Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners


Please Note

We are a service company that can help you file with the Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners. We are not associated with this nor any other government agency. We offer paid services and software to help you file. You are not required to purchase our service to file - you may file directly with this agency without using our service.


Contact Information

Physical address:
9625 Fenway, Suite B
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Phone: (225) 925-4802
Fax: (225) 925-4726

Web: Home Name search Forms File online
Email: bd@lsbae.com

Licenses

We track the following licenses with the Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners in order to provide compliance services to our clients. As a client, you see this and other Compliance Core™ data in License Manager in-line with your licenses.

A laptop placed on a desk with our License Manager software on display

Louisiana Architect License

Agency:Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners
Exam Required?Yes

Initial Registration

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

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$90 for residents and $150 for non-residents

Reciprocal Registration

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

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150 for residents and $300 for non-residents

Notes:

To obtain a reciprocal registration in Louisiana, all applicants must hold a current and valid license in a U.S. jurisdiction and an NCARB certificate.

How to Apply:
  1. Individuals interested in becoming licensed in Louisiana should contact NCARB to establish a certificate or to have their record transmitted to Louisiana.
  2. Once your NCARB record has been transmitted, you will receive notification from NCARB and the board will email you instructions on how to begin your application in the Licensing Portal.

Registration Renewal

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

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$90 for resident architects and $175 for out of state architects.

Due:

Annually by December 31.

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.

Penalties:

Firms that fail to renew their license and continue to practice are subject to the following fines:

  • $250 for practicing architecture 3 to 6 months with an expired certificate of authority
  • $500 for practicing architecture 6 to 12 months with an expired certificate of authority
  • $500 per year for each year or partial year practicing architecture with an expired certificate of authority

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

Instructions:

Instructions for how to apply for reinstatement can be found here

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

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

Penalties:

Firms practicing architecture in Louisiana without renewing their registration may be assessed a fine of up to $1,000 for the first year and $1,000 per year thereafter and will be publicly reprimanded.

Notes:
  • A firm/business practicing architecture whose registration has lapsed more than 91 days will be considered “expired” and must complete the Reinstatement Application and pay appropriate renewal and reinstatement fees. Applications will not be considered complete until all supporting documentation (if any required) is received.
  • Applications that are not completed within 90 days of submittal will become invalid.

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 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
Notarization Required?: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
Notarization Required?: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

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