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Louisiana |
To do construction work in Louisiana you need to be licensed by the State Licensing Board for Contractors.
To find out if
a contractor is licensed for either residential or
commercial work in Louisiana, call (800) 256-1392, or click
http://www.lslbc.louisiana.gov/findcontractor.asp.
Contractors usually have to post a bond equal to 5% of the contract price for any lump sum or cost-plus contract. The minimum bond amount is $1,000.
A Residential Building Contractor's license is required for residences three stories or less in height if the cost of the project is more than $50,000.
You'll need to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of State.
If you want to do plumbing, asbestos abatement, or underground tank installation, you will also need a license from other agencies. You'll find more information on these particular trades after the discussion of licensing by the State Licensing Board. To apply to the Board, contact:
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State of Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors P.O. Box 14419 Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4419 (225) 765-2301 (800) 256-1392 http://www.lslbc.state.la.us/ |
The Board issues commercial, residential, home improvement and mold remediation licenses. These are the classifications of licenses:
Building construction
Heavy construction
Highway, street, bridge construction
Municipal, public works construction
Electrical work
Mechanical work
Hazardous materials
Plumbing
Specialty
Residential construction
On the application the Board sends you, you'll be asked about your company's work experience and organization. You'll also have to give the Board references who are licensed in Louisiana. And you'll have to submit a financial statement with your application.
Contractor's license and exam fees: The Board requires you to pass an
exam to get a license. The exam has a business and law section and a trade section. The
exam costs $100 for each classification you take an exam in. You also have to pay
the Board $40 for study material for the business and law part of the exam.
If you can prove you have a valid license in a trade in another state, you won't have to take the exam for that trade. You will still have to pass the business and law section though.
A license costs $100 for any one classification and $95 for each additional classification. The maximum you can pay for a license in multiple classifications is $300. A license is good for one year. All licenses expire on December 31 each year.
The Board investigates out-of-state contractors before licensing them. You must pay a $400 surcharge to cover the costs of this investigation. You must also wait 60 days from the date of your application while the Board completes the investigation.
Asbestos Abatement Certificate
In addition to the State Contractor's Board license, you'll need to be certified to do asbestos abatement work in Louisiana. To get more information on this, contact:
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Department of Environmental
Quality Registrations and Certifications P.O. Box 4313 Baton Rouge, LA 70821 (225) 219-3028 Fax: (225) 219-3154 http://www.deq.state.la.us/index.htm E-mail: permits@deq.state.la.us |
The Division issues contractor/supervisor, worker, inspector, management planner, and project designer certificates. You will need to complete appropriate Division-approved training to qualify for any certificate. Forms are available at http://www.deq.state.la.us/misc/forms.stm. Inspector candidates will have to submit a copy of their high school diploma or highest level of education received. Management planner candidates will need proof of registration as an architect, engineer, CIH or related scientific field. Project designer candidates will need to provide proof of registration as an architect, project designer, engineer or CIH.
Asbestos abatement certificate fees: It will cost you
$66 for a worker
certificate. All other certificates cost $264.
In addition to the State Contractor's Board license, you'll need to be certified to do lead abatement work in Louisiana. To get more information on this, contact:
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Department of Environmental
Quality Registrations and Certifications P.O. Box 4313 Baton Rouge, LA 70821 (225) 219-3028 Fax: (225) 219-3154 http://www.deq.state.la.us/index.htm |
The application is available online at http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/misc/forms.stm.
The Division issues worker, inspector, risk assessor, project supervisor and project designer certificates. You will need to complete appropriate Division-approved training to qualify for any certificate.
Lead
abatement certificate fees: Fees are as follows:
| Worker | $50 |
| Inspector | $150 |
| Project Supervisor | $250 |
| Risk Assessor | $250 |
| Project Designer | $500 |
Individuals must be accredited annually.
Underground Tank Installer Certificate
To supervise underground storage tank installation, repair or closure, you must be certified by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. To get an application, contact:
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DEQ Office of Permits P.O. Box 4313 Baton Rouge, LA 70821 (225) 219-3028 Fax: (225) 219-3154 http://www.deq.state.la.us/index.htm E-mail: permits@deq.state.la.us |
The Division issues certificates for only installation/repair, only closure, or both installation/repair and closure.
