How to Get a Real Estate License in Hawaii: Step-by-Step
Five clear steps — from your first course to your first day with a brokerage. Hawaii’s exam is one of the harder ones in the country (the statewide pass rate runs roughly 40–45%), so the order you do things in, and how well you prepare, matters.
Last reviewed October 2026 against the Hawaii Real Estate Commission.
Meet the basic eligibility requirements
By your examination date you must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, and be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or a non-citizen authorized to work in the United States. There is no Hawaii residency requirement to get licensed.
Complete an approved 60-hour pre-license course
Hawaii requires a 60-hour salesperson pre-license course from a state-approved school. When you finish, the school issues a completion certificate that is valid for two (2) years — you’ll present it at the exam and submit it with your license application. (This is the step we handle, built specifically for the Hawaii exam.)
Pass the PSI Hawaii Salesperson Exam
The state exam is administered by PSI. It has a national portion and a Hawaii state portion, and you must pass both. Schedule it directly with PSI at psiexams.com; PSI charges its own examination fee. Your school-completion certificate is required to sit for the exam.
Apply for your license (within 2 years of passing)
Submit a complete license application to the Hawaii Real Estate Commission within two years of passing the exam. Because Hawaii licenses renew on a two-year cycle, the application fee is prorated: in even-numbered years it is $282, and in odd-numbered years it is $382. (2026 is an even year.)
Activate your license with a sponsoring broker
Hawaii does not license an unsponsored salesperson. To place your license on active status and begin practicing, you must be associated with a Hawaii-licensed principal broker who agrees to hold your license. Choosing the right brokerage is a real decision — it shapes your training, splits, and first year.
How long & how much?
Most people finish the 60-hour course in a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on pace — then schedule the exam when they’re ready. Budget for three things: your course, the PSI exam fee (set by PSI), and the state application fee ($282 in 2026). Fees and requirements change, so confirm the current numbers with the Hawaii Real Estate Commission and PSI before you rely on them.
Start step 2 — free
Try the first lessons of our Hawaii 60-hour course free — no credit card. See how it’s built around the exam before you commit.
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