Solar Contractor Licensing
If you're hiring someone to install solar panels or solar water heating in Louisiana, make sure they hold a valid Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board license with the "Solar Energy Equipment" classification—this is required by law for any project costing $10,000 or more and is necessary for you to claim state tax credits. Ask your contractor to show proof of their solar-specific training certificate from an approved provider, a Louisiana technical college, or verify they hold NABCEP certification.
To legally install solar photovoltaic or solar thermal systems in Louisiana, you must obtain a "Solar Energy Equipment" classification from the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board in addition to holding an Electrical (for PV) or Mechanical (for thermal) contractor license. You'll need to complete board-approved training in solar energy systems design and either hold NABCEP certification or pass a Board-approved examination; contractors without these credentials as of August 1, 2014 faced mandatory testing or certification requirements. This specialty classification allows your customers to access state tax credits and ensures compliance with state installation standards.
Louisiana's solar contractor licensing regime, established by SB 447 and implemented by the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board, mandates that all solar installations above $10,000 be performed by licensed contractors holding a "Solar Energy Equipment" classification plus appropriate underlying licenses (Electrical for PV, Mechanical for thermal). The program requires proof of board-approved solar training and targets residential and commercial solar installers; it does not provide direct financial incentives but protects consumers and enables access to state tax credits for homeowners using compliant installers.
Program details
- Program ID
- 4285
- Last updated
- 5/9/2024
Eligibility
- Sectors
- installers/contractors
- Technologies
- solar water heat solar photovoltaics
Program summary
NOTE: SB 447requires that by February 1, 2015 licensed contractors must be in compliance with the Louisiana State Board of Licensing to legally install solar panels. Contractors without solar PV Installer or Solar Heating Installer certifications issued the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) will at a minimum be required to take a written exam to demonstrate competency.
In June of 2014, SB 447 mandated that the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors develop new rules for solar contractors no later than January 1, 2015. Licensed contractors must be in compliance with the new rules no later than February 1, 2015. Contractors applying for the classification of Solar Energy Equipment must have a major classification for Building Construction, Electrical, Mechanical, or Residential Building Contractor in addition to other licenses and must complete a board approved training course in solar energy systems design. A license is required for projects with expenses of $10,000.
Contractors who did not hold a license with one of the classifications of Building Construction, Electrical, or Mechanical as of August 1, 2014, must take an examination approved by the Board or hold the PV Installer Certification Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) in order to obtain the Solar Energy Equipment classification.
All solar energy installations must be performed by a contractor duly licensed by and in good standing with the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board with a classification of "Solar Energy Equipment" and a certificate of training in the design and installation of solar energy systems from an industry recognized training entity, or a Louisiana technical college, or the owner of the residence.
Installers must have the appropriate license, as well as this specialty classification in order for systems to take advantage of state tax credits. Installers must be licensed with the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board. This specialty classification does not substitute for an electrical or mechanical license; installers must have this specialty classification in addition to an electrical contractor's license (for solar photovoltaic installations) or a mechanical contractor's license (for solar thermal installations).
Additional contractor-specific information can be found here.
Contact & resources
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
