Getting your Hawaii Real Estate License is the first step to becoming a real estate agent in Hawaii. Nowadays, this process can be done almost entirely online. You will still need to take your Hawaii real estate license exam in person, but the rest of the process can be completed entirely online!
This article outlines the process to get your HI Real Estate License in an easy to understand, step-by-step manner. You’ll learn how much it will cost, how long it will take, what is on the exam, and much more.
How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Hawaii
Becoming a real estate agent in Hawaii is as simple as getting your license, finding a broker sponsor, and getting to work selling real estate! As long as you fulfill the below requirements, you are already on your way to your goal.
Hawaii Real Estate License Requirements
The requirements to become a real estate agent in Hawaii are:
- Be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Must have a reputation for or a record of competency, honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity, and fair dealing
How to Get Your Real Estate License in Hawaii
Step 1. Background Check
Candidates with potentially disqualifying factors may request a preliminary, non-binding decision from the Hawaii Real Estate Commission before submitting to prelicensing education or examination requirements.
To check your eligibility, submit a Request for Preliminary Decision form before registering for the pre-license course.
Complete the form and attach supporting documents together with the $25 fee. You can mail it to the following address:
DCCA, PVL, Licensing Branch
P. O. Box 3469 or Honolulu, HI 96801
You can also hand-deliver it to:
335 Merchant St., Room 301
Honolulu, HI 96813
Step 2. Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course
Once you confirm eligibility, you can now proceed with taking the pre-licensing education.
Hawaii requires that real estate sales agents complete 60 hours of pre-license coursework before sitting for their exam.
All pre-license students must create a MyPVL account with the Hawaii Real Estate Branch and register with the pre-license school. Course completion information is posted directly to the applicant’s MyPVL account through the Real Estate Branch website within 10 days of course completion.
Most people choose to take their pre-license education course online. The majority of online courses are self-paced and include study materials like real estate practice exams and flashcards. Some also come with a “guarantee” that you will pass the exam on your first attempt if you complete their course. These benefits are all dependent on the education provider and package you choose, so be sure to get the course that best suits your needs.
Remember that the point of these courses isn’t just to check a box and complete a requirement, but rather to prepare you to pass your exam and become a better agent.
Recommended Course
For Hawaii real estate license exam courses and study tools, StateRequirement recommends:
Hawaii does not require the final pre-license exam to be supervised by a proctor. This is not the same as the state exam. This test is provided by your pre-license education company and is an indication that you have completed and retained the information from your pre-license education course.
Similar to the state exam, this test is closed-book and closed-note. You are allowed a basic-function calculator and scratch paper, but no cell phones or outside internet access.
Step 3. Hawaii Real Estate License Exam
After you’ve completed your pre-license education, it’s now time to take the Hawaii Real Estate Exam.
The fee to take the exam is $61 per attempt.
The Hawaii Real Estate Exam consists of 130 questions. This includes 80 for the National section and 50 for the State section.
You will have 240 minutes (4 hours) to complete the entire exam. The National section time is 150 minutes (2.5 hours), and the State section time is 90 minutes (1.5 hours).
A passing score for the Hawaii Real Estate Salesperson Exam is 56/80 on the National section and 35/50 on the State section.
Immediately after completing your exam, you will receive a scoring document that states whether you passed or failed. If it is marked “Fail,” then you will see a breakdown of your score in the different areas of the exam. If you decide to retake the exam, use this as a guide for your studies.
How Hard is the Hawaii Real Estate Exam
The passing rate for the Hawaii Real Estate Salesperson Exam is 70%. This test is purposefully difficult, but not impossible. Be sure to pay attention during your pre-license course and take studying seriously. If you put the proper effort forth, we know that you can pass on your first attempt!
You can register to take your exam on the PSI Hawaii Real Estate page. On this page, you will find some other helpful resources, including the Candidate Handbook and Content Outline.
Before taking the exam, check out StateRequirement’s guide on How to Pass the Real Estate Exam. This in-depth guide works as a great partner to your pre-license course to prepare you to pass on your first attempt!
Step 4. Real Estate License Application
The last step to getting your real estate license in Hawaii is to complete your license application.
Your test center personnel from PSI will give you the instructions and application form, along with the score report and any other documentation as required per the instructions.
You should file your complete application, with the proper fees, and the required documents by mail to:
Real Estate Commission
DCCA/PVL
Licensing Branch
P. O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
Or hand-deliver to:
Licensing Branch
335 Merchant Street, Room 301
Honolulu, HI 96813
You must apply within two years of passing the licensing examination.
Step 5. Application Review
Once you’ve passed your exam, you will only need to wait for your license to be issued. In most cases, this process should take between 3-5 business days. If you have any questions at this point, you should contact DCCAREB at (808) 586-2643 or hirec@dcca.hawaii.gov.
Congratulations!
Be sure to take some time to celebrate your accomplishment. You’ve put in a lot of work and effort and deserve a celebration!
Step 6. Real Estate License Sponsorship
To be licensed on active status, the applicant must be employed or associated with a current and active Hawaii licensed real estate broker or brokerage firm. In either case, you’ll have to show proof that the person or firm employs you.
If you don’t have a broker to work with yet, check out StateRequirement Jobs for a real estate salesperson opening in your area.
HDCCA – Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Mailing Address:
Hawaii Real Estate Branch
King Kalakaua Building
335 Merchant Street, Rm 333
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-2643
Email: hirec@dcca.hawaii.gov
Website: http://www.hawaii.gov/hirec
Hawaii Real Estate License FAQ
How Much Does it Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Hawaii?
All Hawaii fees: $468
Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education (Estimated): $359-$649
The total estimated cost to get a Hawaii Real Estate license is $827-$1,117.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Hawaii Real Estate License?
The two steps that take the most time when getting your license are pre-license education and test preparation. The average amount of time that people take from start to finish is generally 3-6 months. If you dedicate a full-time schedule to this process and study hard, you could possibly complete this process in 2 months. We wouldn’t recommend trying to go any faster than this. Take your time to study and prepare yourself for the exam.
How to Get a Hawaii Commercial Real Estate License?
To sell commercial real estate in Hawaii, a standard Salesperson or Broker license is all that you need. There is no specific “commercial real estate license”. If you wish to take on a career selling specifically commercial real estate, choose a broker that handles the types of deals that you want to be a part of.
Are There any Real Estate Jobs Open Around Me?
Check out StateRequirement Jobs to find open real estate jobs in your area!