How to Get a Real Estate License in Hawaii (2026): Cost & Steps

What a Hawaii real estate license costs

Exam

$61

License fee, in even-numbered years

$282

Required fees, total

$343.00

Hawaii’s fee table lists a license fee that depends on whether the year is odd or even. If you apply in 2027, plan on $382 instead of $282. We found no fingerprint requirement.

Build your Hawaii startup budget

Sources: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: application fees ($282 even-year, $382 odd-year, $268 renewal); PSI Hawaii real estate bulletin ($61 exam, question counts, 70% passing); Hawaii Real Estate Branch: exam and license applicants (application steps); Hawaii Real Estate Branch: FAQs (renewal and continuing education). Fees and rules checked October 10, 2026. Exam and background-check prices can change, so confirm the total when you book.

Who can get a Hawaii salesperson license

Most people call it a real estate agent license. In Hawaii it is a salesperson license, and it lets you work under a supervising broker. Opening your own brokerage is a separate broker license.

The Hawaii Real Estate Commission says you finish a 60-hour approved course, pass the PSI exam and send a complete license application within two years of passing. You must disclose convictions, past discipline, lawsuits, tax issues and liens, and the Commission reviews any yes answers.

Already licensed in another state? Hawaii has no reciprocity. If you qualify, you can ask for credit toward the pre-license education and a waiver of the national part of the exam, but you still take Hawaii’s own exam and meet its licensing requirements. Ask the Commission before you pay for a course.

The steps, in order

1. Take the 60-hour course. Use a school the Commission approves.
2. Pass the PSI exam. It costs $61. You need 70% on each part: 56 of 80 national and 35 of 50 Hawaii questions.
3. Send your license application within two years of passing. Include your school certificate and your answers to the screening questions, and pay the license fee.
4. Join a supervising broker. You need an active Hawaii broker to be active.

What Hawaii agents earn

Median pay, Hawaii agents on payroll

$46,220

Middle half earns

$43,810–$64,890

Top 10% earn over

$101,750

Hawaii agents on payroll

690

The bottom 10% of Hawaii payroll agents earn under $36,030. The national median is $52,830. For a realistic opening budget, add the brokerage's actual charges and your appointment travel to licensing costs. Pay figures for payroll agents are a benchmark; your own commission results depend on completed business and the expenses attached to it.

Source: U.S. Labor Department pay survey, May 2025, Hawaii real estate sales agents. Covers agents on a payroll only. Checked October 10, 2026.

Choose the island, service area and supervising broker together

Use the 60-hour course period to meet offices in the area where you can regularly attend appointments. Ask how the supervising broker supports a new salesperson through a consultation, offer and closing, and who provides backup when that person is unavailable.

Request the full joining and monthly cost, not just the commission split. Include any listing-system, association and transaction charges. Discuss your start date with the office before submitting the license application, and check the renewal calendar because Hawaii uses even-numbered years rather than an individual two-year anniversary.

Set up your Hawaii agent business

Register the business and organize payments

Define the business you intend to operate under the supervising broker, including the permitted entity and commission-payee name. The Hawaii LLC guide gives you the LLC setup and administration steps. For that structure, use ZenBusiness to prepare the state filing after the broker confirms the arrangement for your licensed work.

Arrange errors and omissions (E&O) insurance

Discuss E&O before your first property consultation. Request E&O quotes from Simply Business for the services you will provide and compare the quote with the brokerage’s policy, including exclusions and your share of any deductible. Keep the insurance arrangement in the same file as your brokerage agreement.

Keep business records from day one

Budget the correct initial license fee for the year you apply, then add the office’s startup costs. Set reminders for the November renewal cycle and keep training records with your license documents.

See Hawaii business registration and tax requirements for the wider registration and tax checklist.

Prepare for questions about the property, not just its price

Ask the broker to take you through a real listing in your chosen service area. Practice finding the ownership documents, association information and recurring costs a buyer would need to review. Build a list of qualified local contacts to whom you can direct inspection, financing and insurance questions.

Resources for preparing client conversations

• what homeowners insurance costs by state
• the cost of renting versus owning
• flood insurance deadline
• state comparison of agent and brokerage businesses
• mortgage lock-in study
• Plan your first client conversations and follow-up

Renew by November 30 in even-numbered years

Hawaii licenses renew by November 30 of even-numbered years for $268. You need 20 approved hours of continuing education: 6 core hours and 14 electives.

The Commission says new licensees issued their license in 2026 don’t need continuing education for that renewal. Check its FAQ before you renew.

Hawaii agent questions