Electrician License from New Jersey to Hawaii: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (DCCA, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division) ↗
No — Hawaii has no reciprocity or endorsement path for New Jersey electrical license holders. You must apply to the Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (DCCA, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division) as a new applicant and meet Hawaii's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
Hawaii recognizes no other state's electrician license, so coming from New Jersey means a full application rather than a transfer. The path is the new-applicant track with your experience as an accelerant: your New Jersey hours on the tools usually count toward Hawaii's experience minimum, and the exam draws on code knowledge you already use daily. Pull the Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (DCCA, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division)'s requirements early and treat any required coursework as review, not new ground.
What changes, New Jersey → Hawaii
| New Jersey (current) | Hawaii (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 8,000 | 10,000 |
| Application fee | $150 (Class A journeyman initial license fee $150 in the first year of a triennial (prorated thereafter) per N.J.A.C. 13:31-1.6 eff. 6/2/2025, billed after approval; the Electrical Contractor business license is $225. Reciprocity applicants must also complete a 15-hour NEC course.) | $40 ($40 application fee + $95 examination fee; license fee is $306 if issued in year 1 of the triennium (incl. 2026), $204 year 2, or $102 year 3) |
| Processing time | Board does not publish a processing time; the registration fee is billed only after the application is approved. | The Board publishes no processing-time figure; applicants must also clear an academic-coursework review through a UH Community College |
| Licensing authority | New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (Division of Consumer Affairs) | Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (DCCA, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Hawaii sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Hawaii's initial-licensure requirements on the Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (DCCA, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division) website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Hawaii's education/experience requirements and pass its required exams — prior out-of-state licensure may still count toward experience.
- Submit the standard (new applicant) application with fees ($40 ($40 application fee + $95 examination fee; license fee is $306 if issued in year 1 of the triennium (incl. 2026), $204 year 2, or $102 year 3)).
- Allow The Board publishes no processing-time figure; applicants must also clear an academic-coursework review through a UH Community College.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Hawaii accept a New Jersey electrician license?
No — Hawaii has no reciprocity or endorsement path for New Jersey electrical license holders. You must apply to the Hawaii Board of Electricians and Plumbers (DCCA, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division) as a new applicant and meet Hawaii's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exam will I take moving from New Jersey to Hawaii?
Hawaii has no reciprocity with any jurisdiction — every applicant, in-state or out-of-state, must pass the Board of Electricians and Plumbers licensure examination; out-of-state experience may satisfy the experience requirement when substantially equivalent, but never waives the exam.
What does the New Jersey-to-Hawaii move cost and how long does it take?
$40 ($40 application fee + $95 examination fee; license fee is $306 if issued in year 1 of the triennium (incl. 2026), $204 year 2, or $102 year 3); processing The Board publishes no processing-time figure; applicants must also clear an academic-coursework review through a UH Community College.
Do my New Jersey hours count when I apply in Hawaii?
Generally yes — documented out-of-state experience usually counts toward Hawaii's experience-hour requirement, even where the license itself does not transfer. It shortens the qualification, not the exam.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Hawaii DCCA — Electricians & Plumbers FAQ (states 'Does Hawaii have reciprocal agreements with other states? No.'; fees; EJ requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii DCCA — Board of Electricians and Plumbers (board home) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii DCCA — Application Forms and Publications ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NJ Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors — FAQ (no reciprocity with any state) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- N.J.A.C. 13:31-5.8 — Reciprocity for Class A journeyman electricians (equal-reciprocity condition; 2 of last 5 years; 15-hr NEC course) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- N.J.A.C. 13:31-1.6 — Fee schedule (Class A journeyman $150; electrical contractor $225) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NJ Application for Certificate of Registration as Qualified Journeyman Electrician (8,000 hours + 576 classroom hours) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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