Hawaii Plumber License Requirements (2026)

Hawaii licenses individual plumbers through the DCCA-PVL Board of Electricians and Plumbers under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 448E, and licenses plumbing contracting businesses through the Contractors License Board as Class C-37 Plumbing Contractors under HRS Chapter 444. An individual earns the Journey Worker Plumber license, then the Master Plumber license, and (if self-employed) obtains the C-37 Plumbing Contractor license with a Master Plumber designated as the responsible managing employee. Every C-37 contractor must post a $5,000 bond.

Governing Authority

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

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Hawaii residency requirement. Hawaii GET license required for the contractor license.

Good moral character

Both boards review every applicant for good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, and fair dealing.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on both the individual and contractor applications.

Experience & Education Matrix

Plan to substantiate five years (10,000 hours) of practical plumbing experience for the Journey Worker Plumber exam; one additional year (2,000 hours) as a Journey Worker for the Master Plumber exam; four years of supervisory experience for the C-37 Plumbing Contractor license with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Affidavit of Work Experience signed by each supervising licensed plumber
W-2 statements, payroll records, or 1099s covering the qualifying period
Approved plumbing apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)

Education substitution

Completion of a registered plumbing apprenticeship substitutes for portions of the hour requirement under HAR 16-78.

Examination Structure

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to DCCA). All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

Hawaii Journey Worker Plumber Examination — Uniform Plumbing Code and Hawaii rules — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
Hawaii Master Plumber Examination — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 75%
Hawaii C-37 Business and Law Examination (for contractor license) — 60 questions, 135 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.

Insurance & Financial Security

The DCCA-PVL requires a $5,000 contractor license surety bond to be on file before the license will issue.

General liability

C-37 contractors must carry 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.

Additional financial requirements

The qualifying individual must demonstrate financial solvency including working capital of at least $1,000 per HAR 16-77-35.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Examination	$150
Initial license	$351
Renewal (every 3 years)	$351

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Hawaii C-37 Plumbing Contractor and Master Plumber every 3 years. Renewal currently costs $351. Individual plumber licenses renew every three years on June 30. C-37 contractor licenses renew every two years on September 30 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: Hawaii does not currently mandate continuing education for plumber license renewal.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Hawaii does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

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

Hawaii does not maintain formal plumbing reciprocity. The Board of Electricians and Plumbers may credit verified out-of-state experience toward the hour requirement on a case-by-case basis.

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

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Complete 10,000 hours as an apprentice plumber. Five years of practical experience under a licensed Master Plumber, typically through a registered apprenticeship.
Pass the PSI Journey Worker Plumber exam. Score 75% or better on the 80-question UPC-based exam.
Work one year as a Journey Worker. Accumulate 2,000 additional hours as a licensed Journey Worker Plumber.
Pass the PSI Master Plumber exam. Score 75% or better on the 100-question master exam.
Document four years of supervisory experience. Required for the C-37 Plumbing Contractor license.
Submit the C-37 contractor application. File with DCCA Contractors License Board with the $50 application fee.
Pass the Business and Law exam. Score 75% or better on the 60-question business and law exam.
Post the $5,000 bond and pay the license fees. File the surety bond, insurance certificates, and Recovery Fund fee. DCCA issues the C-37 license.

Common Filing Mistakes

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Hawaii Plumber application.

Skipping the Journey Worker step

Master Plumber requires an active Journey Worker credential and 2,000 additional hours. No direct entry.

Confusing the two boards

Individual licenses come from the Board of Electricians and Plumbers. Contractor licenses come from the Contractors License Board. Both are required to run a plumbing contracting business.

Unverifiable hours

All hours must be signed off by a licensed Master Plumber or employer. Self-certification is rejected.

Missing the GET license

No contractor license is issued without a Hawaii General Excise Tax license on file.

Letting the individual license lapse

A lapsed Master Plumber credential automatically suspends the C-37 contractor license that depends on it.

Study and Reference Materials

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

Uniform Plumbing Code (Hawaii-adopted edition) — IAPMO. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 448E and HAR 16-78 — State of Hawaii. Plumber licensing law and rules.
NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Hawaii edition — NASCLA. For the C-37 business and law exam.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with DCCA-PVL:

☐ 10,000 hours documented plumbing experience (Journey Worker prerequisite)
☐ PSI Journey Worker Plumber exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ 2,000 additional hours as Journey Worker
☐ PSI Master Plumber exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ Four years supervisory experience (for C-37)
☐ C-37 contractor application with $50 fee
☐ PSI Business and Law exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ $5,000 surety bond
☐ Workers compensation and general liability certificates

Other Hawaii Trade Licenses

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What levels of plumber license does Hawaii issue?

Journey Worker Plumber, Master Plumber, and Maintenance Plumber. The Master Plumber is the level required to qualify a C-37 Plumbing Contractor business.

How many hours of experience are required?

10,000 hours (five years) to sit for the Journey Worker exam, plus 2,000 more hours (one year) to sit for the Master Plumber exam.

Is a bond required for the C-37 contractor license?

Yes. A $5,000 surety bond is required for every C-37 Plumbing Contractor license.

Which plumbing code does Hawaii use?

Hawaii adopts the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) with state amendments.

How often does the Master Plumber license renew?

Every three years. The C-37 contractor license renews 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 2026-04-21 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-20