Real estate license requirements in Hawaii
Hawaii runs its application fees on a biennial cycle — $382 if you apply in an odd-numbered year, $282 in an even-numbered year — and states plainly that it has no reciprocity with any other state.
Education
The Hawaii Real Estate Commission requires 60 classroom hours from a DCCA-approved provider before you’re eligible to sit for the exam. This figure is well-corroborated across sources, though we weren’t able to quote it directly from the primary PDF this session (the Commission’s site blocked automated access).
| Requirement | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course | 60 | DCCA/Hawaii Real Estate Commission-approved provider |
What Hawaii calls your first license
Hawaii’s entry-level license is called a “Salesperson” — standard terminology, working under a licensed broker. The more distinctive part of Hawaii’s system isn’t the title, it’s the biennial fee schedule described below.
The licensing exam
Hawaii contracts with PSI to administer the exam. The vendor is confirmed, but the specific structure below comes from secondary aggregation rather than a primary Commission document, so treat the exact numbers as a strong estimate rather than a certainty.
| Portion | Items | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| National | 80 items / 150 minutes | 70% |
| State | 50 items / 90 minutes | 70% |
These item counts, the 70% passing threshold, and the ~$61 fee are corroborated across multiple secondary sources but were not independently confirmed from the Commission’s primary PDF this session. Confirm current numbers with PSI before test day.
Hawaii's application fee depends on where you land in its 2-year licensing cycle: $382 in an odd-numbered year, $282 in an even-numbered year. Check the calendar before you assume a number.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | ~$61 | PSI — partially verified |
| Application & license fee | $382 (odd year) or $282 (even year) | Hawaii Real Estate Commission — biennial cycle |
| Renewal fee | $268 | Hawaii Real Estate Commission |
| Background check | Not confirmed | Only a self-disclosure question was found on the application |
Hawaii’s application fee genuinely changes depending on which year of its two-year cycle you apply in — don’t use a single flat number when budgeting.
How to apply, step by step
The steps can overlap in places, but this is the order that avoids the most common delays.
From an approved provider.
Covers both national and Hawaii state portions.
Fee depends on the calendar year — $382 odd-year, $282 even-year.
We could not confirm whether a separate fingerprint-based check is also required — verify directly with the Commission.
Required to activate your Salesperson license.
Once your application and broker affiliation are processed.
After you’re licensed: staying current
We found no distinct post-licensing course for new Hawaii salespeople. Instead, you go into the standard continuing education cycle: 20 hours per 2-year biennium (6 core + 14 elective). If you’re issued a license in an even-numbered year and renew by November 30, you’re deemed to have met CE for that first cycle. A claimed separate “20-hour post-licensing course” surfaces on some prep sites, but we checked it and found no support for it as a distinct requirement — don’t budget time for it as something separate from standard CE.
Reciprocity
Hawaii states plainly, in its own words: “We are not reciprocal with any other State.” That said, salespeople already licensed elsewhere may still qualify for pre-license education credit and/or national-exam equivalency, which can reduce what you have to redo — that’s a narrower benefit than full reciprocity, so don’t expect a waiver of Hawaii’s own requirements.
Common questions
Does Hawaii have reciprocity with my state?
No. Hawaii’s own language is direct: “We are not reciprocal with any other State.” You may still get some credit toward pre-license education or the national exam if you’re already licensed elsewhere, but that’s not the same as reciprocity.
Is there a separate post-licensing course after I get my Hawaii Salesperson license?
We couldn’t confirm one. New salespeople appear to go directly into the standard 20-hour, 2-year CE cycle — a separately-claimed “20-hour post-licensing course” doesn’t appear to be a real, distinct requirement.
How much does the license application cost?
It depends on the year: $382 if you apply in an odd-numbered year, $282 in an even-numbered year, as part of Hawaii’s biennial cycle.
Do I need a background check to get licensed in Hawaii?
Unclear. We found a self-disclosure question on the application but could not confirm whether a separate fingerprint-based background check is also required — check directly with the Commission.
What's Hawaii's entry-level license called?
Salesperson — standard terminology, working under a sponsoring broker.
Next step
Hawaii Real Estate Commission (DCCA) — https://cca.hawaii.gov/reb/
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