Hawaii C-42 Roofing License Requirements (2026)

Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Contractors License Board (CLB) issues the C-42 Roofing Contractor classification under HRS Chapter 444. Every roofing job valued at $1,000 or more (labor and materials combined) requires an active C-42. The applicant entity must designate a Responsible Managing Employee (RME) who has at least four years of supervisory roofing experience in the past ten years and passes the Business and Law exam plus the C-42 trade exam. Hawaii also requires General Excise Tax (GET) registration with the Department of Taxation before a license is issued.

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 non-resident entities must appoint a Hawaii registered agent.

Good moral character

CLB reviews felonies and construction fraud individually.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure on application.

Experience and Education Standards

The experience bar is four years of supervisory roofing experience within the last ten years for the RME — journeyman experience does not qualify alone, and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

CLB Certification of Work Experience signed by supervisors with firsthand knowledge
Project list with addresses, values, and roles
W-2 or 1099 records corroborating the period

Education substitution

Up to three years of experience may be substituted with accredited construction degree or apprenticeship.

The Exam Syllabus

Testing is handled by PSI Services LLC. The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

Hawaii C-42 Roofing Trade Exam — BUR, single-ply, shingle, metal, tile, foam, IBC Chapter 15 with Hawaii amendments — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
Hawaii Business and Law Exam — 60 questions, 150 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $75 per exam paid to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed exams retaken at $75 each; application valid one year.

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

CLB requires $100,000 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage minimum under HRS §444-10. Market standard $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory for every Hawaii employer with one or more employees under HRS §386.

Additional financial requirements

Minimum $2,500 working capital and $1,000 net worth under HAR §16-77-28. A $5,000 surety bond is the standard proof of financial responsibility accepted by CLB.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Examination	$150
Initial license	$347
Renewal (every 2 years)	$309

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Hawaii C-42 Roofing Contractor License runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $309. Renewal by September 30 of odd years.

Continuing education: Eight hours of CLB-approved CE each biennial cycle.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Hawaii Roofing 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
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Hawaii has no roofing reciprocity agreements. Every out-of-state C-42 applicant must pass both the trade and business exams.

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

The Application Roadmap

Document four years of supervisory roofing experience. CLB Certification of Work Experience signed by supervisors with firsthand knowledge within the ten-year lookback.
Designate the Responsible Managing Employee. The RME must be a bona-fide full-time employee or officer of the licensed entity.
Register the business entity with DCCA BREG and obtain GET license. Hawaii General Excise Tax registration with the Department of Taxation is required before the CLB issues a license.
Submit the CLB application and fees. $50 application fee plus $197 license fee plus $150 Contractor Recovery Fund contribution.
Pass the PSI Business and Law and C-42 exams. 75% on each.
Post the $5,000 surety bond and insurance certificates. General liability at HRS §444-10 minimums and workers compensation per HRS §386.
Receive the license and renew biennially. Hawaii C-42 licenses expire September 30 of odd years. Renewal $309 biennial plus CE.

Where Applications Stall

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Hawaii Roofing application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Skipping GET registration

CLB will not issue the license without proof of GET. Every payment you receive is also subject to 4% GET — build it into pricing.

Hurricane strap and clip attachment

Hawaii IBC amendments mandate enhanced framing anchors and hurricane clips at truss-to-wall connections exposed during reroof. Inspectors fail jobs missing them.

RME separation

If the RME leaves the entity and is not replaced within 30 days CLB suspends the C-42 under HAR §16-77-32.

Underlayment specification for wind-driven rain

Kauai and windward Oahu require self-adhered underlayment under most reroofs. Standard felt triggers permit rejection.

Transporting material between islands without contractor neighbor-island bond

Some counties require additional local bonds for neighbor-island work. Kauai and Hawaii County each enforce their own contractor registration layer.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to DCCA-PVL:

☐ CLB Certification of Work Experience
☐ RME designation and biographical form
☐ Hawaii DCCA BREG business registration
☐ Hawaii DOT General Excise Tax license
☐ CLB application + fees + Recovery Fund
☐ PSI Business/Law and C-42 pass certificates (75%+)
☐ $5,000 surety bond
☐ GL and workers comp certificates

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.

Hawaii Contractor Examination Reference List — PSI Services. Source list for the C-42 trade and business exams.
Hawaii State Building Code (IBC with amendments) — Hawaii State Building Code Council. Roof assembly requirements with high-wind amendments.
NRCA Roofing Manual — Tropical and High-Wind chapters — National Roofing Contractors Association. Primary technical reference.
HRS Chapter 444 and HAR §16-77 — State of Hawaii. Licensing law for the business and law exam.

Other Hawaii Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

What is the Hawaii licensing threshold for roofing?

Any roofing project where labor and materials combined total $1,000 or more requires an active C-42 license under HRS §444.

Does Hawaii require a General Excise Tax license?

Yes. GET registration with the Hawaii Department of Taxation is mandatory before CLB issues the C-42 license.

How much is the Hawaii Contractor Recovery Fund contribution?

A one-time $150 contribution at initial licensure into the statutory Contractor Recovery Fund that compensates consumers harmed by licensed contractors.

Who qualifies as the RME?

A bona-fide full-time officer or employee of the licensed entity with four years of supervisory roofing experience in the last ten years.

When do Hawaii C-42 licenses renew?

Biennially, expiring September 30 of odd-numbered years. Renewal $309 plus continuing education.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-19 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-18