Louisiana Real Estate Exam: Everything You Need to Know

The applying, scheduling, and passing of your real estate exam will take your full attention for the next few months. To make this process easier, we assembled a comprehensive article that tells you EVERYTHING you need to know about the Louisiana real estate exam. We’ll cover:

• How to schedule the Louisiana real estate licensing exam 
• The cost of the exam 
• The documents you’ll need to register for the exam
• Where you can take the exam 
• What is covered on the exam 
• The difficulty level of the exam 
• Best tips on how to study for the exam 

How to Schedule the Louisiana Real Estate Licensing Exam

To be able to apply for the real estate licensing exam in Louisiana, you must meet the following requirements: 

• You must be a US citizen or a lawfully admitted alien
• You must be 18 years and above
• You must have a high school diploma or equivalent from an accredited institution.
• You must have completed the mandatory 90 hours of salesperson pre-licensing real estate education from an approved real estate school.

If you meet all the requirements listed above, then you can go on to apply for the exam. The first step is to submit a Salesperson License Application Part A to the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC). Alongside this application form, you must also:

• Submit your pre-licensing course certificate as proof that you have completed the course
• Pay a license application fee of $90 to the LREC 

If the LREC approves your application, you will receive a confirmation email from PSI containing instructions on scheduling the exam. The fastest and easiest way to schedule this exam is by visiting the PSI website online. Simply create an account and follow the prompts to schedule your exam in a testing center nearby. 

Scheduling this exam will cost you an $85 non-refundable exam fee, different from the fee you paid while applying. Also, note that your examination eligibility is only effective for 90 days from the day it was issued and only permits you to take the exam once. If you do not take or fail to pass the exam after this try, you’ll have to turn in another application. 

Where Do You Take the Louisiana Real Estate License Exam:

The Louisiana real estate license exam can be taken at any of the following PSI-approved testing centers within the state:

• Baton Rouge 
• Lafayette
• Lake Charles
• Metairie
• Shreveport

Can You Take the Exam Online?

No, the Louisiana real estate exam cannot be taken online. All candidates will be required to present themselves at any designated PSI exam centers, where they will be supervised for the exam duration. Therefore, it is advised that you choose any of the aforementioned locations nearest to you when applying for the exam.

What to Bring on the Day of Your Exam

On the day of your Louisiana real estate exam, you are required to bring the following: 

• 2 forms of valid signature bearing identification to the test site. The names on both of these identifications must match. You can use any of the following: 
• State-issued driver’s license
• US Government issued
• Social security card
• Credit card 
• A basic non-scientific calculator

Note that on the day of your exam, you are expected to be at the testing center 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Within this period, you’ll complete your sign-in and identification, take a photograph for your score report card and learn more about the test process. If you arrive late, you may not be allowed to take the examination, and your registration fee will be forfeited. 

What is on the Louisiana Real Estate Exam?

The Louisiana real estate exam is made up of two sections, namely: 

• The national portion, comprising questions based on national real estate principles and practices
• The state portion, comprising questions based on Louisiana laws, rules, and regulation 

National Portion 

Here are some topics you will come across in the National portion, as well as the percentage of questions per topic:

• Property ownership; 8%
• Land use controls and regulations; 5%
• Valuation and market analysis; 7%
• Financing; 10%
• General principles of agency; 13%
• Property disclosure; 6%
• Contracts; 17%
• Leasing and property management; 3%
• Transfer of title; 8%
• Practice of real estate; 13%
• Real estate calculations; 10% 

State Portion

Here are some topics you will come across in the State portion, as well as the number of questions per topic:

• Duties and Powers of the Real Estate Commission; 5 
• Licensing Requirements; 6
• Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees; 17
• Louisiana Civil Law System; 16
• Louisiana Law of Agency; 11

Will There Be Math on the Exam?

Yes, there will be math on the Louisiana real estate licensing exam. These math questions will be in the national-specific section and related to basic math concepts like Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios, discount points, and equity. Calculations on transactions questions will also be present, including property tax calculations, commission splits, and prorations. 

Remember that these math problems could be challenging and time-consuming to answer. So, unless the answers are obvious, it is best to save these questions for later while you go on to answer other questions. This way, you have enough time to answer more questions. 

Is the Louisiana Real Estate Exam Hard?

The Louisiana real estate exam is considerably difficult. This should come as no surprise since this exam ensures that only the most learned and best agents are qualified to operate within the state. 

