Licensing

Electrician Licensing in Hawaii

Hawaii licenses electricians statewide. The journeyman-level credential is the Journey Worker Electrician License (EJ), issued by the Hawaii DCCA Board of Electricians and Plumbers. It requires at least 10,000 hours of experience.

Source: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, checked 2026-10-07

Before you start: No state registration is required before you start electrical work in Hawaii. You can start under the supervision of a licensed electrician without registering first.

Official source · Checked 2026-10-07

Page last reviewed 2026-10-05 against official sources. Confirm with the issuing authority before applying.

How Hawaii's system works

The licenses covered on this page include seven individual electrician licenses—EJ, ES, EJI, ESI, EJS, ESS, and EM—and three contractor license types. Journey-worker licenses authorize work within their stated scope, while supervising licenses also authorize direction and supervision. The EM license is limited to maintenance of existing systems.

Credential-specific requirements

Requirements differ by credential. Expand any credential for the work or business activity you plan to perform. Issued by Hawaii DCCA Board of Electricians and Plumbers unless noted.

Journey Worker Electrician License (EJ) Journey worker license

Issuing authority: Hawaii DCCA Board of Electricians and Plumbers →
Scope of work: May perform electrical work, which HAR §16-80-3 defines as the installation, alteration, reconstruction, or repair of electrical wiring. Apprentices, helpers, and other unlicensed persons may do such work only under the supervision and within the scope of a journey worker or supervising electrician licensee.
Experience or qualification: Be at least 18; document five years and at least 10,000 hours in residential or commercial wiring; and complete 240 hours of electrical academic coursework accepted by a University of Hawaii Community College. The June 2026 application requires a notarized Experience Verification – Electrician Only form from each licensed electrician under whom the applicant trained; if that electrician is licensed out of state, a verification of that license showing its effective date must be attached. A contractor license is not acceptable on that form, except (1) where the state in which the experience was gained does not require journey worker, supervising or master licensure and only requires a contractor's license, in which case the licensed contractor may sign and contractor-license verification covering those dates is required; or (2) a self-employed applicant who held an electrical contractor or other appropriate license may self-attest with verification that the license was valid for the period claimed. The application does not limit the signer to a Hawaii EJ or ES license.
Examination: Pass the Hawaii Journey Worker Electrician examination after Board approval.
Initial fee: $40 application fee; a separate triennium-prorated license fee is assessed after the examination is passed. PSI examination charges are separate.
Renewal: Renew by June 30 every three years. The current Board schedule lists $306 active renewal and $12 inactive renewal. Active licensees must satisfy the Board's continuing-competency requirement; a new license issued within one year of expiration has a one-time first-renewal exemption.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Supervising Electrician License (ES) Supervising electrician license

Issuing authority: Hawaii DCCA Board of Electricians and Plumbers →
Scope of work: May direct, supervise, and perform electrical work.
Experience or qualification: Be at least 18 and document four years of experience as a licensed journey worker electrician, or equivalent experience. Under HAR §16-80-3, equivalent experience includes, but is not limited to, licensure as a journey worker or supervising electrician in another county, state, or country with substantially equivalent licensing requirements. The June 2026 application does not require the four years to have been served as a Hawaii-registered EJ.
Examination: Pass the Hawaii Supervising Electrician examination after Board approval.
Initial fee: $40 application fee; a separate triennium-prorated license fee is assessed after the examination is passed. PSI examination charges are separate.
Renewal: Renew by June 30 every three years. The current Board schedule lists $306 active renewal and $12 inactive renewal. Active licensees must satisfy the Board's continuing-competency requirement; a new license issued within one year of expiration has a one-time first-renewal exemption.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Contractor — Responsible Managing Employee License (CT) Contractor qualifier license Hawaii DCCA Contractors License Board

