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Become A Real Estate Agent In Hawaii
Article Summary: This article will help anyone looking for information pertaining to a real estate license in the state of Hawaii or anyone looking to become a real estate agent or realtor in Hawaii. Contents of this article may include information on real estate education, schools, training courses, continuing education, tests and exams, laws, license requirements, renewal information, forms and more.
The Hawaii Real Estate Branch
(REB) is part of the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (P&VLD) of
the Hawaii Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs (DCCA). The Real Estate Commission
is one of forty boards and commissions under the DCCA and the Commission’s office
is in Honolulu. The Real Estate Branch assists the Real Estate Commission with
its responsibilities for licensing, education and discipline of real estate licensees.
Of the approximate 15,400 real estate licensees in Hawaii, 9,600 have active licenses
and 5,800 are inactive. There are 3,150 brokers and 9,800 salespersons.
The requirements to obtain a real estate agent license in Hawaii include being
at least 18 years of age by the examination date and being a United States citizen
or national or alien authorized to work in the United States. Applicants must
provide proof of having a reputation and/or record of competency, honesty, financial
integrity, fair dealing and truthfulness.
The requirements for obtaining a real estate salesperson license in Hawaii include successfully completing
a 45-hour prelicensing education course. The school completion certificates are valid for a period of two years.
The applicant must also pass the salesperson’s examination and then has another two years in which to actually apply
for the license. To receive an active license, the salesperson applicant must be employed or associated with
a licensed real estate broker.
The requirements for obtaining a real estate broker license in Hawaii include holding a current
Hawaii real estate salesperson license, or a current salesperson or broker license in another state that has
an equivalent real estate licensing law. The applicant must have been a full-time real estate salesperson
in Hawaii for at least three years during the preceding five-year period and had practical experience.
This includes at least forty hours per week with no credit for part-time work. In some situations the Commission
can substitute the equivalency of real estate salesperson or broker experience in another state.
Applicants for the broker license must successfully complete an 80-hour real estate broker prelicensing course.
The completion certificate is valid for two years. The applicant must also successfully pass the broker’s license examination
and then apply for the broker’s license within two years.
There are certain situations where an equivalency education may satisfy the prelicensing education requirement.
Some of these are: holding a current license in another state as a salesperson or broker where the other state has similar
or superior prelicensing education requirements; being a graduate of an accredited law school; having a bachelor’s degree
from an accredited college or university with a major in real estate or business; completion of at least six semester credits
in real estate at an accredited college or university; or holding a professional real estate designation.
The approved education schools for prelicensure can be found online.
Once licensed all agents must attend ten hours of continuing education courses
every two years before renewing their license. Continuing Education Schools are
located throughout the state. The necessary continuing education application forms
are online.
Although Hawaii does not have a reciprocity agreement with any other state, those who have a
current real estate license in another state may be able to take only the Hawaii portion of the real estate exams
when applying for an agent’s license.
All agent licenses must be renewed prior to November 30th of each even-numbered year. Licenses not renewed are
automatically forfeited on the next January 1st. Proof of having satisfied the continuing education requirements
must be submitted with the license renewal application.
Real estate careers are strengthened by membership in the many
organizations that provide services for the professional agent. Those holding
a real estate license connect with organizations like the Hawaii
Association of Realtors, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB),
and the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO).
The National Association of Realtors (NAR),
the world’s largest professional association, sassists many with education courses
and in locating real estate jobs within the industry.
This portion of our website has been created for information purposes
only. It is our belief that all information presented here is accurate
as of today, however each state is constantly striving to protect
the public and provide more quality service to those using the services
of a Real Estate Agent. Change in Real Estate laws and regulations
is inevitable. The information presented here should be considered
a starting point and we encourage everyone to fully research any
information you are seeking.
To further assist you, we have included links to each state's
real estate licensing office, and also to the state's local Association
of Realtors site that provides current information on proposed real
estate license regulations in that area.
If you do find an error or have updated information, please contact
us and we will update our information accordingly.
