Electrician license
Hawaii electrician license
The Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers, under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, licenses journey worker, supervising, specialty, industrial and maintenance electricians statewide under Chapter 448E, HRS. An electrician license does not let you contract; that needs a separate contractor license under Chapter 444, HRS. The licenses are Journey Worker Electrician (EJ), Supervising Electrician (ES), Journey Worker Specialty Electrician (EJS), Maintenance Electrician (EM) and Electrical contractor license (Chapter 444, HRS). Each is below with its hours, exam, fees and official source, followed by how to apply, renewal, reciprocity and the official license lookup.
Licenses at a glance
| License | Experience | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journey Worker Electrician (EJ) | 10,000 hours | 70 questions, 2020 NEC | $40 application fee. After you pass, a license fee is due that depends on when in the three-year cycle you are licensed ($306, $204 or $102). |
| Supervising Electrician (ES) | Not set in hours | 70 questions, 2020 NEC | $40 application fee, plus the license fee after passing |
| Journey Worker Specialty Electrician (EJS) | 6,000 hours | Yes | $40 application fee, plus the license fee after passing |
| Maintenance Electrician (EM) | Not set in hours | Yes | $40 application fee, plus the license fee after passing |
| Electrical contractor license (Chapter 444, HRS) | Not set in hours | Not confirmed: check with the board | Not confirmed: check with the board |
How to get each Hawaii license
Journey Worker Electrician (EJ)
Requirements. 5 years and at least 10,000 hours of residential or commercial wiring experience, plus 240 hours of electrical academic coursework given or accepted by a University of Hawaii Community College (an approved apprenticeship certificate is also accepted). Each licensed electrician you worked under signs a notarized experience verification.
Experience. 10,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2020 NEC |
| Questions | 70 questions |
| Time | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book. The test center provides the 2020 NEC and the other listed references; you do not bring your own. |
| Exam fee | $95 |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, Hawaii DCCA electrician examinations (3/22/2024) |
Fees. $40 application fee. After you pass, a license fee is due that depends on when in the three-year cycle you are licensed ($306, $204 or $102).
Applications are reviewed at board meetings, and exams are usually scheduled the month after the meeting.
Free practice. The journeyman electrician practice test with 2026 and 2023 NEC versions has 30 questions on code and calculations, scored by subject, with no account. It is general NEC practice, not built from the Hawaii exam outline.
Sources: Requirements for Examination and License, Electricians and Plumbers (EP-00 0626); PSI candidate information bulletin, Hawaii DCCA electrician examinations (3/22/2024).
Supervising Electrician (ES)
Requirements. 4 years of experience as a licensed journey worker electrician, or 4 years licensed at journey or supervising level elsewhere where licensing is substantially equivalent.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2020 NEC |
| Questions | 70 questions |
| Time | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Code book | Open book; references provided at the test center. |
| Exam fee | $95 |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, Hawaii DCCA electrician examinations (3/22/2024) |
Fees. $40 application fee, plus the license fee after passing.
Sources: Requirements for Examination and License, Electricians and Plumbers (EP-00 0626); PSI candidate information bulletin, Hawaii DCCA electrician examinations (3/22/2024).
Journey Worker Specialty Electrician (EJS)
Requirements. 3 years and at least 6,000 hours in the trade plus 120 hours of electrical academic coursework accepted by a University of Hawaii Community College.
Experience. 6,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Time | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Passing score | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Code book | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Exam fee | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, Hawaii DCCA electrician examinations (3/22/2024) |
Fees. $40 application fee, plus the license fee after passing.
Sources: Requirements for Examination and License, Electricians and Plumbers (EP-00 0626); PSI candidate information bulletin, Hawaii DCCA electrician examinations (3/22/2024).
Maintenance Electrician (EM)
Requirements. 1 year of electrical maintenance work plus 80 hours of electrical academic coursework accepted by a University of Hawaii Community College, or 2 years of trade schooling with at least 1,000 hours of hands-on lab work.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Time | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Passing score | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Code book | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Exam fee | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Official bulletin | PSI candidate information bulletin, Hawaii DCCA electrician examinations (3/22/2024) |
Fees. $40 application fee, plus the license fee after passing.
