Louisiana Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) issues a dedicated Masonry specialty classification (Subclassification 7-12) under La. R.S. 37:2150-2173. Any masonry contracting at $50,000 or more (commercial) or $75,000 or more (residential) requires an active LSLBC license. The qualifying party must pass a NASCLA-accepted Masonry trade exam and the Louisiana Business and Law exam, submit a financial statement, and provide proof of GL and workers compensation. This page documents the verified path including the LSLBC financial statement, hurricane wind detailing requirements, and OSHA silica enforcement.

Governing Authority

Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of 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

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Louisiana residency requirement; out-of-state entities must register with the Louisiana Secretary of State.

Good moral character

LSLBC reviews prior license discipline and criminal history. Felony convictions for fraud or theft may bar issuance.

Background investigation

Self-disclosure of criminal history on the LSLBC application; LSLBC may request court records for any disclosed conviction.

Experience & Education Matrix

Eligibility here is not measured in years of experience but by No state experience requirement for the LSLBC Masonry classification, but the qualifying party must pass the NASCLA Masonry exam which presumes journey-level competence., per the cited materials.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Optional: signed letters from prior masonry employers
Project list with addresses and dates

Examination Structure

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC under contract to LSLBC. All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

Louisiana Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 100 minutes, passing score 70%
NASCLA Accredited Masonry Examination — TMS 402/602, IBC Chapter 21, hurricane wind — 100 questions, 330 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 Louisiana business and law plus $219 NASCLA Masonry exam paid to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed sections may be retaken after 30 days with a new fee. The LSLBC application remains valid for one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

No state minimum, but LSLBC requires a current GL certificate at application. Most owners require $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under La. R.S. 23:1031 for any Louisiana employer with one or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in Louisiana.

Additional financial requirements

LSLBC requires a financial statement at application. Specialty classifications require $10,000 net worth minimum; commercial general contractor requires $50,000+. CPA-prepared statements are preferred.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$299
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every year)	$100

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Louisiana Masonry Specialty Classification — LSLBC every year. Renewal currently costs $100. LSLBC licenses renew annually on the anniversary date. Late renewal incurs a $100 reinstatement fee plus possible re-exam.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is accepted by Louisiana for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Mississippi	NASCLA exam	Bilateral acceptance of NASCLA exam scores between LSLBC and MS State Board of Contractors.
Arkansas	NASCLA exam	NASCLA scores accepted for the trade portion of the AR CLB application.
Tennessee	NASCLA exam	NASCLA scores accepted by TN BLC.

Louisiana is a NASCLA accredited state — passing the NASCLA Commercial Masonry exam waives the trade portion in 16+ partner states.

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

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Determine the threshold. Commercial masonry $50,000+ or residential $75,000+ triggers the LSLBC license requirement under La. R.S. 37:2150.
Form a Louisiana entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State and obtain an EIN.
Pass the Louisiana Business and Law exam. Score 70% or better on the 50-question Louisiana business and law exam at PSI.
Pass the NASCLA Masonry exam. Score 70% or better on the 100-question NASCLA accredited masonry exam.
Prepare the LSLBC financial statement. CPA-prepared financial statement showing $10,000+ net worth for specialty classification.
Submit LSLBC application. File the Masonry specialty classification application with $100 application fee, financial statement, GL/workers comp certificates, and exam scores.
Receive LSLBC license number. LSLBC issues the license at the next monthly board meeting; it must appear on every contract and bid per La. R.S. 37:2160.
Implement OSHA silica program. Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in Louisiana; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory on every masonry job.

Common Filing Mistakes

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Louisiana Masonry application.

Threshold splitting

Splitting one masonry job into separate $49,999 contracts to evade LSLBC licensing is treated as license law violation under La. R.S. 37:2160 — fines $500–$5,000 per occurrence.

CPA financial statement rejected

LSLBC rejects self-prepared and compiled statements. Only CPA-prepared statements satisfy the net worth requirement.

Hurricane wind tie spacing

Louisiana coastal parishes require corrosion-resistant ties at enhanced TMS 402 spacing (12" o.c. or tighter); Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Tammany inspectors fail jobs with standard spacing.

Workers comp lapse with NCCI 5022

Masonry class code 5022 is one of the highest comp rates in Louisiana. Lapses suspend the LSLBC license automatically and trigger a Department of Labor stop-work order.

Silica plan absent

OSHA targets New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations.

Study and Reference Materials

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Louisiana edition — NASCLA. Required reference for the Louisiana business and law exam.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21 — critical for Louisiana hurricane wind detailing.
Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code (IBC with LA amendments) — Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council. Louisiana adopts IBC including Chapter 21 masonry with enhanced wind provisions for coastal parishes.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with LSLBC:

☐ Louisiana Secretary of State entity registration
☐ EIN and Louisiana Department of Revenue tax account
☐ Louisiana Business and Law exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ NASCLA Masonry exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ CPA-prepared financial statement showing $10,000+ net worth
☐ GL and workers compensation certificates
☐ LSLBC Masonry specialty application with $100 fee
☐ OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Other Louisiana Trade Licenses

If the Masonry license is not the right fit, the following published Louisiana trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Louisiana have a dedicated masonry license?

Yes. Louisiana LSLBC issues a Masonry specialty classification (subclassification 7-12).

What is the project value threshold?

$50,000 commercial or $75,000 residential triggers the LSLBC license requirement under La. R.S. 37:2150.

Is the NASCLA exam accepted?

Yes. Louisiana is a NASCLA accredited state and the NASCLA Commercial Masonry exam satisfies the trade portion.

What financial statement does LSLBC require?

CPA-prepared financial statement showing $10,000+ net worth for specialty masonry classification.

Why is hurricane wind detailing critical?

Louisiana coastal counties require enhanced anchored veneer tie spacing per TMS 402 to resist Cat 3+ hurricane wind. Post-Katrina inspections enforce strict compliance.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-18 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-16