It is important to note, however, that the difficulty level you experience can vary greatly depending on your level of preparedness, which is why you should do your best to be prepared. 

How Many Questions Are on the Louisiana Real Estate Exam?

The Louisiana real estate exam consists of 135 multiple-choice questions; 80 for the national and 55 for the state portions. These questions are all multiple-choice, with each coming with 4 options to choose from. Candidates will each have 180 minutes (3 hours) to complete the exam. This time frame is divided into 105 minutes for the national portion and 85 minutes for the state portion. 

The passing score for the Louisiana real estate exam is 70%, indicating that candidates must answer 56 questions correctly in the national portion and 40 in the state section to pass. Once the exam is completed, your score will be displayed on the computer screen so you can tell whether you passed or failed.

What is the Passing Rate for the Real Estate Exam in Louisiana?

While Louisiana does not release passing rates for its real estate exam, we know that many factors will determine this passing rate. Some of these factors include: 

• Yearly changes in exam difficulty level 
• Yearly changes in the exam content 
• Candidate’s level of preparation 

How Many Times Can You Take the Real Estate Exam?

While you can take the Louisiana exams as many times as possible, you have to submit a new application to the LREC to request permission for a retake. If you pass one section and not the other, your score in the section you passed will only be valid for one year. 

You’ll have to pay an exam eligibility fee of $15 alongside your application and an exam fee of $85 while scheduling your exam with PSI. 

How to Pass the Louisiana Real Estate Exam

You need in-depth knowledge of real estate principles, laws, and regulations to pass the Louisiana real estate licensing exam. Here are proven study strategies that have already helped thousands of students pass the exam.

Create a Study Schedule

Creating a study schedule is one of the best ways you can help yourself when preparing for your Louisiana real estate licensing exam. Ideally, a study schedule should help you balance your study time and time spent on other daily activities. 

Therefore, as you draft your schedule, you should consider basic factors like your current commitments, learning style, and how much ground you have to cover. Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating a study for your Louisiana real estate exam:

• Draft a study routine that works well for you and will be easy to stick to. Ideally, your study time should be set to periods of the day when you are less busy or distracted. We recommend studying for a little bit every night or at least every other night.
• Create a scale of preference to rank the real estate topics you need to cover in order of difficulty and priority. Ensure you allot more time to study the most important topics, especially those you find difficult. Not only will this keep you focused, it will also enable you to spread your study time across all the topics.
• Input frequent breaks into your study schedule to prevent fatigue. You should take between 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily to ensure that your brain is well-rested and can perform optimally. 

Use Acronyms and Mnemonic Devices

Acronyms and mnemonic devices are excellent study tools that help you remember and recall information. They are especially helpful when memorizing lists or complex concepts for your Louisiana real estate exam.

Acronyms are formed by taking the first letter of each word in a phrase to create a new word. A good example of a real estate acronym is FSBO which stands for For Sale By Owner.

Mnemonic devices, on the other hand, are formed by associating certain information with memorable things. A good mnemonic device for a property's four essential characteristics to have value would be “Don’t Utter Silly Things.”

• Don’t for Demand
• Utter for Utility
• Silly for Scarcity
• Things for Transferability

Join a Study Group

Another smart thing to do when studying for your Louisiana real estate exam is to join a study group. This move will enhance your learning process and experience and greatly improve your chances of success. Here are some of the benefits that joining a study group offers:

• Group studying can provide you with a sense of accountability, making you more intentional about your study activities 
• It can boost your motivation, born out of healthy competition 
• Promotes deeper understanding and retention of material, thanks to active discussions and sharing of resources and ideas between you and other group members

Get Guided Help

The Louisiana real estate exam can be a tough one to study for, mainly because of the mandatory 90-hour pre-licensing coursework. Therefore, to get the best training possible, you should get our Louisiana real estate exam prep package to make studying easy.

At our real estate school, our highly qualified tutors guide through the complexities of studying for the exam. They also assist you in identifying and capitalizing on your strengths and can keep a steady eye on your progress over time.

We provide the following helpful materials at a very affordable price when you enroll in our exam prep course:

• 1,500 Louisiana real estate exam practice questions
• Customizable practice state exams
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Video explanations
• E-book study guide

Final Thoughts on the Real Estate Exam in Louisiana 

The Louisiana real estate exam is important in becoming a licensed real estate professional. Passing this exam requires careful planning and a firm grasp of major and minor real estate concepts. Therefore, to increase your chances of succeeding on this exam, you should take time out to prepare adequately and enroll in a real estate school.