Louisiana Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) treats solar as a Solar Energy Equipment specialty (S.12) tied to one of four parent classifications: Building Construction, Electrical, Mechanical, or Residential Construction. Threshold is low: any solar PV or thermal job (labor + materials) of $10,000 or more requires an LSLBC license. PV electrical tie-in at that value must be done by an Electrical classification holder; solar thermal piping/tie-in at that value must be done by a Mechanical classification holder. Above each parent classification threshold the contractor needs trade exam, business and law exam, financial statement, and commercial general liability. NABCEP PV Installation Professional is voluntary.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) pursuant to 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

Who May Apply

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Louisiana residency requirement.

Good moral character

LSLBC reviews criminal history under La. R.S. 37:2150 et seq.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Required Experience and Education

No fixed number of years of experience is set out in the cited sources for this credential; instead, the controlling requirement is no state experience requirement for the classification exam, but the Qualifying Party must demonstrate competence to the Board.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

LSLBC Qualifying Party form
Certified financial statement
NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification (recommended)

Education substitution

NABCEP certification satisfies most utility incentive program requirements.

Examination Requirements

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 Electrical Work 7-09 Trade Examination — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 70%
Louisiana Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $100 per part.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken individually.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

LSLBC requires commercial general liability insurance appropriate to the classification ($300K minimum is typical).

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under La. R.S. 23:1021 for any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

LSLBC requires a financial statement showing at least $10,000 net worth for residential classifications.

Licensing Fees

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

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Louisiana LSLBC Electrical Work Classification (7-09) and Solar Energy Equipment Specialty comes due every year. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $100. LSLBC licenses renew annually.

Continuing education: No state CE requirement.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

Louisiana accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Arkansas	Trade exam waived	Limited LSLBC reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Texas	Trade exam waived	Limited LSLBC–TDLR reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Mississippi	Trade exam waived	Limited LSLBC–MS reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

Louisiana accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination and maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with neighboring states.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Determine if a state license is required. LSLBC license required for commercial solar over $50K or residential over $75K.
Prepare a certified financial statement. Required for the classification application.
Submit the LSLBC application. File with the $100 application fee.
Pass the trade and business and law exams at 70%. Both administered by PSI.
File the certificate of insurance. $300K CGL minimum is typical.
Receive the Electrical Work classification with Solar Energy specialty. LSLBC issues the credential after the next monthly Board meeting.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each Louisiana jurisdiction requires local permits.

Recommended References

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
La. R.S. 37:2150 et seq. — State of Louisiana. Statutory framework.
PSI Louisiana Electrical Work Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Frequent Application Errors

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Louisiana Solar application.

Missing the $10K threshold

Any solar job at $10K or more total value needs an LSLBC classification. The old $50K/$75K rule does not apply to the Solar Energy Equipment specialty.

Skipping the financial statement

LSLBC requires a certified financial statement.

Missing the monthly Board meeting

LSLBC only issues licenses after the monthly Board meeting.

Letting workers compensation lapse

Mandatory for any business with employees.

Treating solar thermal as plumbing

LSLBC routes solar thermal hookup ≥$10K through the Mechanical classification, not Plumbing.

Document Checklist

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

☐ Certified financial statement with $10K+ net worth
☐ LSLBC application + $100 fee
☐ Pass trade and business and law exams at 70%+
☐ $300K commercial general liability insurance (typical)
☐ Workers' compensation coverage
☐ Local building and electrical permits per project
☐ NABCEP certification (recommended)

Other Louisiana Trade Licenses

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

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Louisiana have a solar license?

Yes, as a specialty under the Electrical Work 7-09 classification for projects over the state threshold.

When is a state license required?

Any solar PV or thermal job of $10,000 or more (labor + materials) needs an LSLBC license. PV electrical tie-in at that value must be Electrical classification; solar thermal at that value must be Mechanical classification.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in Louisiana.

What about solar thermal?

Solar thermal piping/equipment hookup at $10K+ falls under the LSLBC Mechanical classification, not Plumbing.

Does Louisiana reciprocate?

Yes. Louisiana accepts the NASCLA exam and maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-02 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-31