Hawaii Low Voltage Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Contractors License Board issues the C-13 Electrical Contractor classification under HRS Chapter 444 and HAR §16-77, which authorizes all electrical work including low-voltage installations. Hawaii does not issue a separate state low-voltage classification — low-voltage work falls under the C-13 or its specialty subcategories. Burglar alarm, monitored CCTV, and access control are additionally regulated by the Department of Public Safety, Private Detective and Guard Branch, which licenses Detective and Guard Agencies. Fire alarm work follows NFPA 72 and is enforced by the Honolulu Fire Department or the relevant county fire department. Hawaii is unusual in that the same C-13 covers both line voltage and low voltage with no separate scope limitation.

Regulatory Oversight

Under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 444; Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 16 Chapter 77, Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Contractors License Board (DCCA-PVL) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. 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

Who May Apply

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Hawaii residency requirement.

Good moral character

The Board reviews criminal history under HRS §444-9. Felony convictions involving fraud or theft are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

The Board requires criminal disclosure on the application. The Department of Public Safety requires fingerprint background checks for guard / detective agency licenses.

Required Experience and Education

The applicant must document and verify at least 4 years of C-13: four years of supervised experience as a journey-level electrician within the prior ten years under HAR §16-77-32, of which two years must be in a supervisory or foreman role.. Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Board Experience Verification Form signed by each supervising contractor
W-2 statements covering the qualifying period
Accredited electrical apprenticeship completion certificate
NICET Fire Alarm Systems certificates (recommended)

Education substitution

The Board credits an approved electrical apprenticeship and accredited electrical / electronics technology degrees toward portions of the experience requirement.

Examination Requirements

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC under contract to the Hawaii Contractors License Board.. All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

PSI Hawaii C-13 Electrical Contractor Trade examination — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
PSI Hawaii Business and Law examination — 50 questions, 150 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $75 per part to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken after 14 days.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited state source set does not require a contractor license surety bond for this credential. Contractors should still confirm project-specific bond, permit-bond, or public-works bond requirements before bidding.

General liability

The Board does not impose a state liability minimum for C-13 but most counties contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under HRS §386 for any Hawaii employer.

Additional financial requirements

The Board requires a financial statement showing minimum $5,000 working capital under HAR §16-77.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Examination	$150
Initial license	$480
Renewal (every 2 years)	$480

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Hawaii C-13 Electrical Contractor (and C-13d Limited Energy Subspecialty) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $480. C-13 renews every two years on September 30 of odd-numbered years.

Continuing education: The Board does not require continuing education for the C-13 at the state level.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Hawaii for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Hawaii does not maintain reciprocity for the C-13. NICET is recognized for fire alarm work but does not waive the C-13 trade exam.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Document four years of journey-level experience. Compile Board Experience Verification Forms signed by Hawaii-licensed electricians covering four years (two supervisory).
Pass the PSI C-13 Trade and Business and Law exams. Score 75% on each.
Submit the Board application. File with the $50 application fee, exam pass certificates, financial statement, and Responsible Managing Employee designation.
Receive the C-13 license. The Board issues the license at the next monthly meeting after document review.
Verify NICET / NFPA 72 for fire alarm. Most county fire departments require NICET Fire Alarm Level II for commercial fire alarm acceptance.
Apply for DPS Detective and Guard Agency license (if doing monitored security). File the DPS application for monitored alarm services.
Renew biennially. C-13 renews every two years on September 30 of odd-numbered years.

Recommended References

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Hawaii-adopted edition — NFPA. Open book at the PSI C-13 exam.
Hawaii C-13 PSI Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI / DCCA. Official content outline.
NFPA 72 — National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code — NFPA. Required for fire alarm content.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Hawaii Low Voltage application.

Underestimating Hawaii's consolidated electrical scope

Hawaii does not split low-voltage from full electrical. The C-13 is the only credential and requires the full four-year journey-level experience even for low-voltage work.

Forgetting the financial statement

The Board requires a $5,000 working capital financial statement. Many applicants overlook this and stall their application.

Missing the supervisory requirement

Two of the four required years must be at a supervisory or foreman level. Pure installer experience does not qualify.

Skipping NICET on commercial fire alarm

Most Hawaii county fire departments require NICET Fire Alarm Level II for commercial fire alarm acceptance.

Missing the September 30 renewal

C-13 renews every two years on September 30 of odd-numbered years. Late renewal triggers a surcharge and 30-day suspension.

Document Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with DCCA-PVL:

☐ Four years of journey-level electrical experience (two supervisory)
☐ PSI C-13 Trade exam pass at 75%
☐ PSI Hawaii Business and Law exam pass at 75%
☐ Board application with $50 fee
☐ Financial statement ($5,000 working capital)
☐ Responsible Managing Employee designation
☐ Workers comp coverage certificate

Other Hawaii Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Hawaii trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Hawaii have a separate low-voltage classification?

No. Low-voltage work falls under the C-13 Electrical Contractor classification. Hawaii does not split low-voltage from full electrical scope.

Is there a separate alarm contractor license?

Burglar alarm and monitored security services additionally require a Department of Public Safety Detective and Guard Agency license. Fire alarm work follows NFPA 72 enforced by the county fire department.

How much experience does Hawaii require?

Four years of journey-level experience under a Hawaii-licensed electrician, with two years at a supervisory level.

Does Hawaii require a financial statement?

Yes. The Board requires a financial statement showing minimum $5,000 working capital.

How often does the C-13 renew?

Every two years on September 30 of odd-numbered years.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-25 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-23