Hawaii Electrical License Requirements

Official classification: Journeyworker Electrician (EJ) / Supervising Electrician (ES) — individual licenses; C-13 Electrical Contractor classification · Issued by the Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (individual licenses) and Hawaii Contractors License Board (C-13 contractor classification) — both under DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division.

⚡ ElectricianHI ✔ Verified 2026-09-20

In Hawaii, electricians must hold the Journeyworker Electrician (EJ) / Supervising Electrician (ES) — individual licenses; C-13 Electrical Contractor classification, issued by the Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (individual licenses) and Hawaii Contractors License Board (C-13 contractor classification) — both under DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, and a surety bond may be required at the licensing board's discretion. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed electrician in Hawaii

Follow these steps to earn your Journeyworker Electrician (EJ) / Supervising Electrician (ES) — individual licenses; C-13 Electrical Contractor classification. Every figure is verified against the Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (individual licenses) and Hawaii Contractors License Board (C-13 contractor classification) — both under DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division; full detail for each step is further down the page.

1. Build the required experience. EJ: 5 years (minimum 10,000 hours) in residential or commercial electrical work + 240 hours of approved academic coursework at a University of Hawaii Community College. ES: 4 years as a licensed EJ (or equivalent out-of-state licensed journey-worker experience). C-13 contractor RME: 4 years of full-time supervisory experience in the electrical trade within the past 10 years.
2. Be ready to post a bond if the board requires one. Not automatically required: for the C-13 contractor license, the Contractors License Board may require a surety bond of an individual applicant or licensee based on its review of the financial statement and scope of work per HRS §444-16.5. If required, the bond must be maintained continuously; lapse causes automatic license forfeiture. Licensees must maintain the bond for at least 1 year before requesting a waiver. Individual EJ/ES licenses do not require a bond.
3. Check the insurance rules. Liability: C-13 contractor: Minimum $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence bodily injury (HAR §16-77-34). Individual EJ/ES: Not required. Property damage: C-13 contractor: Minimum $50,000 per occurrence. Individual EJ/ES: Not required. Workers' compensation: C-13 contractor: Required if entity has employees; exemptions for qualifying sole-owner entities with no other employees (HRS Chapter 386 exclusion). Individual EJ/ES: Not applicable.
4. Clear the background check. C-13 contractor applicants must disclose prior disciplinary actions, criminal convictions related to contracting, or outstanding judgments. Board reviews history as part of a good-character assessment (honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity, fair dealing required under HRS §444). Individual EJ/ES: Not specified by the Board of Electricians and Plumbers.
5. Meet the credit / financial requirement. C-13 contractor: Complete credit report covering at least the previous 5 years required with application. Individual EJ/ES: Not required.
6. Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (individual licenses) and Hawaii Contractors License Board (C-13 contractor classification) — both under DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division — $40 (EJ/ES individual license); $50 (C-13 contractor application, non-refundable) application fee, plus a EJ/ES: $306 (year 1 of 3-year cycle), $204 (year 2), $102 (year 3); C-13 contractor entity/sole proprietor: $633 or $494 depending on licensing window; C-13 RME: $438 or $334 license fee. Processing time: C-13 contractor: Applications must be submitted by the first Tuesday of the month two months prior to the target board meeting; total process typically 3–4 months; applicants have 6 months after Board approval to pass both exam parts. EJ/ES individual license: Board must approve the application before PSI exam registration.
7. Pass the exam for the license class you are applying for. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
8. Keep the license active. Renewal: Individual EJ/ES license: 3 years (renew by June 30; next electrician cycle 2026, 2029). C-13 contractor classification: 2 years (renew by September 30 of even-numbered years). Continuing education: EJ/ES: Must complete a continuing competency course on the 2020 National Electrical Code updates each 3-year renewal cycle (offered by Honolulu Community College or the Hawaii Electricians Training Fund). New licenses issued within 1 year of expiration are exempt for that cycle. C-13 contractor classification: No continuing education requirement specified by CLB.

For the general path in every state, see the Electrician guide →

Hawaii electrician license lookup

To confirm an electrician is properly licensed in Hawaii — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

License types

• Journeyworker Electrician (EJ) — Licensed to perform residential and commercial electrical wiring work as an employee; does not authorize contracting. Requires 5 years / 10,000 hours experience + 240 hours UH Community College coursework.
• Supervising Electrician (ES) — Supervises electrical work at a jobsite; required to serve as the qualifying individual (RME) for a C-13 electrical contractor entity. Requires 4 years as a licensed EJ.
• C-13 Electrical Contractor (CLB classification) — Contractor classification to bid, contract, and be responsible for electrical work under 600 volts phase-to-phase including wiring, fixtures, conduits, poles, and raceways. RME must hold an ES or equivalent license. Issued by Contractors License Board under HRS Chapter 444.

Requirements at a glance

What a Hawaii electrician license costs

Exams

Renewing a Hawaii electrician license

The Journeyworker Electrician (EJ) / Supervising Electrician (ES) — individual licenses; C-13 Electrical Contractor classification renews on a fixed cycle set by the Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (individual licenses) and Hawaii Contractors License Board (C-13 contractor classification) — both under DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. Finish the continuing-education requirement before you file — boards generally will not process a renewal without it. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Local / municipal notes

An individual electrician license (EJ or ES) does NOT authorize contracting. A separate C-13 contractor classification is required to bid and contract for electrical work (HRS §444). The C-13 RME must be a licensed Supervising Electrician (ES) or equivalent. Both boards are under the DCCA PVL Division but are separate regulatory bodies.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/electrician
cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/contractor
cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/electrician/electrician-continuing-competency-requirements
cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/electrician/application-deadline-examination-dates
cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/contractor/maintain-bond-requirements
cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/contractor/maintain-and-update-insurance-requirements

Other Hawaii contractor licenses

Electrician licensing in other states