- Every year. Licenses run February 1 to January 31, and renewal packets are due December 1.
Do you need a state license in Louisiana?
Louisiana licenses septic system work at the state level through the Louisiana Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Louisiana license types for septic system 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 |
|---|---|
| Basic | Septic tank systems |
| Combination | Aerobic treatment units as well |
| Maintenance | Maintaining systems |
Steps to get licensed in Louisiana
- Get the installer application packet and licensing instructions from the Onsite Wastewater Program.
- Apply for a Basic license, or a Combination license for aerobic units.
- Work with the parish health unit sanitarians on permits.
- Send your renewal packet by December 1 each year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Basic installer license (Combination license for aerobic units).
Louisiana septic installer exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Louisiana
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: Louisiana Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Licenses run February 1 to January 31, and renewal packets are due December 1.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Louisiana
- Homeowners can install their own aerobic system only after meeting the department's education and certification rules. The department waives the fees for them.
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 septic installation 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 Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Program and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.