Hawaii Electrician License: Why No Other State Accepts Yours (And What It Takes to Get One)

Hawaii doesn't make it easy. No reciprocity with any state, mandatory coursework through University of Hawaii community colleges, and a PSI exam where you can't even bring your own NEC — they furnish one for you at the testing center. If you're moving from the mainland with an active license, it means nothing here. You're starting the exam process from scratch.

This guide covers the current rules — license types, experience pathways, exam format, fees, and continuing education — all verified against the Hawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division and the governing statute (HRS Chapter 448E).

For a quick exam overview, see our Hawaii state page.

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Hawaii Electrician License Types

The Board of Electricians and Plumbers (yes, both trades share one board) issues seven electrician license types under HRS Chapter 448E:

Key distinction: Hawaii does not use the term "master electrician." The Supervising Electrician (ES) is the functional equivalent — it's the license that lets you both supervise and perform electrical work at the highest scope.

Journey Worker Specialty Electrician (EJS) has a narrow scope. You can install and maintain electronic equipment, alarm systems, communication systems, and low-voltage controls — but you are not authorized to work on lighting and power circuits.

Maintenance Electrician (EM) is the most limited. You can maintain existing installations, but you cannot perform new electrical work.

C-13 Electrical Contractor is a separate license administered under HRS Chapter 444 (not 448E). It's a business license, not a trade license, and requires its own exam through a different process.

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Who Issues Electrical Licenses in Hawaii

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) Division, through the Board of Electricians and Plumbers, is the licensing authority.

• Address: 335 Merchant Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
• Phone: (808) 578-3222 or 1-844-808-DCCA (3222)
• Email: elect_plumb@dcca.hawaii.gov
• Official website: cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/electrician
• Online portal: mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov
• Governing statute: HRS Chapter 448E

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Experience Requirements

Hawaii's requirements changed significantly on July 1, 2013, when mandatory academic coursework through the University of Hawaii Community College system was added. Both work hours and classroom hours are required.

Journey Worker Electrician (EJ)

Journey Worker Industrial Electrician (EJI)

Journey Worker Specialty Electrician (EJS)

Maintenance Electrician (EM)

Supervising Licenses (ES, ESI, ESS)

Supervising licenses require a journey worker license first:

Important: The academic coursework must come specifically from the University of Hawaii Community College system — not just any approved provider. This is unusual compared to most mainland states that accept coursework from a wider range of institutions.

The Hawaii Electrician Exam

PSI Services

PSI administers all Hawaii electrician examinations.

• Registration: test-takers.psiexams.com/hitrade
• Phone: (833) 333-4754
• Test locations: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii County (Big Island)

Exam Format

This is one of Hawaii's unique rules: you cannot bring your own code book. PSI provides the NEC at the testing center. That means you can't rely on your own tabs, highlights, or margin notes. You'll need to know the NEC's structure well enough to navigate a clean, unmarked copy under timed conditions.

Application-to-Exam Timeline

1. Submit your application to the Board of Electricians and Plumbers at least 7 days before the next Board meeting
2. The Board reviews and approves your application
3. After approval, you receive an eligibility notification letter
4. Allow 24 hours after receiving the letter to register with PSI
5. Exam eligibility is valid for 2 years from the approval date

NEC Edition

The exam is currently based on the 2020 NEC (NFPA 70, 2020 edition). The Hawaii State Building Code Council proposed adopting the 2023 NEC, but as of early 2026, the licensing exam still references the 2020 edition. Confirm the current edition at cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/electrician before scheduling your exam.

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Fees

Initial Licensing

Hawaii uses triennial (3-year) licensing cycles. Your initial license fee is prorated based on when you're licensed within the current cycle. The current cycle runs July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026.

Total to get a journey worker license: $135 (application + exam) plus $102–$306 for the prorated license fee, depending on timing.

Renewal Fees

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Continuing Education

Hawaii calls it "continuing competency" rather than continuing education. The requirements are straightforward but limited in where you can complete them.

Requirements

• Frequency: Every 3 years (triennial renewal cycle)
• Content: Updates to the NEC
• Applies to: EJ, EJI, EJS, ES, ESI, ESS
• Exempt: Maintenance Electricians (EM) and inactive license holders

Approved Providers (In-State Only)

Hawaii requires continuing competency coursework to be completed in-state through one of two approved providers:

• Honolulu Community College: (808) 845-9296
• Hawaii Electricians Training Fund (IBEW HETF): (808) 847-0629

You cannot use online CE courses from national providers. This is another uniquely restrictive Hawaii requirement — if you're a licensed electrician working on the mainland temporarily, you'll need to plan a trip back or coordinate with one of these two providers.

Submission

You can authorize either Honolulu Community College or HETF to transmit your completion documentation directly to the Board, or you can manually submit your certificates.

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Reciprocity

Hawaii does not have reciprocity agreements with any state.

This is the single biggest difference between Hawaii and most mainland licensing programs. If you hold a valid electrician license in California, Texas, New York, or anywhere else — it does not matter. You must:

1. Meet Hawaii's experience and education requirements (including the UH Community College coursework)
2. Apply to the Board of Electricians and Plumbers
3. Pass the Hawaii PSI exam

You can submit a License Verification form (EP-04) documenting your out-of-state experience, which the Board may consider as part of your experience documentation. But it does not exempt you from the exam or the education requirements.

