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Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs · checked 2026-10-21
Hawaii Electrician License Requirements
Statewide journey worker and supervising electrician licenses issued by the Board of Electricians and Plumbers under HRS chapter 448E. Supervising electrician: 9 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- 1EJ · Journey worker electrician 5 years
- 2ES · Supervising electrician 9 years
License levels in Hawaii
The Hawaii path has 2 steps on this page: Journey worker electrician and Supervising electrician. The source counts experience in hours and classroom instruction separately; the "time from start" column turns those hours into full-time years at 2,000 hours a year.
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EJ Journey worker electrician | 10,000 hours | 240 h | 5 years | Yes (PSI) | Application $40 |
| ES Supervising electrician | 4 years at the prior level | — | 9 years | Yes (PSI) | Application $40 |
Journey worker electrician (EJ)
Five years and not less than 10,000 hours in residential or commercial wiring, plus 240 hours of electrical academic coursework accepted by a University of Hawaii community college (HRS § 448E-5). Exam on the National Electrical Code, given through PSI. Source: Hawaii PVL, Electrician and plumber license requirements and application (2026-06).
Supervising electrician (ES)
Four years of experience as a licensed journey worker electrician or equivalent, then the National Electrical Code exam through PSI. Source: Hawaii PVL, Electrician and plumber license requirements and application (2026-06).
Hawaii also issues narrower classes on the same page: Journey worker industrial electrician (four years and 8,000 hours of industrial work, 200 hours of coursework).
Exam
2 of the 2 levels listed here require an exam: Journey worker electrician and Supervising electrician. The source does not print a pass mark. Testing vendor named: PSI.
Fees
- Journey worker electrician: application $40.
- Supervising electrician: application $40.
The application form prints the license fee both as $52 and, in its fee section, as $306, $204 or $102 depending on the year of the three-year cycle, so only the $40 application fee is shown here. Exam fees are paid to PSI and are not printed. On-time renewal of an active license is $306.
Reciprocity
The Hawaii sources read for this trade name no reciprocity agreement and no route for out-of-state licensees.
How Hawaii compares
Among the 24 states on this site that state a minimum time to the top electrician credential, Hawaii ranks 24 of 24 from shortest (2 years) to longest (9 years). No other state here sets exactly 9 years. The classroom requirement here peaks at 240 hours.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Texas · Florida · Ohio · Georgia. All states side by side: Electrician license requirements by state.
Other trades in Hawaii
- Plumber: Master plumber: 7 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
- General contractor: Contractor license, general building (responsible managing employee): 4 years of experience at minimum, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Hawaii trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · What the license fees add up to.
Questions
Who issues the electrician license in Hawaii?
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL), Board of Electricians and Plumbers. Statewide journey worker and supervising electrician licenses issued by the Board of Electricians and Plumbers under HRS chapter 448E.
How long does it take to qualify for the Supervising electrician in Hawaii?
9 years by this site's count. Four years of experience as a licensed journey worker electrician or equivalent, then the National Electrical Code exam through PSI.
Does Hawaii have electrician license reciprocity?
The Hawaii sources read name no reciprocity agreement for this trade.
What are the Hawaii electrician license fees?
Journey worker electrician: application $40. Supervising electrician: application $40.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL), Board of Electricians and Plumbers | 2026-10-21 |
| EJ requirements | Hawaii PVL, Electrician and plumber license requirements and application (2026-06) | 2026-10-21 |
| ES requirements | Hawaii PVL, Electrician and plumber license requirements and application (2026-06) | 2026-10-21 |
| Law cited | HRS chapter 448E (§ 448E-5) | 2026-10-21 |
This page summarises what the Hawaii source said on 2026-10-21. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.