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Louisiana PE License Renewal: CE hours, deadlines, and portal.

Louisiana Professional Engineer (PE) licenses renew every two years (biennial). Louisiana requires 30 PDH per 2-year cycle (about 15 per year). Of the 30 hours, 2 must be in professional ethics. Up to 7 excess PDH may carry over to the next cycle. The approximate renewal fee is $120 per cycle. Online renewal is available through the state board portal. 1 PDH ethics per calendar year (2 per biennium). Up to 7 PDH may carry over.

Renewal deadline:March 31 of even-numbered years
Renewal cycle
Biennial
PDH required
30 per cycle
Ethics required
2 hours
Approximate fee
$120

Louisiana engineering compliance at a glance

Everything it takes to legally practice engineering in Louisiana: your individual PE license, your firm's Certificate of Authorization, and the Secretary-of-State / tax filings that keep the entity in good standing. Costs and cadence are estimates, confirm on the official portals before relying on them.

RequirementApplies toCostRenewsWhat you do
PE license (individual)Always required to practice~$120BiennialEarn 30 PDH, then renew on the board portal · open
Firm Certificate of AuthorizationIf you practice through a firm$120BiennialApply / renew with the engineering board · open
Secretary of State annual reportIf the firm is a registered entity$35AnnualFile with the Secretary of State · open
Franchise / entity taxIf the firm is a registered entityVariesAnnualFile with the state tax agency · open

CE / PDH requirements in Louisiana

Louisiana requires 30 PDH per 2-year renewal cycle (about 15 hours per year). Of that total, 2 hours must be in professional ethics.

Louisiana allows up to 7 excess PDH to carry over to the next renewal cycle.

How to renew your Louisiana PE license

  1. 1
    Confirm your renewal date

    1 PDH ethics per calendar year (2 per biennium). Up to 7 PDH may carry over.

  2. 2
    Verify your PDH balance

    Confirm you have at least 30 PDH for this cycle, including 2 ethics hours. Save certificates as PDFs in case the board audits you.

  3. 3
    Pay the renewal fee

    About $120. Louisiana accepts online renewal through the board portal.

  4. 4
    Save your new pocket card

    Once renewed, save your updated wall certificate or pocket card. If your firm needs a copy for project files, send it the same day.

What trips people up

Louisiana renewal gotchas

Field notes from mapping the Louisiana renewal flow. Specifics change, so confirm anything time-sensitive on the board portal before you rely on it.

  • Online renewal opens ~7 weeks before deadline (e.g., Feb 6 for March 31 expiration)
  • 30% audit rate is VERY high compared to other states
  • $200 CPD Administrative Fee if audited and found non-compliant
  • Must maintain a board-approved CPD activity log (specific format required)
  • Building/Building Systems practitioners have additional 8 PDH requirement in codes/ADA/life safety
  • Late renewal fee is 50% of renewal fee ($60)
Practicing through a firm in Louisiana?

Louisiana requires firms to hold a Certificate of Authorization (about $120, every two years (biennial)) to offer engineering services. It renews on its own cycle, separate from your individual PE license. PE License Pro tracks individual PE licenses, firm CoAs, and entity filings side by side.

Open the Louisiana firm CoA portal
Need a new Louisiana PE license? Open the Louisiana application page

Louisiana PE renewal FAQ

How often does a Louisiana PE license need to be renewed?+

Louisiana PE licenses are renewed every two years (biennial). 1 PDH ethics per calendar year (2 per biennium). Up to 7 PDH may carry over.

When is the deadline to renew a Louisiana PE license?+

Louisiana PE license renewal deadline: March 31 of even-numbered years. Dates and cycles can change, so confirm the exact date on the Louisiana board portal and renew before it. A missed deadline usually means a late fee, and in some states the license lapses and has to be reinstated.

How many PDH hours does Louisiana require for PE renewal?+

Louisiana requires 30 PDH per 2-year cycle, including 2 ethics hours.

How much does it cost to renew a Louisiana PE license?+

The approximate renewal fee is $120 per cycle. Fees can change; confirm the current amount on the Louisiana board portal.

Where do I renew my Louisiana PE license?+

Louisiana renewals are handled by the state's licensing board. The current portal is at https://www.lapels.com/.

Does Louisiana allow PDH carryover?+

Yes. Louisiana allows up to 7 excess PDH to carry over to the next renewal cycle.

Stop tracking Louisiana renewals in your head.

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