a felony may appeal to the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC) for approval to apply for licensure.
Partial credit may be granted for real estate courses completed in other licensing jurisdictions. No substitution will be allowed for the thirty (30) hour portion of the ninety hour requirement that covers the Louisiana Real Estate License Law, Commission Rules/Regulations, Law of Agency, and Civil Law pertaining to real estate. Approval for credit for course work completed in other jurisdictions must be obtained by the applicant prior to submission of an application for licensing. Applicants licensed in a state with reciprocity are eligible to apply for an equivalent license in Louisiana. In order to apply for a reciprocal license, you must be a current legal resident and hold a license in one of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania.
The LREC may consider granting partial credit toward the pre-licensing requirement for courses completed more than five years prior to the date of application; however, such credit will be based on the date of completion and the applicability of the subject matter to current educational requirements.
There is no limit on the number of times you may retest during a one-year period from the initial examination. If you fail to achieve a passing score on both the National and State portions of the examination within this one-year period, you will lose examination eligibility and must submit a new application to the LREC.
If a candidate only passes one part of the exam in the 1st authorization year, and the authorization year expires, the candidate must resubmit an initial application with the LREC, repay the license fee, and be authorized again for the part they did not pass. However, the candidate has one year from the date of the passed portion of the exam to pass the other part on a second authorization.
Once both parts of the exam are passed, the candidate may go back to LREC to complete the license application process.
Don’t give up and don’t wait too long before taking the exam again.
The Sponsorship Affidavit (Part B) of the license application and all related fees, must be submitted to the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC) within 90 days of passing the licensing exam, for active license issuance. The Sponsorship Affidavit (Part B) of the license application specifies the sponsoring broker or brokerage firm under which you will be supervised as a salesperson. Application Part B also provides the option to join the LREC’s errors and omissions group insurance policy OR show proof of insurance from another provider. Salesperson applicants must have a sponsoring broker or brokerage firm prior to engaging in real estate activity. All applicants must show proof of errors and omissions insurance prior to issuance of an active license. A background check must be ordered. This may be done on the LREC website.
What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®? Most are unaware that there is a difference. All real estate licensees are agents but not all agents are REALTORS®. REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS®(NAR) and have completed Code of Ethics training. Becoming a REALTOR® means being held to a higher ethical standard. Membership also includes access to an abundance of real estate education and use of the REALTOR® logo and trademark in advertising.
Keep up with Louisiana’s current legislative and regulatory issues as a member of Louisiana REALTORS®. Knowledge is power and membership provides both. This association is a platform for its members to have their voices heard on the state and federal level. It serves as a reliable resource for professional development and support.
The Realtor® Association of Acadiana (RAA) is an organization of local real estate professionals. Members gain access to accurate market data though the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) which provides many valuable features and tools. Opportunities for continuing education and networking events are offered throughout the year in support of local agents. Most brokers will require sponsored salespersons to become members of the RAA.
The Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC) was originally created in 1920 as the State Board of Real Estate. It was established to regulate the manner in which real estate business is conducted. As a state government regulatory agency the LREC currently consists of five divisions including: Accounting, Administrative, Education, Investigative, and Licensing. Licensing requirements, various real estate forms, applications as well as the laws and regulations enforced by the LREC are available at lrec.gov.
Salesperson Pre-Licensing Checklist
The state licensing exam is computer-based, scheduled, and administered through the national testing service, PearsonVUE.
The exam consists of 135 multiple choice questions divided into two parts:
- state portion – 55 multiple choice questions with 90 minutes to complete; and
- national portion- 80 multiple choice questions with 150 minutes to complete.
The Candidate Information Bulletin answers the most frequently asked questions, provides testing fees, and information about scheduling your exam.
