How do I get my Hawaii real estate salesperson's license?

General Requirements

A Hawaii salesperson applicant must meet the following criteria before applying for a real estate license:

• Be at least 18 years of age by the exam date
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent by the exam date
• Be a US citizen or an alien authorized to work in the US by the exam date
• A Social Security Number
• Have a reputation for honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity, and competency. 

If you meet the basic qualification, earn your Hawaii real estate salesperson’s license in (4) steps.

Step 1: Complete A 60-hour Hawaii Pre-License Education Course or Equivalent

Hawaii requires you to have pre-licensing education. This can be in the form of:

• A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Majoring in Real Estate or Business from an accredited college or university in the United States.
• A United States Law School Graduate
• Hold an active license within (1) year of application date from a state with similar or superior pre-licensing education requirements
• A Hawaii Pre-licensing Course from an Approved Vendor

If you decide to fulfill your pre-licensing education outside an accredited college or university, you must take the courses from Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs- Real Estate Branch approved education providers. Taking a course from a pre-approved provider is more affordable and faster than receiving a real estate degree.

The pre-license course is 60 hours of instruction covering real estate topics such as:

• An introduction to Hawaiian History
• Laws and Land Use Controls
• Hawai’i Licensing Law
• Agency
• Real Estate Contracts
• Valuation and Market Analysis
• Property Management and Leasing

See the full course curriculum and content outline, updated January 2021.

You can take the courses online or through in-person classes. Once you pass the final exam, you will receive a course completion certificate that is good for two years.

Step 2: Apply for the State Exam

According to Hawaii Statutes, an applicant for a salesperson's license must successfully complete the pre-licensing education and be at least 18 years of age before taking the exam. You will need to present the original pre-licensing education equivalency certificate or course completion certificate at the exam site.

PSI administers the exam on behalf of the Hawaii DCCA-Real Estate Branch. Find a testing center near you by searching the PSI website or referring to the back of the candidate handbook given to all candidates who finish the pre-licensing course.

Visit the PSI website to make an online reservation. First-time users are required to make an account. Online reservations must be made at least 24-hours before the examination date. You may also call (1-855-579-4640) to schedule your exam. Please note if you are taking the exam on the mainland, you’ll need to contact PSI to pay and schedule the exam.

The exam will cost $61 paid to PSI by major credit card.

If you must cancel or change your exam reservation, you must do so 48 hours before the exam by calling (855) 579-4640.  If you do not call to change 48 hours before the exam, you will forfeit your exam fee. Registrars are available Monday-Friday 1:30am-4pm and Saturday & Sunday 3:30am-11:30am HST.

Bring with you to the exam two forms of signature identification. Primary identification must be government-issued, such as a state driver’s license, military ID, or US passport. A secondary ID card can be a US Social Security card, debit or credit card, or another form of primary ID. All identification must be in English.

In addition, bring a valid course completion certificate or equivalency certificate for your proof of pre-licensing education.

Refer to the Hawaii Real Estate Candidate Handbook for information on examination schedules, site locations, exam security, reporting, and preparation.

 

Step 3: Take and Pass the State Exam

The Hawaii state exam is divided into two sections: a general section and a state section. You must take and pass both parts of the exam.

About the salesperson real estate exam sections:

1. The general section allows 150 minutes to answer 80 questions.
2. The State section allows 90 minutes to answer 50 questions. 
3. There may be 5-10 experiential questions that will not count towards your score.

You will need to pass both sections with a minimum 70% score. Immediately upon exam completion, your score will display on screen, and a report will be emailed to you. You must pass both exam sections to pass the overall exam and receive your license application.

There is not a limit to the number of retakes for the Hawaii Real Estate Salesperson Exam. If you fail one section, you can retake just the failed portion as long as it is within two years of passing your course completion certificate date. You must wait 24 hours before rescheduling. You will pay the $61 fee each time you retest.

Step 4: Apply for Your License

Hawaii requires real estate salespersons to apply for your salesperson license within two years of passing your exam. Applications are handed out to candidates at the testing center upon successfully passing the exam.

You may need the following to complete the application:

• Social Security Number
• An official Certification of Licensure less than 90 days old from each state outside Hawaii where you may have been licensed as a real estate broker or salesperson.
• Original "School Completion Certificate," or original "Prelicensing Education Equivalency Certificate for Real Estate License Exam."
• Any background documentation explaining any criminal convictions, charges, or deferred judgments, such as a written explanation of the incident, charging documents, and a sentencing order.

Your specific licensing fee will be printed on your score report. Hawaii renews licenses on a two-year period (biennial), so your fee could vary depending on when you pass the exam. Charges may include:

• Application fee: $25
• License fee $42
• Original license fee: $74 in first year of biennial/ $42 in second year of biennial
• Education fund: $68
• Recovery fund: $84

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs-Real Estate Commission reviews applications at its meetings. Once approved, you are able to practice as a real estate salesperson in Hawaii. Congratulations!