Education, $150 to $600
Louisiana requires 90 hours of approved coursework. At EXCEL the self-paced version costs $150, extended-access plans run $250 to $299, and live instruction is $600.
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Real numbers, upfront
How Much Does a Louisiana Real Estate License Cost?
A Louisiana real estate license costs about $531 all in: $150 for the online course, $90 to the LREC, $60.75 for fingerprints, $81 for the exam with Pearson VUE, and $149 for the required insurance. Choosing live instruction instead raises the total to about $981.
5
required fees, itemized below
State fees, $228.75
Three fixed charges nobody escapes: the $90 LREC application, the $60.75 fingerprint background check through IdentoGO, and the $81 exam sitting with Pearson VUE.
Insurance, $149
Louisiana will not issue a license until errors and omissions coverage is active. The group plan is $149 for a full year, and prorated each month.
Two budgets
Pick the tuition that fits your wallet
Both formats satisfy the same 90-hour rule. The difference is how much live help comes with the price.
The $150 budget path
Keep your total near $531 by studying on your own schedule, with the full approved course at the lowest price EXCEL offers.
Best for
Self-motivated and directed students, working adults, parents, and career changers who need the most flexible schedule.
The $600 supported path
Spend more once to sit with a working broker live, ask questions in real time, and shorten the struggle and retakes.
Best for
People who want accountability, structure, and a teacher who answers before test day.
Budget year one like a business.
Your license is the cheap part. The working-agent expenses below separate a hobby budget from a business plan, so walk in knowing them.
After the license
The costs that start once you are licensed
Post-license course
One 45-hour requirement in your first year: $130 at EXCEL, paid once and done forever.
Yearly CE
Twelve hours of continuing education every year. EXCEL's courses runs $39 in either format.
Renewing Your License
Renewing with the LREC costs $70 a year, and the group errors and omissions plan adds $149, so budget $219 each fall.
Board and MLS
Joining a local REALTOR board and MLS typically runs $1,000 to $1,500 a year and unlocks the tools working agents sell with. This is solely for agents who join a brokerage listed with a local MLS. (Multiple Listing Service)
Cost questions
What people ask before they budget.
Straight totals with no asterisks. Every fee on this page was checked against the LREC and Pearson VUE on 19 September 2026. If your situation is unusual, call (337) 522-3334 and we will run your numbers with you.
What is the cheapest way to get a Louisiana real estate license?
About $531 total: the $150 online course, $60.75 fingerprints, $90 application, $81 exam, and $149 group insurance. No required cost is missing from that list.
How much is the Louisiana real estate exam?
Pearson VUE charges $81 for both portions in one sitting. Fail one portion and you retake only that portion, which is why practice tests are cheap insurance.
Are there hidden fees schools do not mention?
The commonly skipped lines are the $60.75 fingerprint check, the $149 insurance, and the $130 post-license course. All three are on this page in plain sight.
Do I pay everything at once?
No. Tuition comes first, then fingerprints and the application, then the exam, then insurance. The spending spreads across the months you work through the process.
Is the $600 live course worth the extra $450?
Yes and No. It really depends on you and only you know you. It the same 90 hours of credit either way. Pay more only if live instruction, structure, and direct answers are what keep you finishing things. Plus, you'll have a real instructor answering bringing clarity to the questions that you missed.
What will my first year in real estate cost in total?
Plan on roughly $1,650 to $2,200 including licensing, the post-license course, and board and MLS membership. Most agents recover that with a single closing.
Numbers in hand
The whole path costs less than one commission check.
You have seen every fee. Enroll online tonight, join the next live class, or call (337) 522-3334 and we will help you pick the format.