Sources: Requirements for Examination and License, Electricians and Plumbers (EP-00 0626); PSI candidate information bulletin, Hawaii DCCA electrician examinations (3/22/2024).
Electrical contractor license (Chapter 444, HRS)
Requirements. To contract for electrical work you need a contractor's license under Chapter 444, HRS, separate from the electrician license. Its requirements were not opened in this session.
Exam. Not confirmed: check with the board
Fees. Not confirmed: check with the board
Source: Requirements for Examination and License, Electricians and Plumbers (EP-00 0626).
How to apply
Mail the Electrician and Plumber license application with the $40 fee, notarized experience verification forms from each licensed electrician you worked under, and proof of the community college coursework by the filing deadline. The Board reviews applications at its meetings; once qualified, you take the PSI exam. Apply on the official site.
Source: Requirements for Examination and License, Electricians and Plumbers (EP-00 0626).
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every three years, on or before June 30 (the last renewal was June 30, 2026). |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | All active electricians except maintenance electricians must show completion of the continuing competency course on NEC updates (through Honolulu Community College or the Hawaii Electricians Training Fund) to renew. The required hours are not stated. |
Sources: Requirements for Examination and License, Electricians and Plumbers (EP-00 0626); Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers: Continuing Competency Requirements.
Reciprocity with other states
None. Hawaii does not reciprocate with any jurisdiction; every applicant qualifies with the Board and passes Hawaii's exam.
Source: Requirements for Examination and License, Electricians and Plumbers (EP-00 0626).
Look up a Hawaii electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official DCCA Verify a Professional (MyPVL public license search).
Good to know
Hawaii's electrician exams still use the 2020 NEC, and the exam center supplies the code book.
Source: PSI candidate information bulletin, Hawaii DCCA electrician examinations (3/22/2024).
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Hawaii?
The Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers, under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, licenses journey worker, supervising, specialty, industrial and maintenance electricians statewide under Chapter 448E, HRS. An electrician license does not let you contract; that needs a separate contractor license under Chapter 444, HRS.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Hawaii?
Journey Worker Electrician (EJ): 5 years and at least 10,000 hours of residential or commercial wiring experience, plus 240 hours of electrical academic coursework given or accepted by a University of Hawaii Community College (an approved apprenticeship certificate is also accepted). Each licensed electrician you worked under signs a notarized experience verification. Mail the Electrician and Plumber license application with the $40 fee, notarized experience verification forms from each licensed electrician you worked under, and proof of the community college coursework by the filing deadline. The Board reviews applications at its meetings; once qualified, you take the PSI exam.
How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician in Hawaii?
10,000 hours for the Journey Worker Electrician (EJ).
How many questions are on the Hawaii journeyman electrician exam?
70 questions in 180 minutes (3 hours), and the passing score is 70%.
Does Hawaii accept electrician licenses from other states?
None. Hawaii does not reciprocate with any jurisdiction; every applicant qualifies with the Board and passes Hawaii's exam.
How often does a Hawaii electrician license renew?
Every three years, on or before June 30 (the last renewal was June 30, 2026). Continuing education: All active electricians except maintenance electricians must show completion of the continuing competency course on NEC updates (through Honolulu Community College or the Hawaii Electricians Training Fund) to renew. The required hours are not stated.
How do I look up an electrician license in Hawaii?
Use the official DCCA Verify a Professional (MyPVL public license search) at https://mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov/public-license-search/
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Hawaii's own licensing board, statute or rule, or the testing company the board names. Where a fact could not be confirmed from one of them, the page says to check with the board. Rules and fees change: confirm with the board before you apply.
- Requirements for Examination and License, Electricians and Plumbers (EP-00 0626), opened November 11, 2026
- PSI candidate information bulletin, Hawaii DCCA electrician examinations (3/22/2024), opened November 11, 2026
- Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers: Continuing Competency Requirements, opened November 11, 2026
- Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers, opened November 11, 2026
Electrician license requirements in every state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Last verified November 11, 2026.