Hawaii General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (DCCA-PVL) Contractors License Board licenses general contractors under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 444 and Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 16 Chapter 77. Hawaii issues three top-level classifications: Class A General Engineering (fixed works requiring specialized engineering knowledge), Class B General Building (structures built for shelter involving two or more unrelated trades), and Class C Specialty. Every applicant must show four years of supervisory experience, pass the PSI trade exam and the PSI business and law exam, and post a $5,000 surety bond.

Regulatory Body Profile

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Contractors License Board (DCCA-PVL) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 444; Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 16 Chapter 77. The Contractors License Board licenses Class A General Engineering, Class B General Building, and Class C Specialty contractors statewide. The DCCA-PVL Board of Electricians and Plumbers separately licenses individual electricians and plumbers.

Official portal: https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/contractor/
Address: King Kalakaua Building, 335 Merchant Street, Room 301, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-3000

The Eligibility Audit

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Hawaii residency requirement, but a Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) license is required before the contractor license is issued.

Good moral character

The Contractors License Board reviews every applicant for good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, and fair dealing as required by HRS 444-9.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application. Felonies and prior contractor discipline are reviewed individually.

Experience and Education Standards

A minimum of four years of supervisory experience within the last ten years as a foreman, supervising employee, contractor, or owner-builder in the classification applied for must be documented and verified. Unless the board publishes a different lookback period, applicants should keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records that support the claimed experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Certification of Work Experience form signed by each supervising licensed contractor or employer
W-2 statements, payroll records, or 1099s covering the qualifying period
Project list with addresses, dates, scope, and dollar value

Education substitution

An accredited bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, or construction management may substitute for up to three years of the four-year experience requirement under HAR 16-77-32.

The Exam Syllabus

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to DCCA), breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Hawaii Business and Law Examination — 60 questions, 135 minutes, passing score 75%
Hawaii Class A or Class B Trade Examination — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $75 per examination part paid to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new $75 fee per part. Application approval is valid for two years from board approval.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

Before the license is issued, the applicant must file a $5,000 contractor license surety bond in the form prescribed by the DCCA-PVL.

General liability

Hawaii does not impose a statutory general liability minimum, but the board requires proof of general liability insurance adequate for the scope of work at application.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under HRS Chapter 386 for any contractor with one or more employees. A certificate is required at issuance.

Additional financial requirements

The applicant (or qualifying RME) must demonstrate financial solvency including working capital of at least $1,000 per HAR 16-77-35.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Examination	$150
Initial license	$351
Renewal (every 2 years)	$351

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Hawaii Class A General Engineering and Class B General Building Contractor runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $351. All contractor licenses expire September 30 of each even-numbered year regardless of issue date.

Continuing education: Hawaii does not currently mandate continuing education for contractor license renewal, but the board may require it by rule.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Hawaii General Contractor License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Hawaii does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
California	Trade exam waived for matching classification	Bilateral agreement with CSLB for active Class A or B equivalents in good standing for five years.
Nevada	Trade exam waived for matching classification	Bilateral agreement with NSCB.
Arizona	Trade exam waived for matching classification	Bilateral agreement with AZ ROC.

Hawaii reciprocity waives the trade exam only. The Hawaii Business and Law exam is always required.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares General Contractor license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Application Roadmap

Document four years of supervisory experience. Gather Certification of Work Experience forms, payroll records, and project lists covering the last ten years.
Form a Hawaii business entity and obtain a GET license. Register with BREG (if LLC or corporation) and obtain the General Excise Tax license from the Department of Taxation.
Submit the DCCA contractor application. File the Application for Contractor's License with the $50 application fee and experience documentation.
Receive board approval to test. The Contractors License Board reviews the application at its monthly meeting and issues an approval letter to test.
Pass the PSI Business and Law exam at 75%. Schedule and pass the 60-question business and law exam.
Pass the PSI Class A or B trade exam at 75%. Schedule and pass the 100-question trade exam for the selected classification.
Post the $5,000 surety bond and insurance. File the surety bond, workers' compensation certificate, and general liability certificate with DCCA.
Pay the initial license fee and receive the license. Pay the initial license and Contractors Recovery Fund fees. DCCA issues the wallet card.

Recommended Study Materials

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Hawaii edition — NASCLA. Primary reference for the business and law exam.
International Building Code (Hawaii-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Primary technical reference for Class B.
Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 444 and HAR 16-77 — State of Hawaii. Licensing law and rules.

Pre-Application Checklist

Before submitting to DCCA-PVL, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ Four years documented supervisory experience
☐ Hawaii GET (General Excise Tax) license
☐ DCCA contractor application with $50 fee
☐ Board approval to test
☐ PSI Business and Law exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ PSI Class A or B trade exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ $5,000 surety bond
☐ Workers compensation and general liability certificates
☐ Contractors Recovery Fund fee

Where Applications Stall

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a Hawaii General Contractor application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Skipping the GET license

DCCA will not issue the contractor license without a Hawaii General Excise Tax license on file.

Unverifiable experience

Every year of experience must be signed off by a licensed supervisor or owner. Self-certified experience is rejected.

Missing the monthly board meeting

Applications are reviewed at the board's monthly meeting. Late or incomplete files push approval to the next month.

Using a mainland bond form

The surety must use the Hawaii-specific $5,000 contractor bond form.

Forgetting the Recovery Fund fee

A Contractors Recovery Fund contribution is due at initial licensure and at each renewal.

Other Hawaii Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Hawaii trades; the published ones are listed here:

Common Questions

What is the difference between Class A, Class B, and Class C in Hawaii?

Class A covers general engineering (fixed works requiring specialized engineering). Class B covers general building (structures built for shelter involving two or more unrelated trades). Class C covers specialty contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and roughly 50 other subclassifications).

How much experience does Hawaii require?

Four years of supervisory experience within the last ten years in the classification applied for. An accredited degree in a related field can substitute for up to three of those years.

Is a bond required?

Yes. A $5,000 surety bond is required for every contractor license in Hawaii.

Does Hawaii accept the NASCLA exam?

No. Hawaii is not a NASCLA-reciprocal state. All applicants must take the Hawaii-specific PSI trade and business and law exams (subject to bilateral waivers).

How often does the Hawaii contractor license renew?

Every two years on September 30 of each even-numbered year.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-28 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-26