How to become a real estate agent in Hawaii

This page is independent of any school or brokerage. Requirements change (the Branch's general information sheet is its January 2021 revision and the flowchart its August 2020 revision, both republished in January 2026; the FAQ describes the 2026 renewal; PSI's Hawaii bulletin and the license fee schedule could not be read for this guide), so each section names the official page it was read from and the date. If a figure below disagrees with the Commission's page today, the board is right and this page is stale: the date tells you how stale.

1Hawaii real estate license requirements

• Age and status: at least 18 by the examination date, a high school diploma or equivalent by that date, and U.S. citizenship, nationality or work authorization, with a Social Security number for the license to issue.
• Course: a 60-hour Hawaii salesperson pre-licensing course at a registered school; the completion certificate is valid two years, and a pre-license education equivalency certificate can replace it.
• Exam: a pass on the Hawaii salesperson examination given by PSI, uniform and state sections, booked directly with PSI.
• Reputation: a reputation for or record of competency, honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity and fair dealing; candidates with a potentially disqualifying history can request a preliminary decision from the Commission first.
• Deadline: a complete license application within two years of passing the examination; fees and forms are those in effect at filing.
• Brokerage: employment or association with a current, active Hawaii brokerage firm or sole proprietor to hold the license on active status.

See how Hawaii compares with every other state on the requirements by state table.

Source: DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, General Information for Real Estate License (GENINFO_210119, PDF), read September 9, 2026; Hawaii Real Estate Branch, General Steps on Becoming a Hawaii Licensed Real Estate Salesperson (flowchart revised August 27, 2020, PDF), read September 9, 2026.

2Steps to get your Hawaii real estate license, in order

1. Complete the 60-hour course at a registered school

   The Branch publishes the registered schools and course schedule; the school completion certificate lasts two years.

2. Book and pass the PSI exam

   Reserve by phone, online or fax with PSI, which sends a confirmation number; walk-in testing is not offered, and the Candidate Information Bulletin with exam dates goes to those who finish the course or hold an equivalency.

3. Apply within two years of passing

   Passing candidates receive a score report and application instructions at the test center; the complete application, with the fees in effect at filing, goes to the Real Estate Branch by mail or in person, and the license issues on approval.

4. Associate with a brokerage for active status

   An applicant not yet with a Hawaii brokerage or sole proprietor is licensed on inactive status until a change form is filed.

Source: Hawaii Real Estate Branch, General Steps on Becoming a Hawaii Licensed Real Estate Salesperson (flowchart revised August 27, 2020, PDF), read September 9, 2026; DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, General Information for Real Estate License (GENINFO_210119, PDF), read September 9, 2026.

3How much a Hawaii real estate license costs

The Branch's documents state that fees are those in effect at filing and warn of a $25 charge for a dishonored payment; the salesperson fee schedule was not on the documents read for this guide, PSI's exam fee is from its candidate bulletin, and tuition is set by the schools.

Source: DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, General Information for Real Estate License (GENINFO_210119, PDF), read September 9, 2026; PSI Services, Hawaii Real Estate Commission Real Estate Salesperson, Broker, and Instructor Examination Candidate Information Bulletin (Copyright 2026, Effective 1/16/2026), the Candidate Bulletin linked from PSI's HI Real Estate Salesperson test page, read October 19, 2026; DCCA Hawaii, Real Estate Licensing, Renewals and Education FAQs (2026 renewal cycle), read September 9, 2026.

4How long it takes to become a real estate agent in Hawaii

The fixed parts are 60 course hours, one PSI sitting, and an application within two years of passing that the Branch reviews before issuing; the Branch publishes no typical review time on the documents read for this guide, and a license issued in an even year is deemed to have met that biennium's continuing education. Those parts come from the Branch's own documents, not a school's marketing:

• Course: 60 hours at a registered school, at its pace.
• Exam: one PSI sitting, uniform and state sections, by reservation only.
• Application: within two years of passing; no review time is published.
• First biennium: a license issued in an even-numbered year counts as having met the 20 hours of continuing education for that biennium.

Source: Hawaii Real Estate Branch, General Steps on Becoming a Hawaii Licensed Real Estate Salesperson (flowchart revised August 27, 2020, PDF), read September 9, 2026; DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, General Information for Real Estate License (GENINFO_210119, PDF), read September 9, 2026.

5The Hawaii real estate exam

The salesperson exam is 130 questions in 4 hours, uniform and Hawaii state sections given by PSI Services at its test centers, by reservation. You need 70%, the passing score PSI lists for salespersons to pass. A score report and license application instructions are issued at the test center. Retakes: the Branch's documents set no waiting period or attempt limit; PSI's scheduling terms apply.

Pass rate

The Commission publishes no pass rate for the salesperson exam on the documents read for this guide, so none is shown here.

