How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Hawaii (2026 Guide)

Dreaming of a real estate career in the islands?

Hawaii’s real estate market is unlike anywhere else in the country — leasehold ownership, HARPTA withholding on nonresident sales, and some of the highest property values nationally all make this a genuinely distinctive place to practice. Getting licensed means 60 hours of coursework, a PSI exam, and a sponsoring broker, plus a few fee quirks that catch people off guard.

We are going to walk you through the complete process so you’ll know exactly what to expect as you go through the licensing process.

Here’s what we’ll walk through:


5 Steps to Get a Real Estate License in Hawaii

Per the Hawaii Real Estate Commission (under DCCA), you’ll need to be at least 18 by exam day, a US citizen, national, or authorized to work in the US. Here’s the process from there:

STEP 1 | Complete Your 60-Hour Pre-License Course

  • Your 60 hours have to come from a school registered with the Hawaii Real Estate Commission, and you’ll need a MyPVL account to access enrollment. If you hold a law degree, a BA/BS in real estate or business, or a currently active real estate license in another state, you may qualify for a Prelicensing Education Equivalency instead of retaking the full course. Your completion certificate is valid for 2 years, so don’t let too much time pass before scheduling your exam.

STEP 2 | Schedule and Pass Your PSI Exam

  • PSI Services administers Hawaii’s exam — schedule by phone, online, or fax (walk-in testing isn’t available). The fee is $61, and you’ll face 130 questions split across a uniform (national) section and a Hawaii-specific section, with 4 hours to complete both. You’ll need 70% to pass.
  • Here’s a genuine advantage if you’re moving from another state: if you currently hold an active license elsewhere and already passed the uniform portion of that state’s exam, you may qualify for an equivalency that waives Hawaii’s uniform section entirely — leaving just the Hawaii-specific portion to tackle. More on retakes and pass rates in our FAQs.

STEP 3 | Complete Your Background Check

  • Hawaii requires an FBI criminal background check as part of licensure. If you have something on your record that might raise questions — a criminal conviction, a disciplinary action, or even an outstanding tax obligation — you can request a non-binding Preliminary Decision from the Commission before you invest time and money in coursework. More on that in our FAQs below.

STEP 4 |  Find a Sponsoring Broker

  • Hawaii salespersons must be sponsored by a licensed broker to activate their license. We’ve got guidance on choosing the right one further down this page.

STEP 5 |  Submit Your License Application

  • You’ll receive your license application at the test center right after passing your exam. Submit it within 2 years of your exam date (or you’re considered an unsuccessful candidate and have to retest) along with the license fee — which, unusually, depends on what year you’re applying in. We break this down fully in the cost section below.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License?

Here’s a realistic step-by-step timeline:

  • 6 to 10 weeks to complete your 60-hour pre-license course
  • 1 to 2 weeks to get a PSI exam slot scheduled
  • 1 to 3 weeks to interview and settle on a sponsoring broker
  • 1 to 2 weeks for the Real Estate Branch to process your license application

Altogether, most candidates are looking at roughly 8 to 14 weeks from a standing start to an active license — assuming the exam goes smoothly on the first attempt. Given Hawaii’s exam has a notably lower first-attempt pass rate than many states, it’s worth budgeting extra time in case a retake is needed.


Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Hawaii

Here’s the full breakdown — and note the genuine quirk in the license fee:

  • Pre-License Real Estate Course – $300 to $700
  • State Exam Fee (PSI) – $61
  • FBI Background Check – approximately $50 (varies by processing method)
  • License Application Fee – $282 if you apply in an even-numbered year, $382 if you apply in an odd-numbered year
  • State exam prep courses or materials – $25 to $150 (optional)

** Total Cost to Get Licensed = $693 to $1,193

Why the fee difference? All Hawaii real estate licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years, so your application fee is essentially prorated based on how much of that 2-year cycle you’re actually buying — apply in an odd year and you’re paying for closer to two full years of licensure.


More Costs to Expect as a Brand New Realtor

Licensing is just the entry point — here’s what ongoing costs look like once you’re actually working in the islands.

Budget for these as your business gets going:

  • Continuing Education (20 hours per 2-year biennium, including mandatory Core Parts A & B, 3 hours each; salespersons licensed in 2026 are exempt for their first renewal) – $150 to $300
  • License Renewal Fee (every 2 years, tied to the same biennium cycle) – varies by timing, similar structure to the initial fee
  • National, State, and Local Board of Realtors / Examples:
    • Hawai’i Association of REALTORS (HAR, state association) – $249/year for 2025 and 2026
    • Honolulu Board of REALTORS (HBR) – contact for current local dues; MLS access through HiCentral is billed separately on a July–June cycle
    • Local boards also serve Maui, Hawai’i Island (the Big Island), West Hawai’i, and Kaua’i — contact your nearest one directly
  • Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – varies by island, often billed on a different cycle than membership dues
  • SentriLock or Supra eKey to show homes – $100 to $200 annually
  • Business cards and signage – varies
  • Marketing materials and advertising – varies
  • Brokerage joining fee – $0 to $500 (average is about $250)
  • Monthly Brokerage fee – ranges from $0 to $350 monthly

** Total Cost to Become a Real Estate Agent in Hawaii = $1,442 to $3,092



Find the Top Real Estate Schools

Your 60 hours have to come from a school registered with the Hawaii Real Estate Commission. A few worth comparing:

Given Hawaii’s exam has a genuinely tougher pass rate than most states, it’s worth being extra selective. Ask whether the school’s materials specifically cover leasehold property, HARPTA (Hawaii’s withholding requirement on real property sales by nonresidents), and the Bureau of Conveyances/Land Court system — these are distinctly Hawaii topics that don’t show up in generic national content, and they’re a common source of missed points on the state-specific exam section.


