Hawaii HVAC License Requirements

Official classification: C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor / C-40 Refrigeration Contractor · Issued by the Hawaii Contractors License Board (CLB), DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division.

❄️ HVACHI ✔ Verified 2026-09-20

In Hawaii, HVAC contractors must hold the C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor / C-40 Refrigeration Contractor, issued by the Hawaii Contractors License Board (CLB), 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 HVAC contractor in Hawaii

Hawaii licenses HVAC contractors through the Contractors License Board (CLB) under the C-52 classification (add C-40 if you'll also do commercial refrigeration work). The steps below follow the Board's published application requirements.

Decide whether you need C-52 alone, or both C-52 and C-40 if your work includes commercial refrigeration or cold storage equipment.
Document 4 years of full-time supervisory experience (as a journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor) in the trade within the past 10 years, backed by at least 3 notarized certificates and a Chronological History of Projects form.
If the license will be held by a business rather than a licensed individual working alone, name your Responsible Managing Employee (RME).
Pull a credit report covering at least the past 5 years, and get a compiled, reviewed, or audited financial statement from a CPA, dated within the past year. The Board does not accept statements from bookkeepers or tax preparers.
Submit your application by the first Tuesday of the month, two months before the Board meeting you're targeting; the Board only reviews applications at its scheduled meetings.
Receive Board approval, which authorizes you to register for exams. You'll have up to 6 months from Board approval to pass both PSI exams: the C-52 trade exam and the Business and Law exam, each 75% to pass, 80 questions, 3 hours, closed-book.
Once you have Board approval, if the Board requires a surety bond, arrange it. The Board sets the amount on a case-by-case basis based on your financial statement and scope of work.
Get general liability insurance meeting the state minimum ($100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence bodily injury, $50,000 property damage), and workers' compensation if you'll have employees.
Pay the license fee and file proof of your bond (if required) and insurance to activate the license.
Separately, get your federal EPA Section 608 refrigerant-handling certification; this is a federal requirement that sits outside the CLB application entirely.

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

Hawaii HVAC contractor license lookup

To confirm an HVAC contractor 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.

Verify a license now: Search the official mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov database →

License types

C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor — Fabrication, assembly, and installation of warm-air heating systems, air cooling systems, complete air conditioning systems, ventilating systems, piping, controls, building automation, energy management systems, and thermal and acoustical insulation. Primary HVAC classification.
C-40 Refrigeration Contractor — To assemble and install devices, machinery, and units, including temperature insulation units, ducts, blowers, registers, humidity, and thermostatic controls for the control of air temperature below fifty degrees Fahrenheit in refrigerators, refrigerator rooms, and insulated refrigerator spaces; and to construct walk-in refrigerator boxes (HAR 16-77 Exhibit A). Contractors performing both HVAC and commercial refrigeration work must hold both C-52 and C-40 unless scope falls entirely within one classification.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	4 years of full-time supervisory experience (as journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor) in the applicable trade within the past 10 years. Must be documented by at least 3 notarized certificates from employers or professionals with direct knowledge, plus a Chronological History of Projects form.
Application fee	$50 (non-refundable)
License fee	Entity/sole proprietor: $633 (Oct 1 even year – Sept 30 odd year) or $494 (other periods); RME: $438 or $334
Renewal fee	$338 active entity/sole proprietor / $160 inactive; $208 active RME — every 2 years by September 30 of even-numbered years
Renewal period	2 years; licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years.
Continuing education	No continuing education requirement specified by the Contractors License Board for C-52 or C-40 contractor licenses. Federal EPA Section 608 certification (for refrigerant handling) must be maintained separately if working with refrigerants.
Bond required	Not automatically required: 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.
Liability insurance	Minimum $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence bodily injury (HAR §16-77-34)
Property damage	Minimum $50,000 per occurrence
Workers' comp	Required if entity has employees; exemptions available for qualifying sole-owner entities with no other employees (HRS Chapter 386 exclusion)
Background check	Applicants must disclose prior disciplinary actions, criminal convictions related to contracting, or outstanding judgments. Board reviews applicant's history as part of a good-character assessment (honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity, fair dealing required under HRS §444).
Credit requirement	Complete credit report covering at least the previous 5 years required with application. Also requires a current (not more than 1 year old) compiled, reviewed, or audited financial statement with a report from a licensed/certified public accountant (CPA/PA). Statements by bookkeepers or tax preparers are not acceptable.
Reciprocity	None — Hawaii does not have reciprocal licensing agreements with other states. Out-of-state experience counts toward the 4-year supervisory requirement if properly documented with notarized certificates. · other states' agreements
Processing time	Applications must be submitted by the first Tuesday of the month two months before the target Board meeting; total process typically 3–4 months; applicants have 6 months after Board approval to pass both exam parts.