Issuing authority: Hawaii DCCA Contractors License Board →
Scope of work: Electrical authority is limited to the classifications on the CT license: C-13 Electrical covers systems under 600 volts phase-to-phase and includes C-15 and C-60; C-15 Electronic Systems covers listed electronic equipment and controls but excludes conduit installation. HAR §16-77-32(d) provides that a specialty licensee automatically holds the subclassifications of its particular specialty; C-15a and C-15b are listed under C-15 in the HAR chapter 16-77 exhibit, but the exhibit's C-15 entry does not itself name them, so confirm with the Contractors License Board whether a C-15 license carries C-15a and C-15b; C-15a Fire and Burglar Alarm covers central fire and burglar alarm systems but excludes conduit installation; C-15b Telecommunications covers telephone, computer, data, cabling, wiring, and fiber optics but excludes conduit installation; C-60 Solar Power Systems covers photovoltaic panels, batteries, controls, and related low-voltage DC wiring; C-62 Pole and Line covers poles and lines at 600 volts phase-to-phase or more, including pole-mounted transformers, street and highway lighting, traffic signals, and C-63 work; and C-63 High Voltage Electrical covers systems over 600 volts phase-to-phase. This qualifier credential does not authorize its holder to contract independently; the RME directly manages and supervises classifications through the employing entity.
Experience or qualification: Be at least 18, document at least four years of supervisory experience within the preceding ten years for each requested classification, and be employed by a licensed contracting entity as its RME.
Examination: The qualifying individual must pass the Hawaii contractor business-and-law and classification-specific trade examinations unless HAR §16-77-41 applies. An examination is not required when the applicant applies for the same classification in which the applicant previously qualified by examination and either the written-examination qualification occurred within four years before application or the application is made within four years after the applicant last held that license in good standing or inactive status.
Initial fee: $50 RME application fee and $260 license fee. The current form's fee block also lists CRF $74/$148 and 1/2 Ren $30; the form does not spell out these codes. Examination fees are paid separately to the testing agency.
Renewal: Renew by September 30 of every even-numbered year. The current active RME renewal is $208 and the current inactive renewal is $160; authority depends on the RME's approved employment relationship.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Contractor — Entity License (CT) Contractor entity license Hawaii DCCA Contractors License Board

Issuing authority: Hawaii DCCA Contractors License Board →
Scope of work: The entity business may contract in its approved classifications only while it employs a separately licensed principal RME. Electrical authority is limited to the classifications on the CT license: C-13 Electrical covers systems under 600 volts phase-to-phase and includes C-15 and C-60; C-15 Electronic Systems covers listed electronic equipment and controls but excludes conduit installation. HAR §16-77-32(d) provides that a specialty licensee automatically holds the subclassifications of its particular specialty; C-15a and C-15b are listed under C-15 in the HAR chapter 16-77 exhibit, but the exhibit's C-15 entry does not itself name them, so confirm with the Contractors License Board whether a C-15 license carries C-15a and C-15b; C-15a Fire and Burglar Alarm covers central fire and burglar alarm systems but excludes conduit installation; C-15b Telecommunications covers telephone, computer, data, cabling, wiring, and fiber optics but excludes conduit installation; C-60 Solar Power Systems covers photovoltaic panels, batteries, controls, and related low-voltage DC wiring; C-62 Pole and Line covers poles and lines at 600 volts phase-to-phase or more, including pole-mounted transformers, street and highway lighting, traffic signals, and C-63 work; and C-63 High Voltage Electrical covers systems over 600 volts phase-to-phase.
Experience or qualification: Register the entity with the Business Registration Division and employ a licensed principal RME who has at least four years of supervisory experience within the past ten years in each requested classification. The RME files a separate application if not already licensed.
Examination: The qualifying individual must pass the Hawaii contractor business-and-law and classification-specific trade examinations unless HAR §16-77-41 applies. An examination is not required when the applicant applies for the same classification in which the applicant previously qualified by examination and either the written-examination qualification occurred within four years before application or the application is made within four years after the applicant last held that license in good standing or inactive status.
Initial fee: $50 entity application fee and $260 license fee. The current form's fee block also lists RF $150, EF $10, CRF $74/$148, and 1/2 Ren $95; the form does not spell out these codes. The RME files a separate application with its own fees.
Renewal: Renew by September 30 of every even-numbered year. The current active renewal is $338 for an entity and the current inactive renewal is $160; maintain required insurance, tax, place-of-business, and RME filings.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Contractor — Sole Proprietor License (CT) Sole proprietor contractor license Hawaii DCCA Contractors License Board