Some mainland states may accept a Hawaii license through their own endorsement processes (this is one-directional — they accept yours, but Hawaii doesn't accept theirs).

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2024 Law Change: Journey Worker Electric Utility Lineman

HB 1633 (2024) added a new Journey Worker Electric Utility Lineman classification to HRS 448E-9. This expanded the Board's membership to include two members engaged in electric utility work and established new examination and qualification requirements for the lineman classification.

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How to Study for the Hawaii Electrician Exam

The exam is based on the 2020 NEC. Since PSI furnishes the NEC and you can't bring your own tabbed copy, your study strategy needs to be different from states where you walk in with a heavily annotated code book.

Focus on NEC Structure

You need to know the NEC's organization cold. When you sit down with a clean code book, you should be able to find any article within 30 seconds based on the table of contents and your knowledge of how the code is structured.

Key Topic Areas

• Grounding and bonding (NEC Article 250)
• Wiring methods and installation (NEC Articles 300–392)
• Overcurrent protection (NEC Article 240)
• Branch circuits, feeders, and services (NEC Articles 210, 215, 220, 225, 230)
• Motors and generators (NEC Article 430)
• Conductor sizing and ampacity (NEC Article 310, Table 310.16)
• Box fill calculations (NEC Article 314)
• Special occupancies and equipment (NEC Articles 500–590)

Study Strategy for Hawaii Specifically

1. Memorize the NEC table of contents — you can't tab a book you don't own, so you need to internalize the code's structure
2. Practice with a clean NEC — if you've been studying with a tabbed copy, switch to an unmarked one for your final weeks of preparation
3. Time yourself — 70 questions in 3 hours gives you ~2.5 minutes per question. Code lookups in an unfamiliar book eat time fast
4. Focus on calculations — box fill, conductor sizing, voltage drop, and load calculations require knowing both the formulas and the right tables
5. Learn the index — the NEC's index is your best friend when you can't use tabs

GetLicenseReady offers 1,600+ NEC practice questions with step-by-step explanations. Each question references the specific NEC article so you build the lookup skills the Hawaii exam demands — especially critical when you're working with an unfurnished code book. Start with 25 free questions — no credit card required.

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How to Apply

1. Complete UH Community College coursework — 240 hours for EJ, 200 for EJI, 120 for EJS, or 80 for EM
2. Document your work experience — employer verification of hours and scope of work
3. Submit your application to the Board of Electricians and Plumbers at least 7 days before a Board meeting date
4. Receive Board approval and your exam eligibility notification
5. Register with PSI at test-takers.psiexams.com/hitrade
6. Pass the exam with 70% or higher
7. Pay the license fee ($102–$306 depending on triennial cycle timing)

Board of Electricians and Plumbers 335 Merchant Street, Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 578-3222 Website: cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/electrician

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FAQ

What agency licenses electricians in Hawaii?

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) Division, through the Board of Electricians and Plumbers, licenses all electricians under HRS Chapter 448E.

Does Hawaii have reciprocity with other states?

No. Hawaii does not have reciprocity agreements with any state. All applicants must pass the Hawaii PSI exam regardless of existing licenses elsewhere.

How many questions are on the Hawaii electrician exam?

The Hawaii electrician exam has 70 multiple-choice questions with a 3-hour time limit. It is open-book, but PSI furnishes the NEC — you cannot bring your own code book.

How much does a Hawaii electrician license cost?

The application fee is $40 and the exam fee is $95. The initial license fee ranges from $102 to $306 depending on where you are in the 3-year triennial cycle.

What are the continuing education requirements for Hawaii electricians?

Hawaii electricians must complete continuing competency coursework on NEC updates every 3 years through Honolulu Community College or the Hawaii Electricians Training Fund. Maintenance electricians are exempt.

What is the difference between a Supervising Electrician and a Master Electrician in Hawaii?

Hawaii uses the title "Supervising Electrician" (ES) instead of "Master Electrician." The ES license authorizes you to direct, supervise, and perform all electrical work — it's functionally equivalent to a master license in other states.

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Start Preparing Today

Hawaii's electrician exam is 70 open-book questions, 3 hours, 70% to pass — but with a clean NEC you can't tab or annotate. That makes NEC navigation skills more important here than in almost any other state.

GetLicenseReady includes 1,600+ NEC practice questions with step-by-step explanations. Every question references the specific NEC article, so you build the exact code lookup skills the Hawaii exam demands. Start with 25 free questions — no credit card required. Try free questions now.

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All requirements, fees, and procedures in this guide are drawn from the Hawaii DCCA PVL at cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/electrician, HRS Chapter 448E, and HAR Chapter 16-80. Verified as of April 2026. Hawaii licensing requirements are subject to change — always confirm at cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/electrician before submitting any application.

• Compare electrician license requirements by state

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Related Guides:

• What's actually on the electrician license test?
• How to pass the electrician exam: 6 NEC articles that cover 60%
• Grounding vs bonding: the NEC 250 question most get wrong
• Box fill calculations: the #1 reason electricians fail NEC 314.16
• Journeyman vs master electrician: what's the difference?