Exams

C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning — Trade Exam	Provider: PSI Services LLC (test-takers.psiexams.com/hitrade; (833) 333-4754) · Passing: 75%; 80 questions; 3 hours; closed-book · Fee: $75 per attempt
C-52 / C-40 — Business and Law Exam (required for all contractor classifications)	Provider: PSI Services LLC · Passing: 75%; 80 questions; 3 hours; closed-book · Fee: $75 per attempt

Renewing a Hawaii HVAC contractor license

The C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor / C-40 Refrigeration Contractor renews on a fixed cycle set by the Hawaii Contractors License Board (CLB), DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	2 years; licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years.
Renewal fee	$338 active entity/sole proprietor / $160 inactive; $208 active RME — every 2 years by September 30 of even-numbered years
Continuing education	No continuing education requirement specified by the Contractors License Board for C-52 or C-40 contractor licenses. Federal EPA Section 608 certification (for refrigerant handling) must be maintained separately if working with refrigerants.
Where to renew	Hawaii Contractors License Board (CLB), DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division

Local / municipal notes

EPA Section 608 Universal or Type II/III certification is required under federal law before handling refrigerants; this is a federal requirement separate from the Hawaii C-52/C-40 state license. Contractors doing both commercial refrigeration and HVAC must hold both C-52 and C-40 classifications unless scope is limited to one category.

Upfront costs, itemized

A Hawaii HVAC license involves fees to the CLB and a separate exam vendor. A surety bond may be required by the Board; the amount is set on a case-by-case basis if the Board requires one.

Cost	Paid to	Amount
Application fee	Contractors License Board	$50, non-refundable
License fee	Contractors License Board	Entity/sole proprietor: $633 or $494 depending on where you fall in the 2-year cycle. RME: $438 or $334.
Renewal fee (every 2 years)	Contractors License Board	$338 active entity/sole proprietor ($160 inactive); $208 active RME
Exam fees	PSI	$75 per attempt, per exam (trade exam and Business and Law exam)
Surety bond	A surety/bonding company	Only if required by the Board. Amount set case by case based on your financial statement and scope of work. You pay a premium, a fraction of that coverage amount, not the full coverage amount; the Board does not publish premium rates, and they vary by your financial statement.
General liability insurance	An insurance carrier	Required coverage: $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence bodily injury, $50,000 property damage. This is a minimum limit, not a premium figure.

Frequently asked questions

How do I look up a hvac license in Hawaii?

Search the official license database at mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do hvacs in Hawaii need a surety bond?

Not automatically required: 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.

What experience is required for a Hawaii hvac license?

4 years of full-time supervisory experience (as journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor) in the applicable trade within the past 10 years. Must be documented by at least 3 notarized certificates from employers or professionals with direct knowledge, plus a Chronological History of Projects form.

Is insurance required for hvacs in Hawaii?

Liability: Minimum $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence bodily injury (HAR §16-77-34). Property damage: Minimum $50,000 per occurrence. Workers' compensation: Required if entity has employees; exemptions available for qualifying sole-owner entities with no other employees (HRS Chapter 386 exclusion).

Is a background check required for hvacs in Hawaii?

Background check: Applicants must disclose prior disciplinary actions, criminal convictions related to contracting, or outstanding judgments. Board reviews applicant's history as part of a good-character assessment (honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity, fair dealing required under HRS §444).

Is there a credit or financial requirement for a Hawaii hvac license?

Credit requirement: Complete credit report covering at least the previous 5 years required with application. Also requires a current (not more than 1 year old) compiled, reviewed, or audited financial statement with a report from a licensed/certified public accountant (CPA/PA). Statements by bookkeepers or tax preparers are not acceptable.

How often must a Hawaii hvac license be renewed?

2 years; licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years. Continuing education: No continuing education requirement specified by the Contractors License Board for C-52 or C-40 contractor licenses. Federal EPA Section 608 certification (for refrigerant handling) must be maintained separately if working with refrigerants.

How do I get an HVAC license in Hawaii?

Hawaii licenses HVAC contractors under the C-52 classification through the Contractors License Board. You need 4 years of documented supervisory experience, a CPA-prepared financial statement and credit report, and passing scores on both the C-52 trade exam and the Business and Law exam through PSI. Add the C-40 classification too if your work includes commercial refrigeration.

How much does it cost to get a C-52 HVAC contractor license in Hawaii?

The application fee is $50, and the license fee runs $633 or $494 for an entity or sole proprietor depending on the licensing cycle ($438 or $334 for an RME). Each PSI exam costs $75 per attempt, and you'll also need liability insurance, plus a surety bond if the Board requires one, on top of those board fees.

How long does it take to get a Hawaii HVAC contractor license?

Hawaii's Contractors License Board only reviews applications at its scheduled meetings, so submissions are due by the first Tuesday of the month, two months out. Total processing typically runs 3 to 4 months, and applicants get up to 6 months after Board approval to pass both exam parts.

Do HVAC contractors need a bond in Hawaii?

Not automatically. The Contractors License Board may require a surety bond based on its review of an applicant's or licensee's financial statement and scope of work. If the Board requires a bond, it sets the amount on a case-by-case basis, and the bond must be maintained continuously or the license is automatically forfeited.

Do I need a separate license for commercial refrigeration work in Hawaii?

If your HVAC work includes commercial refrigeration, cold storage equipment, or refrigerated display cases, you need the C-40 Refrigeration Contractor classification in addition to C-52, unless your scope falls entirely within one category. Both classifications are issued by the same Contractors License Board.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-09-20 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Hawaii Contractors License Board (CLB), DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division before applying. This is not legal advice.