How to Become an Electrician in Louisiana, LA


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Louisiana is a state in which there is no statewide electrician licenses like journeyman, master electrician and such, but in order to perform work on projects over $50.000, you will need a proper contractor’s license from the Board.

Otherwise, you will need to contact your local county or municipality to get more information about electrician licensing.

Depending on the work you want to do, you will need to obtain either of the following licenses:

  • Commercial Contractor. This license has several major classifications. We provide the “Electrical Work Statewide” classification below:
    • Electrical Work (subclassifications/specialties):
      • 7-13 Electrical Transmission Lines
      • 7-14 Electrical Work for Structures
      • 7-64 Underground Electrical Conduit Installation
      • 7-479 Electrical Controls
  • Residential Contractor

First of all, the contractor’s licenses are provided by Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC).

You can contact the Board here:

Louisiana State Licensing Board For Contractors
2525 Quail Drive ~ Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 765-2301 ~ Fax: (225) 765-2431

There is a very detailed FAQ that can answer most of your questions (if not all).

You can also have the Blue Book as a reference for laws, definitions etc.

If you are having any questions during the following guide, you may also refer to a great discussion taking place at a very useful electrician forum.

For information about reciprocity please click here.

All the classifications can be found here. The first are the major classifications and the subclassifications are specialties of each major one.

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Louisiana Commercial Contractor application process

If you choose to apply for a commercial contractor’s license, you will have to fill the application or request an application to be mailed to you and collect all the requirements like work experience, etc.

Here you can find the requirements.

You can find all the form for the commercial contractors here (along with grandfather form).

Note: If you want to add a new classification to an existing license, you will have to fill the form and pay the applicable fees.

Depending on how many classifications you will choose, the fee that must accompany the application, will vary between $100 and $400.

For more information regarding the exams, please see here.

Louisiana Residential Contractor application process

In order to apply for a residential contractor’s license, you will have to fill the application or request an application to be mailed to you and collect all the requirements like work experience, etc.

You can find all the forms for this license and the requirements.

For information about the exams, please see here.

Residential contractors are subject to continuing education each year. They will have to attain the required hours, fill this form and submit it to LSLBC by 31 of December of each calendar year.

You can find the list of the Continuing Education providers here.

Louisiana Electrician License Examinations

You can find a detailed table with the fees for each action that apply from application to examination.

After you mail your application along with the appropriate fee and it is approved, you will be mailed the details for your exam, along with some study material.

The test centers are:

  • Alexandria
  • Baton Rouge
  • Bossier City
  • Lake Charles
  • New Orleans

The main testing center is Baton Rouge, if you choose another you will be charged an extra $75.00 fee, that will be payed by credit card at the appropriate website.

For your exams, you will need to pass 2 tests, a Business and Law exam and a Trade exam.

If someone fails an exam and needs to be retaken, he will have to fill out this form.

You can contact the examination department here:

Phone # 225-765-2301 ext. 259
Fax # 225-765-2362
Email [email protected]
Website www.lslbc.louisiana.gov

You can find all the study reference lists provided by LSLBC, here.

Business and Law Examination (needed both for Commercial and Residential contractors)

The questions of this test are 80 multiple-choice and they are based on “NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Louisiana Contractors 11th Edition, published by the National Association of State Licensing Agencies, Scottsdale, AZ”.

You will need a score of 70% or higher in order to pass and the maximum time allowed to take the test is 2 hours.

It is a closed book exam and the study material will be sent to you along with your approval for participating in the exams. Its cost is $60.

You can find more information about the content outline of the test and other useful information here.

Don’t forget to have a look at the sample questions.

Trade Examination (needed both for Commercial and Residential contractors)

This is the second test that is required for your license and the cost is $120 non-refundable.

This test varies depending on the specific license and/or its specialties you might apply for.

Commercial Contractor (Electrical Work Statewide) Exams

There are 80 questions that need to be answered and you will need a score of 70 correct answered questions, or more in order to pass. The maximum time allowed is 4 hours. The exam is open-book.

You can find the references allowed in the test center and the scope of questions.

Specialties:

  • 7-13 Electrical Transmission Lines: This exam consists of 50 questions, it is open-book and the maximum time allowed is 2.5 hours. You will need at least a score of 70% to pass. Check the references and the subject of the questions.
  • 7-14 Electrical Work for Structures: This test has a time limit of 2 hours and you will need a score of 70% or higher in order to pass. Unfortunately, references for this test are not available.
  • 7-64 Underground Electrical Conduit Installation: There is no trade exam for this specialty.
  • 7-479 Electrical Controls: There is no trade exam for this specialty.

Residential Contractor Exams

This test consists of 80 questions and the time frame is 4 hours. A score of 70% or higher, is required in order to pass. The exam is closed-book.

You can read the study references for more information and the subjects of questions.

Louisiana Electrician License Reciprocity

Louisiana at the moment has reciprocity with the following states:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Georgia
  • Kentucky
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virginia

The boards and licenses that are available for reciprocity depend among the states and the various boards.

In order to apply for reciprocity and find out all the details about the above states and their respective boards, please check the reciprocity form.