Source: DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, General Information for Real Estate License (GENINFO_210119, PDF), read September 9, 2026; PSI Services, Hawaii Real Estate Commission Real Estate Salesperson, Broker, and Instructor Examination Candidate Information Bulletin (Copyright 2026, Effective 1/16/2026), the Candidate Bulletin linked from PSI's HI Real Estate Salesperson test page, read October 19, 2026; Hawaii Real Estate Branch, General Steps on Becoming a Hawaii Licensed Real Estate Salesperson (flowchart revised August 27, 2020, PDF), read September 9, 2026; DCCA Hawaii, Examination Candidates and License Applicants, read September 9, 2026.

6Reciprocity: already licensed in another state?

None. The Branch states that Hawaii does not reciprocate with any other state or country. A current licensee elsewhere who passed the uniform portion of their state's exam can apply for an equivalency to the uniform section of the Hawaii exam and sit only the state section, and may also seek a pre-license education equivalency; each certificate lasts two years.

Source: DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, General Information for Real Estate License (GENINFO_210119, PDF), read September 9, 2026; DCCA Hawaii, Real Estate Licensing, Renewals and Education FAQs (2026 renewal cycle), read September 9, 2026.

7Renewal and continuing education

The license runs two years, with every license expiring December 31 of even-numbered years. To renew you complete 20 clock hours of approved continuing education within the license period.

First renewal: no continuing education for the biennium in which a salesperson license was first issued in an even-numbered year; otherwise the same 20 hours.

Later renewals: 20 hours per biennium from the Commission's approved list: mandatory core courses Part A and Part B (3 hours each) plus 14 elective hours, completed before renewing; without it the license renews inactive, and a license not renewed by December 31 is forfeited on January 1. The renewal fee was not on the documents read for this guide.

Source: DCCA Hawaii, Real Estate Licensing, Renewals and Education FAQs (2026 renewal cycle), read September 9, 2026; Hawaii Real Estate Branch, General Steps on Becoming a Hawaii Licensed Real Estate Salesperson (flowchart revised August 27, 2020, PDF), read September 9, 2026.

8How much real estate agents make in Hawaii

The only independent, dated wage figure for agents is the Bureau of Labor Statistics' occupational survey. For Hawaii, release May 2025:

BLS counts agents paid as employees and reports wages, not the commissions of self-employed agents, so these are a floor for the occupation rather than what a typical commissioned agent takes home.

Every state is ranked on the same survey on the salary by state page.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025, Real Estate Sales Agents (41-9022), Hawaii, read September 8, 2026.

9After the license: choosing a brokerage in Hawaii

A new salesperson license is only usable under a broker, so the next decision is which brokerage. On September 5, 2026, 2,638 Hawaii agents had a published brokerage profile; the largest single company was Coldwell Banker Island Properties with 657 of them, and the largest brand was Coldwell Banker with 1,173. Ask each brokerage for its commission split and fees in writing before you sign.

Source: Realty Census, Hawaii count and brokerage ranking, September 5, 2026 (realtycensus.com/hawaii/), read September 9, 2026.

One thing worth knowing before your profile goes live: a brokerage profile page is public, and the contact details on it get collected and sold as marketing lists, such as the Hawaii list from US Realtor List, which is why vendor email tends to start the week an agent's profile first appears. Any list of this kind should tell you how to come off it, and a reputable one acts on that request.

10Pre-license schools in Hawaii

The Commission registers the pre-license schools and continuing education providers and publishes both lists with course schedules; only a registered school's certificate, or an equivalency certificate, admits you to the exam. The list is at the Real Estate Branch's licensing and education page.

The full list, alphabetical with what the Commission publishes about each provider, is on the Hawaii real estate schools page.

This page carries no affiliate links. The Hawaii schools page says at its top whether it carries any; schools there are alphabetical, never ordered by commission.

Source: Hawaii Real Estate Branch, General Steps on Becoming a Hawaii Licensed Real Estate Salesperson (flowchart revised August 27, 2020, PDF), read September 9, 2026.

Questions people ask about becoming an agent in Hawaii

How long does it take to become a real estate agent in Hawaii?

The fixed parts are 60 course hours, one PSI sitting, and an application within two years of passing that the Branch reviews before issuing; the Branch publishes no typical review time on the documents read for this guide, and a license issued in an even year is deemed to have met that biennium's continuing education. The course is 60 hours at the school's pace and its certificate lasts two years; the exam is one PSI sitting booked directly; and the application must reach the Branch within two years of passing. No typical review time is published.

How much does it cost to get a real estate license in Hawaii?

$76 to the state and its vendors ($61 exam, $15 license history), plus tuition for the pre-license course, the application and license fees on the current form and tuition for the 60 hours, which the schools set.

What is the pass rate for the Hawaii real estate exam?

The Commission publishes no pass rate for the salesperson exam on the documents read for this guide, so none is shown here.

How much do real estate agents make in Hawaii?

The BLS May 2025 median for real estate sales agents in Hawaii is $46,220 a year, with the middle half earning between $43,810 and $64,890. BLS counts agents paid as employees and reports wages, not the commissions of self-employed agents, so these are a floor for the occupation rather than what a typical commissioned agent takes home.

Does Hawaii have real estate license reciprocity?

No. Hawaii reciprocates with no state, but an out-of-state licensee can apply for equivalency to the uniform exam section and to the 60-hour course, then sit the Hawaii state section.

Sources and dates