Real Estate License from California to Hawaii: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Hawaii accept a California real estate license?
A real estate license transfers from California to Hawaii by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Hawaii Real Estate Commission (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division), verify your California license, and meet Hawaii's endorsement requirements. Hawaii is NOT reciprocal with any state; every applicant must pass the Hawaii licensing examination (Uniform/General portion + State portion). An applicant holding a current, active out-of-state real estate license may obtain (a) an equivalency to the prelicense education requirement, waiving the 60-hour course, and (b) an equivalency to the Uniform (General) section of the exam, so only the Hawaii STATE portion must be passed. Each equivalency is a separate application.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Hawaii publishes no agreement covering California, but it does evaluate out-of-state licensees individually — so this move runs on Hawaii's endorsement judgment rather than a guarantee. The requirements below are what the Hawaii Real Estate Commission (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) commits to in writing; for anything discretionary (exam waivers, education credit), get the commission's answer in writing before you rely on it.
What's different between California and Hawaii
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Hawaii. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
California to Hawaii (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
Hawaii to California (the reverse move): Full re-application.
The two directions differ: California and Hawaii do not give each other's licensees the same route.
- Does coming from California matter?
Coming from California does not change the answer: every origin (the other 49 states and DC) gets the same result for a move into Hawaii.
- Application fee
Hawaii lists $50–$100 for an out-of-state applicant and California lists $450 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Pre-license education
Hawaii's first-time-applicant standard is 60 hours of pre-license education; California's is 135.
Hawaii's is 75 education hours lower than California's.
- Exam rules on record
Hawaii and California carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Hawaii (this move): Hawaii is NOT reciprocal with any state; every applicant must pass the Hawaii licensing examination (Uniform/General portion + State portion). An applicant holding a current, active out-of-state real estate license may obtain (a) an equivalency to the prelicense education requirement, waiving the 60-hour course, and (b) an equivalency to the Uniform (General) section of the exam, so only the Hawaii STATE portion must be passed. Each equivalency is a separate application.
- California (the reverse move): No waiver - California has no reciprocity; an out-of-state licensee must qualify for and pass the full California salesperson written examination exactly like a new applicant.
What changes, California → Hawaii
| California (current) | Hawaii (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-license education | 135 | 60 |
| Application fee | $450 (Combined salesperson exam/license application (RE 435): $100 examination fee + $350 license fee = $450 due to DRE. Fingerprint fee about $49 (California residents pay the live-scan vendor directly; out-of-state applicants submit the fingerprint fee to DRE with the FD-258 card).) | $50–$100 (Each equivalency application is $50 non-refundable (education equivalency; optional uniform-section equivalency adds $50). Separate from the PSI exam fee and the salesperson license fee of $382 (odd-numbered year) or $282 (even-numbered year).) |
| Processing time | DRE does not publish a fixed processing time; exam application review commonly takes several weeks | Not stated for equivalency processing; equivalency certificates are valid two years once granted |
| Licensing authority | California Department of Real Estate (DRE) | Hawaii Real Estate Commission (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Hawaii sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Hawaii's current requirements on the Hawaii Real Estate Commission (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Hawaii Real Estate Commission (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a current out-of-state real estate license that was active within one year immediately prior to the equivalency application.
- File the Prelicensing Education Equivalency application ($50 non-refundable) to waive the 60-hour Hawaii prelicense course.
- Optionally file the Equivalency to the Uniform Section of the Hawaii Real Estate Licensing Examination (form UEE09, $50) to waive the general exam portion.
- Submit a Verification of License form completed and issued by the out-of-state licensing agency (photocopies not accepted).
- Register with and pass the required Hawaii examination portion(s) through PSI, then pay the license fee.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep selling in California after I'm licensed in Hawaii?
Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the California license active (renewals and CE continue separately) and you hold both; many border-market agents do exactly this.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Hawaii REB — Real Estate Licensing FAQs ('We are not reciprocal with any other State' + equivalency to prelicense education and to the Uniform Examination) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii REB — Instructions and Information for Prelicensing Education Equivalency (out-of-state licensee eligibility; $50 fee; uniform-section equivalency) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii REB — Examination Prerequisites (must complete prelicense course or obtain equivalency; exam has Uniform + State portions) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii REB — Application/Registration Fees (salesperson license $382 odd / $282 even year) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii REB — Salesperson Prelicense Curriculum (Total Estimated Minimum 60 hours) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- California DRE - Out-of-State Applicants ('California has no reciprocity with any other state to allow a waiver of any of the requirements') ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- California DRE - Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License (three college-level courses, 45 hours each) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- California DRE - Fees (salesperson exam $100 / license $350) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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