Transfer Your Nursing License to Hawaii: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Hawaii?
No license transfers into Hawaii automatically: it is one of the non-compact jurisdictions, and a compact multistate license carries no privilege there. The route is licensure by endorsement with the Hawaii Board of Nursing ($186–$254 (total varies by point in the 2-year licensing cycle ($40 application + $36 license + Compliance Resolution Fund $50-$100 + $60 Center for Nursing + $18 half-renewal when applicable); fingerprint fee paid directly to Fieldprint; optional temporary permit $50)); your NCLEX pass transfers, the license does not.
Moving to Hawaii from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Plan the timeline first. Because Hawaii recognizes no outside license, you cannot legally work a single shift there until its own license (or temporary permit, where offered) is in hand — and unlike compact states, there is no shortcut for travel or telehealth work either.
Non-compact state — an NLC multistate license does not authorize practice in Hawaii; every out-of-state RN must obtain a Hawaii license by endorsement.
Hawaii requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your original licensure and exam scores are verified through Nursys or directly by your original state board |
|---|---|
| Fees | $186–$254 (total varies by point in the 2-year licensing cycle ($40 application + $36 license + Compliance Resolution Fund $50-$100 + $60 Center for Nursing + $18 half-renewal when applicable); fingerprint fee paid directly to Fieldprint; optional temporary permit $50) |
| Processing time | 3–4 weeks (board states processing is normally 15-20 working days for complete applications; one single-employer temporary permit available) |
Comparing Hawaii with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Hawaii's current requirements on the Hawaii Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Hawaii Board of Nursing (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Fingerprint-based FBI and Hawaii state criminal history check through Fieldprint (code FPHIBrdNursing).
- Submit an original National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self-query report.
- Obtain verification of licensure from your state of original licensure by exam (via Nursys if that state participates).
- If you have not actively practiced in the past 5 years, the board may require proof of continued competency (NCLEX retake or board-recognized continuing education).
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Hawaii:
Hawaii for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in Hawaii
- Real Estate in Hawaii
- Contractor in Hawaii
- Teaching in Hawaii
- CPA / Accounting in Hawaii
- Electrician in Hawaii
- Plumber in Hawaii
- Engineering in Hawaii
- Pharmacy in Hawaii
- Physical Therapy in Hawaii
- Psychology in Hawaii
- Counseling in Hawaii
- Social Work in Hawaii
- Occupational Therapy in Hawaii
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Hawaii?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your original licensure and exam scores are verified through Nursys or directly by your original state board. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Hawaii in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
No. Hawaii does not participate as of 2026-10-29, so compact multistate licenses carry no practice privilege there.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Hawaii DCCA — Application for License (Endorsement or Without Exam), NSG-02/NSG-07 with fee schedule ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Hawaii Board of Nursing — Application Forms and Publications ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com