Louisiana Contractor License Exam

Two Separate Assessments

For commercial, residential, and specialty licenses, your qualifying party must pass two assessments — and they're taken through different systems.

The Business and Law course is completed online through the LSLBC Contractor Portal. It covers Louisiana contracting laws, prompt payment rules, lien statutes, tax obligations, and safety standards. The format is an open-book course followed by a 50-question exam, typically taking 30 to 45 minutes. A passing score of 70% is required.

If your qualifying party already passed the Business and Law course for another active Louisiana license, this requirement is waived.

The trade exam is administered by PSI Services, a third-party testing vendor. This is a proctored, in-person exam at a PSI testing center, not an online test.

The Sequence Matters

You cannot schedule your trade exam whenever you want. The LSLBC controls the sequence:

1. Submit your application through the LSLBC Contractor Portal
2. Complete the Qualifying Party Verification (background disclosures)
3. Wait for the LSLBC to process and approve your qualifier
4. Receive the Examination Approval Notice via email — this is your Authorization to Test
5. Register for an account on the PSI scheduling portal
6. Select your approved trade exam, pay the fee, and schedule your seat

Attempting to register with PSI before receiving the Authorization to Test won't work — PSI won't have your candidate record.

PSI Testing Centers

PSI maintains testing centers across Louisiana:

• Baton Rouge
• Lafayette
• Lake Charles
• Metairie
• Monroe
• Pineville
• Shreveport

You choose the center and time slot when scheduling through the PSI portal. Testing outside of Baton Rouge may carry a $75 convenience fee.

Exam Fees

Trade exam registration fees range from $120 to $175 depending on the classification. These are paid directly to PSI, separate from the $50 examination fee paid to the LSLBC during your application.

If you fail to appear for a scheduled exam, you'll wait a minimum of 30 days before rescheduling and pay a $195 fee ($120 exam fee plus $75 re-registration fee).

What the Trade Exam Covers

The trade exam tests your technical knowledge within your specific classification — Building Construction, Residential Construction, Electrical, Mechanical, Highway/Bridge, and so on. Each classification has its own exam content and reference materials.

For the commercial Building Construction classification, the LSLBC accepts the NASCLA (National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies) accredited exam. If you've already passed the NASCLA exam in another state, you can request a direct digital transcript transfer to satisfy Louisiana's trade testing requirement. This also applies to Residential Construction and Electrical classifications.

Home Improvement Exception

Home Improvement Contractor registrants are required to complete the Business and Law course but are exempt from the trade exam. This makes HIC the fastest registration path — no PSI scheduling, no trade-specific testing.

Mold Remediation licensees follow a different track entirely: they need 24 hours of specialized training rather than a trade exam.

After You Pass

Once your qualifying party passes both the Business and Law course and the trade exam, and your background check is clear and compliant insurance certificates are filed with the LSLBC, the board issues your state contractor's license.

The gap between passing your exams and receiving the license depends on how quickly you file insurance. Residential, HIC, and Mold Remediation licensees must have $500,000 in general liability and workers' compensation certificates emailed to the LSLBC by their broker before the license is issued.

Our Louisiana General Contractor License Guide covers the full licensing timeline from application through exam scheduling and license issuance, including a communication log template for tracking your interactions with the LSLBC and PSI.

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