Issuing authority: Hawaii DCCA Contractors License Board →
Scope of work: Electrical authority is limited to the classifications on the CT license: C-13 Electrical covers systems under 600 volts phase-to-phase and includes C-15 and C-60; C-15 Electronic Systems covers listed electronic equipment and controls but excludes conduit installation. HAR §16-77-32(d) provides that a specialty licensee automatically holds the subclassifications of its particular specialty; C-15a and C-15b are listed under C-15 in the HAR chapter 16-77 exhibit, but the exhibit's C-15 entry does not itself name them, so confirm with the Contractors License Board whether a C-15 license carries C-15a and C-15b; C-15a Fire and Burglar Alarm covers central fire and burglar alarm systems but excludes conduit installation; C-15b Telecommunications covers telephone, computer, data, cabling, wiring, and fiber optics but excludes conduit installation; C-60 Solar Power Systems covers photovoltaic panels, batteries, controls, and related low-voltage DC wiring; C-62 Pole and Line covers poles and lines at 600 volts phase-to-phase or more, including pole-mounted transformers, street and highway lighting, traffic signals, and C-63 work; and C-63 High Voltage Electrical covers systems over 600 volts phase-to-phase.
Experience or qualification: Be at least 18 and document at least four years of supervisory experience within the preceding ten years for each requested classification; submit a financial statement, credit report, and tax clearance; carry liability and workers' compensation insurance; and maintain a place of business in Hawaii.
Examination: The qualifying individual must pass the Hawaii contractor business-and-law and classification-specific trade examinations unless HAR §16-77-41 applies. An examination is not required when the applicant applies for the same classification in which the applicant previously qualified by examination and either the written-examination qualification occurred within four years before application or the application is made within four years after the applicant last held that license in good standing or inactive status.
Initial fee: $50 sole-proprietor application fee and $260 license fee. The current form's fee block also lists RF $150, EF $10, CRF $74/$148, and 1/2 Ren $95; the form does not spell out these codes. Examination fees are paid separately to the testing agency.
Renewal: Renew by September 30 of every even-numbered year. The current active sole-proprietor renewal is $338 and the current inactive renewal is $160; maintain required insurance, tax, and place-of-business filings.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Journey Worker Industrial Electrician License (EJI) Industrial journey worker license

Issuing authority: Hawaii DCCA Board of Electricians and Plumbers →
Scope of work: —
Experience or qualification: Be at least 18; document four years and at least 8,000 hours in industrial electrical work; and complete 200 hours of electrical academic coursework accepted by a University of Hawaii Community College.
Examination: Pass the Hawaii Journey Worker Industrial Electrician examination after Board approval.
Initial fee: $40 application fee; a separate triennium-prorated license fee is assessed after the examination is passed. PSI examination charges are separate.
Renewal: Renew by June 30 every three years. The current Board schedule lists $306 active renewal and $12 inactive renewal. Active licensees must satisfy the Board's continuing-competency requirement; a new license issued within one year of expiration has a one-time first-renewal exemption.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Supervising Industrial Electrician License (ESI) Supervising industrial electrician license

Issuing authority: Hawaii DCCA Board of Electricians and Plumbers →
Scope of work: —
Experience or qualification: Be at least 18 and document three years of experience as a licensed journey worker industrial electrician, or equivalent experience. The June 2026 application says that, for supervising electrician categories, equivalent experience means having been licensed as a journey worker or supervising level electrician (EJ, EJS, ESS) for at least four years in another county, state, or country with substantially equivalent requirements. The application's note lists EJ, EJS, and ESS licensure and does not mention industrial licenses; it is reproduced as printed. Confirm with the Board how it applies to this license.
Examination: Pass the Hawaii Supervising Industrial Electrician examination after Board approval.
Initial fee: $40 application fee; a separate triennium-prorated license fee is assessed after the examination is passed. PSI examination charges are separate.
Renewal: Renew by June 30 every three years. The current Board schedule lists $306 active renewal and $12 inactive renewal. Active licensees must satisfy the Board's continuing-competency requirement; a new license issued within one year of expiration has a one-time first-renewal exemption.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Journey Worker Specialty Electrician License (EJS) Specialty journey worker license

Issuing authority: Hawaii DCCA Board of Electricians and Plumbers →
Scope of work: May install, repair, alter, and maintain the defined specialty systems. The specialty scope covers electronic equipment; sound/public-address and communications systems other than equipment and systems for a single-family or two-family dwelling; master community radio and television receiving antenna systems; sound-recording systems other than systems for a single-family or two-family dwelling; burglar and fire alarm systems; low-voltage remote controls other than controls for a single-family or two-family dwelling; and low-voltage communication signal systems. Attachment of lighting and power circuits is excluded.
Experience or qualification: Be at least 18; document three years and at least 6,000 hours in the trade; and complete 120 hours of electrical academic coursework accepted by a University of Hawaii Community College.
Examination: Pass the Hawaii Journey Worker Specialty Electrician examination after Board approval.
Initial fee: $40 application fee; a separate triennium-prorated license fee is assessed after the examination is passed. PSI examination charges are separate.
Renewal: Renew by June 30 every three years. The current Board schedule lists $306 active renewal and $12 inactive renewal. Active licensees must satisfy the Board's continuing-competency requirement; a new license issued within one year of expiration has a one-time first-renewal exemption.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Supervising Specialty Electrician License (ESS) Supervising specialty electrician license

