Louisiana Carpentry License Requirements (2026)

Louisiana regulates carpentry through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) under La. R.S. 37:2150 et seq. Commercial carpentry on projects of $50,000 or more requires a Specialty Contractor — Carpentry classification (subclassification 7-72) or work as a sub-tier to a licensed prime. Residential carpentry on jobs of $7,500 or more, or any new home construction, requires a Residential Building Contractor license under La. R.S. 37:2171. Both tracks require the PSI Business and Law plus the trade exam, a financial statement, and demonstration of net worth at least equal to $10,000.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

The federal EPA Lead RRP Rule applies in every state — including Louisiana — to renovation, repair, or painting that disturbs paint in housing built before 1978. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Body Profile

Authority over this credential rests with Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC), which issues and polices it under La. R.S. 37:2150 et seq.; LAC Title 46:XXIX (LSLBC rules). LSLBC licenses commercial, residential, and specialty contractors statewide, administers classification examinations through PSI/ICC, and conducts disciplinary proceedings under La. R.S. 37:2150 et seq.

Official portal: https://www.lslbc.louisiana.gov/
Address: 2525 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 765-2301

The Eligibility Audit

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No Louisiana residency requirement.

Good moral character

Criminal history is reviewed case-by-case by the licensing authority.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

Rather than a set number of years, the cited materials define eligibility through No minimum experience years are codified. The applicant must demonstrate trade competence by passing the LSLBC trade exam..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Notarized experience affidavits from licensed supervising contractors
W-2s, 1099s, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Apprenticeship completion certificate where applicable

Education substitution

Approved carpentry apprenticeship or accredited trade school coursework may substitute for part of the experience requirement.

The Exam Syllabus

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to LSLBC, breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Louisiana Business and Law — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
Specialty Carpentry trade exam — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $100 application fee plus $100 per PSI exam part.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken after paying a new exam fee. Applications remain valid for one year.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

No license surety bond is mandated statewide here under the cited sources, though project-specific or public-works bonding obligations can still attach to a given job.

General liability

LSLBC does not impose a state GL minimum. Most owners require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory under La. R.S. 23:1021 for any contractor with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

LSLBC requires a CPA-prepared financial statement showing net worth of at least $10,000 for the Specialty Contractor classification.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$200
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every year)	$100

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Louisiana Specialty Contractor — Carpentry (LSLBC) runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $100. Annual renewal on the anniversary of issuance. Late renewal incurs a $100 reinstatement fee.

Continuing education: LSLBC does not require continuing education for the Carpentry classification. Residential Builders must complete six hours of CE per renewal.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Louisiana Carpentry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Louisiana recognizes the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Mississippi	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal Specialty Contractor agreement with MSBOC.
Texas	No reciprocity needed	Texas has no statewide GC license.
Arkansas	Trade exam waived	Reciprocal commercial GC agreement with ACLB.

LSLBC accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination in lieu of the Louisiana commercial trade exam for the Building Construction classification. Carpentry specialty applicants still take the Louisiana trade exam.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Carpentry license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Application Roadmap

Determine residential vs. commercial track. Specialty 7-72 Carpentry for commercial $50,000+, Residential Builder for residential $7,500+.
Prepare a CPA-prepared financial statement. Showing net worth of at least $10,000.
Submit the LSLBC application. With $100 fee, references and financial statement.
Pass the PSI Business and Law and trade exams. At 70% or better.
File GL insurance and workers compensation certificates. Per LSLBC requirements.
Receive the LSLBC license number. Issued at the next monthly board meeting.
Obtain local occupational licenses. Each Louisiana parish requires its own.
Renew annually on the anniversary date. Submit the $100 renewal and current insurance.

Where Applications Stall

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Louisiana Carpentry application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Splitting projects to dodge thresholds

La. R.S. 37:2160 makes it a violation to split a contract to evade the $50,000 commercial or $7,500 residential threshold.

Skipping the financial statement

Applicants without a CPA-prepared statement are denied at the next LSLBC board meeting.

Lead RRP for pre-1978 trim

EPA RRP certification is federally required and Louisiana DEQ enforces concurrently.

Mold Remediation rules

Louisiana mold remediation (La. R.S. 37:2181) intersects with carpentry that disturbs mold-affected framing — separate licensing may apply.

Local occupational license

Each Louisiana parish requires a separate occupational license tax.

Pre-Application Checklist

Ahead of submission to LSLBC, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ LSLBC application with $100 fee
☐ CPA-prepared financial statement (net worth $10K+)
☐ PSI Business and Law and trade exam pass certificates
☐ Certificate of general liability insurance
☐ Workers compensation certificate (if employees)
☐ Parish occupational license(s)
☐ EPA Lead RRP certification (pre-1978 work)

Recommended Study Materials

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Louisiana Edition — NASCLA. Primary Business and Law reference.
International Building Code (Louisiana-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Open-book at PSI for the carpentry trade exam.
Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 37 Chapter 24 — State of Louisiana. Contractor licensing statutes.

Other Louisiana Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Louisiana trades; the published ones are listed here:

Common Questions

What is the Louisiana threshold for a carpentry license?

Commercial carpentry of $50,000 or more requires the Specialty Contractor — Carpentry license. Residential of $7,500 or more (or any new home) requires the Residential Building Contractor license.

What is subclassification 7-72?

LSLBC subclassification 7-72 is "Carpentry" and authorizes structural and finish carpentry work on commercial projects.

Does Louisiana accept NASCLA?

Yes, for the Building Construction classification. Carpentry Specialty applicants must take the Louisiana trade exam.

What financial statement is required?

A CPA-prepared statement showing net worth of at least $10,000 for the Specialty Contractor classification.

How often does the LSLBC license renew?

Annually on the anniversary of issuance with the $100 renewal fee.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-31 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-29