Hawaii electrical contractor fees

The electrical contractor license cost in Hawaii typically includes a $50 entity application fee, a separate $50 RME application fee, first‑issuance license fees of $680–$805 depending on the biennium year, plus $150 to the Contractors Recovery Fund and $10 to the Education Fund; PSI exam fees are paid separately. DCCA‑PVL; HAR 16‑53‑17; PSI exams.

Requirements last verified: 2026-10-22

Requirement	Details
Licensing agency	Hawaii DCCA, Professional & Vocational Licensing (PVL), Contractors License Board (CLB). Agency page.
Classification	C‑13 Electrical contractor (specialty). Scope per Exhibit A. HAR Ch. 77, Exhibit A.
Application fees	$50 per application (entity); $50 per application (Responsible Managing Employee, RME). Entity application; RME application; HAR 16‑53‑17(1).
Initial license fees (entity)	First year of biennium: $355; second year: $260. Add Recovery Fund $150 and Education Fund $10 at issuance. Total entity issuance typically $410–$515. HAR 16‑53‑17(5),(7),(8).
Initial license fees (RME)	First year of biennium: $290; second year: $260. HAR 16‑53‑17(6).
Exam	Business & Law and C‑13 trade exams administered by PSI after Board approval; fees are paid directly to PSI (amounts set by PSI). CLB exam page; PSI bulletin hub; see also HRS §444‑12(b).
Experience (RME)	Minimum 4 years of supervisory experience in the classification within the past 10 years. HAR §16‑77‑18; also stated on RME application. RME form.
Minimum age (RME)	At least 18 years old. RME application.
Insurance/Bond	General liability minimums: $100,000 each person / $300,000 each occurrence (bodily injury) and $50,000 each occurrence (property damage); workers’ compensation as applicable; no state contractor bond (Recovery Fund used instead). Entity application; HAR 16‑53‑17(7)–(9).
Renewal (biennial)	All licenses renew by September 30 of even‑numbered years. Entity renewal: $190 + Recovery Fund $10 + Education Fund $5 = $205; RME renewal: $60. Entity application; HAR 16‑53‑17(9).

How to calculate your Hawaii electrical contractor license cost

1. Confirm your issuance window. Hawaii runs on a fixed two‑year cycle ending September 30 of even years. Your first‑issue license fees change depending on whether you’re in the first or second year. CLB application.
2. Add required Board fees. Combine the entity’s license fee ($355 first year or $260 second year) with the Recovery Fund ($150) and Education Fund ($10). If you’re forming a new entity, include the $50 entity application fee. HAR 16‑53‑17.
3. Include your RME costs. The RME pays a separate $50 application fee and a first‑issue license fee of $290 (first year) or $260 (second year). HAR 16‑53‑17(6).
4. Account for exam fees. After Board approval, you’ll register and pay PSI directly for the Business & Law and C‑13 trade exams. Budget exam fees per the current PSI Hawaii bulletin. CLB exams.
5. Budget insurance and business setup. You must show liability limits of $100,000/$300,000/$50,000 and workers’ comp if you have employees; also register your entity with BREG and obtain tax clearance before licensure. Entity application.
6. Plan renewals. Every even‑year September 30, expect $205 for the entity (includes Recovery and Education funds) and $60 for the RME. HAR 16‑53‑17(9).

Electrical contractor license cost in Hawaii: typical totals

Most new C‑13 electrical contractors pay two sets of fees: one for the contracting entity and one for the RME who qualifies the license. Issued in the first year of the biennium (October 1 even‑year to September 30 odd‑year), typical DCCA charges are:

• Entity: $50 application + $355 initial license + $150 Recovery Fund + $10 Education Fund = $565.
• RME: $50 application + $290 initial license = $340.

Total state licensing charges at issuance: about $905, excluding PSI exam fees and insurance premiums. If licensed in the second year of the biennium, the entity pays $260 (instead of $355) and the RME $260 (instead of $290), bringing the typical total to about $770. All figures per HAR 16‑53‑17 and CLB forms (entity, RME).

What the Hawaii C‑13 electrical contractor license covers

The C‑13 specialty classification covers electrical contracting work; Exhibit A also notes that C‑13 encompasses work otherwise in C‑15 (electronic systems) and C‑60 (solar power systems) scopes when appropriately performed by a C‑13. Reference: HAR Ch. 77, Exhibit A.

Eligibility and experience costs you should plan for

Your RME must be at least 18, document four years of supervisory experience in the C‑13 classification within the last 10 years, and pass both exams. Document requirements and minimums are in HAR and the CLB’s RME application. HAR §16‑77‑18; RME form.

Exam fees and scheduling

Hawaii contractor examinations are administered by PSI; you can register only after the Board approves your application. Exam fees are paid to PSI (amounts set by PSI). See the state’s current exam page and PSI’s Hawaii portal. CLB exams; PSI bulletin hub.

Insurance and ongoing costs

You must maintain the CLB’s minimum liability coverage ($100,000/$300,000 bodily injury; $50,000 property damage) and workers’ compensation as applicable; failure to maintain coverage causes automatic forfeiture. Renew every two years by September 30 (even years). Entity application.

Compare Hawaii trade license costs

If you work across trades, it helps to benchmark. For mechanical work, see our breakdown of HVAC contractor license costs in Hawaii and, if you’re mapping your full pathway into mechanical systems, our step‑by‑step Hawaii HVAC contractor license guide. Security‑adjacent firms can review statewide fees in our Hawaii security guard license costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total Hawaii electrical contractor license cost to start?

Expect roughly $770–$905 in state CLB charges at issuance, depending on the biennium year, plus two $50 application fees (entity and RME), PSI exam fees, and insurance premiums. The issuance totals flow from HAR 16‑53‑17 and include Recovery ($150) and Education ($10) fund fees. Fee rule; PSI exams.

How much are Hawaii C‑13 renewal fees?

Every even‑year September 30, the entity pays $205 (renewal $190 + Recovery $10 + Education $5) and the RME pays $60. Maintain required insurance to avoid automatic forfeiture. HAR 16‑53‑17(9); Entity form.

Do I need a separate electrician license to perform wiring?

Yes. A C‑13 contractor must employ Hawaii‑licensed electricians to perform electrical work; RMEs without an electrician license cannot personally perform covered wiring without such licensure. See the CLB’s notice in the entity application and HAR references. Entity application (notice); HAR §16‑80‑4(7).

What experience does my RME need for C‑13?

Your RME must document four years of supervisory experience (foreman/supervising employee/contractor) in the classification within the last ten years, with notarized experience certificates and a project list. HAR §16‑77‑18; RME application.

Who administers the Hawaii contractor exams and how do I pay?

PSI Services administers both the Business & Law and C‑13 trade exams for Hawaii. After CLB approval, you schedule and pay PSI directly; exam fees are set by PSI and not by the Board. CLB exam page; PSI portal; HRS §444‑12(b).

Want a clean, line‑item budget for your C‑13 application? License Navigator can assemble every state fee, exam step, and insurance proof you’ll need and keep you deadline‑safe through issuance and renewal.