50-State Architecture Licensing Compliance Guide
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Louisiana Architecture Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for architecture industry firms and individuals in Louisiana.

This page provides an overview of architecture industry licensing in Louisiana for individuals and firms. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

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Company Licenses

Louisiana Architecture Company Licenses

Louisiana Architectural Firm Registration

Agency:Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners
Law:

LS § 37:158

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Partnerships
  • Associations
Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • Officers and directors need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a Louisiana licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for all architectural activities undertaken by the firm.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • Members and managers need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a Louisiana licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for all architectural activities undertaken by the firm.

Partnerships:

  • Partners need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a Louisiana licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for all architectural activities undertaken by the firm.

Limited Liability Partnerships:

  • Partners need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a Louisiana licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for all architectural activities undertaken by the firm.

Initial Registration

This section applies to architectural firms that are applying for a license in Louisiana for the first time. If you already have a license and are looking to renew it, please see the renewal section.

Filing Method:

Email a Firm Application Request Form to hlavigne@lsbae.com then apply through the online portal after board approval.

Agency Fee:

$75 for in-state firms and $150 for out-of-state firms.

Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Identify a Louisiana licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's architectural activities.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Identify a Louisiana licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's architectural activities.
  • Obtain a certificate of good standing from your business entity's home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. If the name of the entity will contain some form of the word "architect", first obtain a letter of name approval from the State Board of Architectural Examiners.
  2. File entity formation documents with the Louisiana Secretary of State - Commercial Division.
  3. Email a copy of the Firm Application Request Form to Holly Lavigne at hlavigne@lsbae.com.
  4. Once approved by the board, access the licensing portal to submit a license application.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your entity will need to foreign qualify in Louisiana. If not required, skip to number 4.
  2. If the name of the entity will contain some form of the word "architect", first obtain a letter of name approval from the State Board of Architectural Examiners.
  3. File foreign qualification documents with the Louisiana Secretary of State - Commercial Division.
  4. Email a copy of the Firm Application Request Form to Holly Lavigne at hlavigne@lsbae.com.
  5. Once approved by the board, access the licensing portal to submit a license application.

Registration Renewal

This section applies to architectural firms that are already licensed in Louisiana and need to renew their license.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75 for in-state firms and $150 for out-of-state firms.

Due:

Annually by June 30.

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Information must be up to date before the next renewal period.

Notes:

Notify board via email with the changes.

Reinstatement

Form:

Architectural Firm Registration Reinstatement Form

Agency Fee:

$150 in-state; $300 out-of-state

Louisiana Architectural-Engineering Corporation Registration (AEC)

Agency:Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners
Law:

LA Rev Stat. § 37:158

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • Officers and directors need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a Louisiana licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be responsible for all architectural activities undertaken by the firm.
  • A full-time employee who is a Louisiana licensed engineer must be appointed as the responsible individual for all of the firms engineering activities.

Professional Corporations:

  • A majority of the outstanding shares of a Louisiana architectural PC must be held by one or more natural persons duly licensed to practice architecture.
  • A majority of the board of directors, if more than two, must be natural persons, duly licensed to practice architecture in Louisiana.
  • PCs having fewer than three directors shall have at least one director who is a natural person, duly licensed to practice architecture in Louisiana.

Initial Registration

This section applies to architectural-engineering corporations that are applying for a license in Louisiana for the first time. If you already have a license and are looking to renew it, please see the renewal section.

Filing Method:

Email a Firm Application Request Form to hlavigne@lsbae.com then apply through the online portal after board approval.

Agency Fee:

$75 for in-state firms and $150 for out-of-state firms.

Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Identify a Louisiana licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's architectural activities.
  • Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Identify a Louisiana licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's architectural activities.
  • Ensure that your Louisiana entity will meet ownership requirements.
  • Obtain a certificate of good standing from your business entity's home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. If the name of the entity will contain some form of the word "architect" or "engineer", first obtain a letter of name approval from the Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners and/or the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board respectively.
  2. File entity formation documents with the Louisiana Secretary of State - Commercial Division.
  3. Email a copy of the Firm Application Request Form to Holly Lavigne at hlavigne@lsbae.com.
  4. Once approved by the board, access the licensing portal to submit a license application.
  5. If your firm also plans to offer engineering services, see this page for guidance on obtaining a license from the Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your entity will need to foreign qualify in Louisiana. If not required, skip to number 4.
  2. If the name of the entity will contain some form of the word "architect", first obtain a letter of name approval from the State Board of Architectural Examiners.
  3. File foreign qualification documents with the Louisiana Secretary of State - Commercial Division.
  4. Email a copy of the Firm Application Request Form to Holly Lavigne at hlavigne@lsbae.com.
  5. Once approved by the board, access the licensing portal to submit a license application.
  6. If your firm also plans to offer engineering services, see this page for guidance on obtaining a license from the Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.

Registration Renewal

This section applies to architectural-engineering corporations that are already licensed in Louisiana and need to renew their license.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75 for in-state firms and $150 for out-of-state firms.

Due:

Annually by June 30.

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Information must be up to date before the next renewal period.

Notes:

Notify board via email with the changes.

Reinstatement

Form:

Architectural-Engineering Corporation Registration Reinstatement Form

Agency Fee:

$150 in-state; $300 out-of-state

Louisiana Interior Design Firm Registration

Agency:Louisiana State Board of Interior Designers
Notes:

Firm registration is not required for sole proprietorships fully owned by a Louisiana registered interior designer as long as the registrant does business under their legal name.