How to Select a Hawaii Real Estate Broker

Your license can’t go active without a sponsoring broker in Hawaii, and given the state’s genuinely complex property types (leasehold vs. fee simple, condo regimes, agricultural land use restrictions), the right mentorship matters more here than in a lot of mainland markets.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A BROKER >>

Commission splits tend to be the first thing new agents focus on, but we’d genuinely encourage you to rank that #2 or #3 on your list. What matters more starting out is whether the brokerage actually invests in new agents: Is there structured training that covers Hawaii-specific transaction nuances, or a generic mainland-style onboarding that doesn’t quite fit local practice? How many people can you reach when a leasehold or HARPTA question comes up mid-transaction? Those details shape your first year far more than a slightly better split.

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Hawaii: Commonly Asked Questions

How difficult is the state real estate exam?

Honestly, it’s one of the tougher state exams in the country — recent data puts the first-time pass rate at roughly 40 to 45%. The exam has 130 questions across the uniform and Hawaii-specific sections, with 4 hours to complete both and a 70% score needed to pass. The Hawaii-specific section leans heavily on leasehold property, land use law, and other concepts that simply don’t exist in most mainland pre-license courses, so don’t assume general real estate knowledge alone will carry you through.

What if I fail the Hawaii real estate exam?

Given the pass rate, needing a retake is genuinely common, so don’t be discouraged. If you pass one section but not the other, you only need to retake the section you missed — you’ll just pay the exam fee again for that attempt.

What’s this “Preliminary Decision” option for background concerns?

It’s a genuinely useful safeguard Hawaii offers that a lot of states don’t. If you have something in your background that might raise questions — a criminal conviction, a past disciplinary action, or even an outstanding tax obligation — you can submit a Request for Preliminary Decision to the Real Estate Commission along with supporting documentation and a fee (around $25) before you ever enroll in a pre-license course. The Commission gives you a non-binding, advisory read on how your situation is likely to be viewed, so you’re not investing hundreds of dollars in education only to find out later that your background is a problem.

Why does my license fee depend on what year I apply?

It’s not a typo, and it’s not arbitrary. Every Hawaii real estate license expires on the same date — December 31 of even-numbered years — regardless of when you were originally licensed. So the application fee is prorated based on how much of that fixed 2-year cycle remains: $282 if you apply in an even year (closer to the next expiration), $382 if you apply in an odd year (since you’re effectively buying closer to two full years before your first renewal is due).

What are HARPTA and leasehold property, and why do they matter for the exam?

These are two concepts you’ll rarely encounter outside Hawaii, and both show up on the state-specific portion of the exam. HARPTA (the Hawaii Real Property Tax Act) requires withholding a percentage of the sales price when a nonresident seller sells Hawaii real property, similar in spirit to a federal FIRPTA withholding but at the state level. Leasehold property refers to land where you own the structure but lease the underlying land for a set term — common in parts of Hawaii, especially older Oahu developments — as opposed to fee simple ownership where you own the land outright. Both concepts affect real transactions constantly, which is exactly why the Commission tests on them.

Can I get a Hawaii real estate license if I have a misdemeanor or felony on my record?

Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but Hawaii does require an FBI background check as part of licensure, and the Commission evaluates criminal convictions, civil actions, and disciplinary history individually. This is exactly the situation the Preliminary Decision process exists for — if you have concerns, request that non-binding guidance before enrolling in coursework rather than finding out after you’ve already invested the time and money.

I have a real estate license in another state. Does Hawaii offer reciprocity?

Hawaii doesn’t offer full reciprocity, but there’s a real, useful equivalency process. If you currently hold an active license in another state and already passed the uniform (national) portion of that state’s exam, you can apply for an equivalency that waives Hawaii’s uniform section — leaving just the Hawaii-specific portion to complete. You’ll still need a Hawaii School Completion Certificate or education equivalency, and you’ll still need to pass the state-specific exam section covering Hawaii’s distinct property concepts. Contact the Real Estate Commission directly to confirm your eligibility.

How much do real estate agents make in Hawaii?

According to Indeed.com, the average Hawaii real estate agent earns about $109,317 a year, with Honolulu-area agents running similarly strong. Given Hawaii’s median home prices are among the highest in the country, commission dollars per transaction tend to be substantial — though the cost of doing business (and living) in the islands is proportionally high as well.

QUICK TIP: For a rough estimate, look up the average home sale price on the island where you plan to work and apply the typical 2.5% commission. Then multiply by how many homes you realistically expect to sell. Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island all have meaningfully different price points, so it’s worth running the numbers for your specific market rather than a statewide average.