- No contractors board license is needed for electrical jobs of $10,000 or less. Above $10,000, including labor and materials, a license is required.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- At renewal you choose a one, two or three year term. You can renew starting 60 days before expiration.
Do you need a state license in Louisiana?
Louisiana licenses some electrical work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
No contractors board license is needed for electrical jobs of $10,000 or less. Above $10,000, including labor and materials, a license is required.
Louisiana license types for electrical work
Louisiana splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Electrical (major classification 5) | Wiring, cabling, fixtures, appliances and equipment that supply electricity to any structure, when the value is over $10,000 |
| Electrical Controls and Instrumentation and Calibration | Controls for electrical work such as HVAC controls, smart house controls, security and fire alarm panels |
| Telecommunications | Low voltage electrical work, no exam or credential required |
Steps to get licensed in Louisiana
- Check your job sizes. Electrical work over $10,000, including labor and materials, needs a contractors board license.
- If you use an LLC, corporation or limited partnership, register it with the Louisiana Secretary of State.
- Apply for a commercial license with the Electrical classification and send a financial statement showing at least $50,000 net worth.
- Have your qualifying party complete the Business and Law course and pass the Electrical trade exam through PSI.
- Renew for a one, two or three year term, starting 60 days before expiration.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Commercial license with the Electrical classification.
Louisiana electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. The Electrical classification has a trade exam. Approved candidates get an eligibility letter from PSI to schedule it.
Business and law exam. The qualifying party must complete the board's Business and Law course.
What it costs in Louisiana
The board lists 3 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Examination fee, state law maximum | $50 |
| License fee, state law maximum | $100 |
| Renewal fee, state law maximum | $100 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The board's checklist says insurance certificates are not required for commercial applicants.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. At renewal you choose a one, two or three year term. You can renew starting 60 days before expiration.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Louisiana
- A commercial license application needs a financial statement showing at least $50,000 net worth, current within 12 months.
- Low voltage work such as Cat 5, Cat 6 and coaxial cable falls under Electrical when the work goes through walls, ceilings, floors or the building envelope.
- Plugging non-attached equipment into an existing outlet does not need the Electrical classification.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for an electrician near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how electrical contractors run on Koira.