Initial Registration

Form:

Firm Registration Application

Agency Fee:

$0

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Louisiana Landscape Architecture Firm License

Not required



Landscape Architecture Firm licensure is not required on the State level in Louisiana.

Licenses are not issued at the state level for landscape architect firms in Louisiana, but individual landscape architects must include firm information in their license application.

More information: Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry - Horticulture Commission

Louisiana Professional Architectural Corporation Registration (PAC)

Agency:Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners
Law:

LA Rev Stat. § 37:158

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Professional Corporations (domestic only)
Ownership Requirements:

Professional Corporations:

  • A majority of the outstanding shares of a Louisiana architectural PC must be held by one or more natural persons duly licensed to practice architecture.
  • A majority of the board of directors, if more than two, must be natural persons, duly licensed to practice architecture in Louisiana.
  • PCs having fewer than three directors shall have at least one director who is a natural person, duly licensed to practice architecture in Louisiana.

Initial Registration

This section applies to professional architectural corporations that are applying for a license in Louisiana for the first time. If you already have a license and are looking to renew it, please see the renewal section.

Form:

Email a Firm Application Request Form to hlavigne@lsbae.com then apply through the online portal after board approval.

Agency Fee:

$75 for in-state firms and $150 for out-of-state firms.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Identify a Louisiana licensed architect, who is a full-time employee, to be in responsible charge of the firm's architectural activities.
  • Ensure that your business entity will meet ownership requirements.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. If the name of the entity will contain some form of the word "architect", first obtain a letter of name approval from the State Board of Architectural Examiners.
  2. File entity formation documents with the Louisiana Secretary of State - Commercial Division.
  3. Email a copy of the Firm Application Request Form to Holly Lavigne at hlavigne@lsbae.com.
  4. Once approved by the board, access the licensing portal to submit a license application.

Registration Renewal

This section applies to professional architectural corporations that are already licensed in Louisiana and need to renew their license.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75 for in-state firms and $150 for out-of-state firms.

Due:

Annually by June 30.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Information must be up to date before the next renewal period.

Notes:

Notify board via email with the changes.

Reinstatement

Form:

Professional Architectural Corporation Registration Reinstatement Form

Agency Fee:

$150 in-state; $300 out-of-state

Individual Licenses

Louisiana Individual Architecture Licenses

Louisiana Architect License

Agency:Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners
NCARB Certificate:Required
Completion of CE/PDH:Required
Interview:Not required
NAAB-accredited degree:Required
NCARB IDP:Required
Additional Experience:Not required
State-specific exam:Not required

Initial Registration

This section applies to architects that are applying for a license in Louisiana for the first time.

Form:N/A - Direct registration
Agency Fee:

$75 for resident architects and $300 for out of state architects. There is no exam fee.

Reciprocal Registration

This section applies to architects licensed in another state that are looking for reciprocal licensure in Louisiana.

Agency Fee:

$300

Registration Renewal

This section applies to architects that are already licensed in Louisiana and need to renew their license.

Agency Fee:

$75 for resident architects and $150 for out of state architects.

Due:

Annually by January 1.

Louisiana Landscape Architect License

Agency:Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry - Horticulture Commission

Initial Registration

Form:

Louisiana Landscape Architecture Exam Application

Agency Fee:

$200 exam fee + $100 license fee

Registration Renewal

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Annually by January 1.

Louisiana Registered Interior Designer License

Agency:Louisiana State Board of Interior Designers

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Lousiana Registered Interior Designer

Agency Fee:

$150

Notarize:Required

Registration Renewal

Form:

Registered Interior Designer Renewal Application

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Learn about architecture licensing in other states:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

ARE (Architect Registration Examination) - Assesses candidates for their knowledge, skills, and ability to provide the various services required to be a practicing architect.

AXP (Architectural Experience Program) - NCARB program for architectural internship, a requirement for licensure that occurs after filling the educational requirements.

BEFA (Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect) - An alternative NCARB certification that allows foreign architects to independently practice architecture.

COA (Certificate of Authorization) - The most common name of the registration required for firms to practice architecture in a given state.

Design Firm - Architectural firm registration is sometimes grouped with engineering and land surveying on a single “design firm” application form.

NCARB Certification - Licensed architects have the option to become Certificate holders to signify that they have met national standards established by U.S. licensing boards for protecting public health, safety, and welfare. Certification also facilitates reciprocal registration in all 54 jurisdictions, 11 Canadian jurisdictions, and can be used to support an application for licensure in other countries.

Reciprocity - This is when a licensed architect in one state can provide documentation (often a NCARB certificate) to more easily apply for licensure in another jurisdiction.

State Board - Often referred to as the State Architects Licensure Board or Board of Architects, an individual state’s board serves as the regulatory authority for architects. The board qualifies and licenses individuals seeking architectural licensure. The board is responsible for preserving the public health, safety, and welfare of individuals who occupy built environments.

National Architecture Accrediting Board
NAAB establishes criteria for and accredits professional architecture degree programs in the United States.

The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
AIAS is an independent, student-run group that promotes excellence in architecture education, training, and practice.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
AIA is a voluntary professional organization for architects providing advocacy, information, and community.

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)
ACSA represents architectural education programs across the globe.

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
NCARB is the national organization representing the state registration boards.

Revised October 18, 2021. Complete data last reviewed May 03, 2018.
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