Issuing authority: Hawaii DCCA Board of Electricians and Plumbers →
Scope of work: May direct, supervise, and perform the EJS specialty electrical scope. The specialty scope covers electronic equipment; sound/public-address and communications systems other than equipment and systems for a single-family or two-family dwelling; master community radio and television receiving antenna systems; sound-recording systems other than systems for a single-family or two-family dwelling; burglar and fire alarm systems; low-voltage remote controls other than controls for a single-family or two-family dwelling; and low-voltage communication signal systems. Attachment of lighting and power circuits is excluded.
Experience or qualification: Be at least 18 and document two years of experience as a licensed journey worker specialty electrician, or equivalent experience. Under HAR §16-80-3, equivalent experience includes, but is not limited to, licensure as a journey worker specialty or supervising specialty electrician in another county, state, or country with substantially equivalent licensing requirements. The June 2026 application says that, for supervising electrician categories, equivalent experience means having been licensed as a journey worker or supervising level electrician (EJ, EJS, ESS) for at least four years in another county, state, or country with substantially equivalent requirements. HAR §16-80-3 does not state a duration; the application's note is reproduced as printed. Confirm with the Board how it applies to this license.
Examination: Pass the Hawaii Supervising Specialty Electrician examination after Board approval.
Initial fee: $40 application fee; a separate triennium-prorated license fee is assessed after the examination is passed. PSI examination charges are separate.
Renewal: Renew by June 30 every three years. The current Board schedule lists $306 active renewal and $12 inactive renewal. Active licensees must satisfy the Board's continuing-competency requirement; a new license issued within one year of expiration has a one-time first-renewal exemption.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Maintenance Electrician License (EM) Maintenance electrician license

Issuing authority: Hawaii DCCA Board of Electricians and Plumbers →
Scope of work: May keep existing electrical installations, apparatus, and equipment in repair and operation and make extensions limited to one branch-circuit capacity for each specific extension. The license does not authorize new installations, new branch-circuit wiring, additions or modifications, service-equipment repairs, or permit-requiring work. Replacements must use the same electrical fixtures, devices, and equipment.
Experience or qualification: Be at least 18 and document either one year of electrical maintenance experience plus 80 accepted coursework hours, or two years of electrical-trade schooling with at least 1,000 hands-on laboratory hours.
Examination: Pass the Hawaii Maintenance Electrician examination after Board approval.
Initial fee: $40 application fee; a separate triennium-prorated license fee is assessed after the examination is passed. PSI examination charges are separate.
Renewal: Renew by June 30 every three years. The current Board schedule lists $306 active renewal and $12 inactive renewal. Continuing competency is not required for the EM class.
Official application: Apply / forms →

Licensed in another state?

No reviewed route into Hawaii is listed yet. Ask Hawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division how it treats a license from another state.

Reviewed and found no reciprocity or exam-waiver agreement for licenses from these states. You can still apply through the standard route:

Utah (source 1, source 2, checked 2026-09-17)

Contractor licenses and classifications

Hawaii issues contractor licenses to an entity, a responsible managing employee (RME), or a sole proprietor. Electrical classifications set the kind of work the contractor may perform. The classifications covered here are C-13, C-15, C-15a, C-15b, C-60, C-62, and C-63.

Some broader classifications include narrower work. The HAR chapter 16-77 exhibit says C-13, for systems under 600 volts phase to phase, includes C-15 and C-60, and C-62 includes C-63. HAR §16-77-32(d) says a specialty licensee automatically holds the subclassifications of its particular specialty. C-15a and C-15b are listed under C-15, but the C-15 entry does not name them, so confirm with the Contractors License Board whether C-15 carries C-15a and C-15b. Voltage and conduit limits differ by classification, so check the details for the classification you need.

An entity and its principal RME hold separate licenses. The RME qualifies and manages work for the employing licensed entity but cannot use the RME license to contract independently. A sole proprietor qualifies personally, with the applicant's own supervisory experience and examination.

Worker and contractor authority are separate

An electrician license under Chapter 448E does not authorize contracting. A contractor license under Chapter 444 does not replace the appropriate individual electrician license for a person performing electrical work.

Other permits and exceptions

Supervised apprentice or helper status, inactive status, license restoration, examination and out-of-state experience routes, additional-classification filings, and county permits are not separate occupational licenses.

Before you apply

Check the current scope, application steps, fees, renewal requirements, and license status with Hawaii DCCA. County permits and project approvals may still be required even when the appropriate state licenses are in place. HAR chapter 16-80 describes the work of the journey worker, supervising, specialty, and maintenance electrician licenses but not the industrial licenses (EJI and ESI); confirm industrial scope with the Board. This page was re-verified on October 5, 2026 against the Board of Electricians and Plumbers pages, the June 2026 application, HAR chapters 16-80 and 16-77, and the contractor application forms.

View Application Information → Hawaii PVL License Search →

Cite this page

Title: Electrician Licensing in Hawaii
URL: https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/hawaii
Information checked: 2026-10-05

Suggested citation: Electrician Licensing in Hawaii. Trades Directory. https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/hawaii (information checked 2026-10-05).

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