You must pass an exam to get a certificate. To qualify to take an exam you must have two years of experience and have worked on at least five jobs in the type of work you are getting a license in. For the combined installation/repair/closure certificate you need experience and work on jobs in all three types of work -- installation, repair and closure.
Underground tank installer's certificate exam fees: It will cost you
$132 to take an exam. There's no additional cost for the certificate. Your certificate
will expire on December 31 every second year.
Plumber's Licenses
You need a license from the State Plumbing Board to do plumbing work in Louisiana. To get an application, contact:
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State Plumbing Board of Louisiana P.O. Box 86774 Baton Rouge, LA 70879 (225) 756-3434 http://www.legis.state.la.us |
The Board issues master and journeyman licenses. You must pass an exam to get a license. To qualify for the master exam you must have a journeyman license in Louisiana. To qualify for the journeyman exam you must verify at least five years or 8,000 hours of work experience installing, repairing, or maintaining plumbing systems. The Board doesn't have any reciprocity agreements with other states but if you have a valid plumbing license in another state you can use it to qualify to take the journeyman plumber exam in Louisiana.
Exams are given by:
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Experior
1260 Energy Lane St. Paul, MN 55108 http://www.experioronline.com |
The master plumber's license is open book and multiple choice. Subject matter:
| Part I | Percentage of exam |
| Drainage systems/Sewers | 25 |
| Water supply/Backflow prevention | 20 |
| Code/General | 15 |
| Installation practices/Methods/Materials | 10 |
| Special wastes/Roof drains | 5 |
| Fixtures and trim | 5 |
| Excavation | 5 |
| Inspection/Testing | 5 |
| Individual sewage treatment systems | 5 |
| Safety | 5 |
| Part II |
Percentage of exam |
| Drainage systems/Sewers | 28 |
| Water supply systems | 20 |
| Roof drain systems | 8 |
| Installation practices/Methods/Materials | 28 |
| Terminology | 4 |
| Plans and specifications | 12 |
Part III |
Percentage of exam |
| Project management | 18 |
| Contract management | 17 |
| Financial management | 10 |
| Risk management | 10 |
| Business planning and organization | 5 |
| Licensing | 10 |
| Safety (laws and regulations) | 10 |
| Labor laws | 5 |
| Tax laws | 5 |
Plumber's license fees: It will cost you $100 to take the master exam
and the journeyman exam is $75. The master license costs $180 and the journeyman license
is $30. All licenses are good for one year, expiring on December 31 each year.
Water Well Driller's License
Except for oil and gas wells you must get a license from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to do well drilling work in Louisiana. To get an application, contact:
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Water Resource Section Department of Transportation and Development P.O. Box 94245 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245 (225) 274-4172 Fax: (225) 274-4312 http://www.dotd.state.la.us/intermodal/wells/home.asp |
You need to pass an exam and have two years of approved well drilling experience to qualify for a license. You must send two letters of reference with your application.
You will have to appear in person before the Advisory Committee for Regulation and Control of Water Well Contractors and be interviewed by the Committee. They meet on the first Wednesday of February, May, August, and November each year. After the Committee approves your application, you can take their exam.
Water well driller's license fees: It will cost you
$100 to get a
license. The exam costs $10. All licenses expire each June 30.
If you have a valid driller's license from another state you may be able to get a Louisiana driller's license. The requirements for your license must be approximately equal to those for a Louisiana driller license and the state you're licensed in must allow a Louisiana driller license holder to get a license in the state the same way. Currently the Department doesn't have any reciprocity agreements with other states.
Department of Transportation (DOT)
You don't need to be prequalified to bid on contracts from the Department of Transportation. However you must be licensed by the State Licensing Board for Contractors. For information on this see our discussion at the beginning of the Louisiana section. The Department of Transportation Web site is at http://www.dotd.state.la.us/
Out-of-State Corporations
Out-of-state corporations must get a Certificate of Authority to do business in Louisiana from the Louisiana Secretary of State. To apply for this certificate, contact:
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Louisiana Secretary of State Corporation Division P.O. Box 94125 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 (225) 925-4704 Fax: (225) 922-0433 http://www.sec.state.la.us/ |
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