Frequently Asked Questions

The Louisiana State Licensing Board does not have a “General Contractor License”. What most people refer to as a General Contractor, are two different licenses in Louisiana, Residential and Commercial. For commercial work you would need the Building Construction License and for Residential home building you would need the Residential Contractors License. Each has its own application and exam, however if you apply for and Pass the Building Construction exam you may apply for the residential license with no exam needed to receive the license. This is where we come in. For 31 years Louisiana Contractors Licensing Service has had the best exam prep available for either the Commerical or Residential General Contractor license. We also have test preparation for all the major Classifications such as Electrical, Mechanical, Heavy Construction, Highway Streets and Bridges and Municipal Public Works exams.

 For any Contractor license and testing, application must be made to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors on their website https://www.lslbc.louisiana.gov

To get a Louisiana Residential Contractor License, you’ll need to apply through the Louisiana State Licensing Board of Contractors (LSLBC). The process includes submitting an application, meeting financial requirements, and passing both the Residential Contractor exam and the Business and Law exam. Proof of insurance is also required. Once your application is approved and you pass your exams, you’ll be able to legally work as a Residential Contractor on construction projects valued at $7500 or more. At Louisiana Contractors Licensing Service, we offer the best exam prep material to ensure you pass your exam.

In Louisiana, Mechanical is a major contractor classification issued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) is a subclassification under Mechanical. If you choose to take the Mechanical Contractor exam, you’ll automatically be licensed for HVAC and all other subclasses under Mechanical — such as refrigeration, ductwork, and pipefitting. Taking the HVAC-only exam limits your license to HVAC work only. That’s why we recommend taking the full Mechanical exam for broader licensing and more business opportunities.Taking the Mechanical Contractor exam gives you more flexibility and value. Instead of being limited to just HVAC work, you’ll be licensed for all mechanical subclassifications, such as: • HVAC • Refrigeration • Ventilation • Gas piping • Ductwork • Process piping This means fewer limitations on the jobs you can bid on and more opportunities to grow your business. Our mechanical exam prep packages are built to help you succeed on the broader exam.

On average, it takes 4-6 weeks for an in-state contractor license to be issued and 9-10 weeks for an out-of-state license to be issued. There is a 60-day waiting period for out-of-state contractors, which begins on the date the application is received. The amount of time required to process a license depends on several factors, including whether or not all required paperwork and fees are submitted and how promptly bank and contractor/material supply dealer references are returned. It is recommended to contact all references to assure that responses will be submitted on time.

A subcontractor who wishes to submit a bid of $50,000 or more ($1 or more for hazardous) must be properly licensed at the time of the bid.

The Board has reciprocity agreements with the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors, the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board, the Mississippi Board of Contractors, the North Carolina Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, the Tennessee Board for Licensing General Contractors, and the Utah Construction Trades Bureau Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing. PLEASE NOTE: Your firm must be domiciled in one of these states and hold a license in the domiciliary state for a minimum of three years with no record of disciplinary action. If your firm meets these requirements, the Board will consider waiver of the 60-day waiting period for out-of-state contractors and may consider waiver of trade examinations. There is no waiver of the Business and Law examination. Reciprocity is not automatic. You must submit a written request for consideration.

 Louisiana State Licensing Board prohibits test takers from bringing their own books into the state exam test. The 2 exams that are open book in Louisiana are Building Construction and Electrical Contractor. The books allowed for these exams are provided at the test site. The Building Construction exam has 11 books and the Louisiana Electrical exam has 6 books that will be available at the test site. The NASCLA exams are the only exams where you are required to bring your own books.

The National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies(NASCLA) is a leading organization dedicated to improving contractor licensing and regulation across the United States. The NASCLA Accredited Exam is widely recognized as a streamlined solution for contractors seeking licenses in multiple states, reducing the need for repetitive testing. NASCLA has 2 main exams, the National Accredited Building Construction and the NASCLA Electrical exam. Both exams are open book and you must bring your own books to the exam