Skip to content
LicenseReciprocity

Contractor License from Louisiana to Arkansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program ↗

Yes — Arkansas has a reciprocity arrangement covering Louisiana license holders. Apply to the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.

Verify this exact pair in the checker

Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.

Run the Reciprocity Checker →

Verdict

Reciprocity agreement

Arkansas has a trade agreement covering Louisiana — but read it at the trade-and-class level before celebrating. The agreement waives Arkansas's exam for the specific trade and class named in the table below; your other licenses may not be covered. What survives for every applicant: Arkansas's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration. Confirm your exact trade and class against the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program listing.

What changes, Louisiana → Arkansas

Side-by-side: Louisiana vs Arkansas (Contractor (GC/electrical/plumbing/HVAC)), verified 2026-07-21
Louisiana (current)Arkansas (destination)
Application feeLSLBC does not publish a flat application fee on its licensing pages; fees are assessed through the online application. A Business and Law exam is required.$100 (ACLB commercial/Residential-Builder license filing fee is $100 per the board's application (Residential Remodeler/Home Improvement $50); electrical, plumbing, and HVAC/R licenses carry separate agency fees not captured.)
Processing timeNot stated by the board.Not stated on official pages.
Licensing authorityLouisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC)Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Arkansas sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the reciprocity application to the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Building trades: hold a current license 1+ year in AL, TN, LA, MS, or NC and file the ACLB reciprocal form, verified by the origin state, in lieu of the Business & Law exam.
  5. Trade classifications (electrical, plumbing, HVAC/R) must separately meet the requirements of the responsible Arkansas agency.
  6. Electrical reciprocity accepts only an original (non-reciprocated) license from a listed state; Wyoming requires a USDOL apprenticeship of 576+ classroom hours.
  7. Pay the fees ($100 (ACLB commercial/Residential-Builder license filing fee is $100 per the board's application (Residential Remodeler/Home Improvement $50); electrical, plumbing, and HVAC/R licenses carry separate agency fees not captured.)) and allow Not stated on official pages..

Official links

Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program ↗Arkansas application ↗

Related guides

Contractor in LouisianaContractor in ArkansasAll contractor states

Frequently asked questions

Does Arkansas accept a Louisiana contractor license?

Yes — Arkansas has a reciprocity arrangement covering Louisiana license holders. Apply to the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.

What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?

Arkansas's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.

What does the Louisiana-to-Arkansas move cost and how long does it take?

$100 (ACLB commercial/Residential-Builder license filing fee is $100 per the board's application (Residential Remodeler/Home Improvement $50); electrical, plumbing, and HVAC/R licenses carry separate agency fees not captured.); processing Not stated on official pages..

Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?

If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether Arkansas is one on the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Dept. of Labor and Licensing); trades via the Board of Electrical Examiners, HVAC/R Licensing Board, and Dept. of Health plumbing program site.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]