Hawaii
Hawaii insurance licensing: requirements, renewal, and agency rules
Hawaii licenses producers and adjusters through the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), using DCCA's shared My PVL portal rather than an insurance-only system.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- CE hours
- 24 hours (3 ethics)
- Application fee
- $150
- DOI phone
- 808-586-2788
Overview
Hawaii licenses producers and adjusters through the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), using DCCA's shared My PVL portal rather than an insurance-only system. Unlike most states, Hawaii's producer statute requires only a passing exam score — there's no fixed-hour prelicensing course — and the state doesn't waive the exam for professional designations like CLU or ChFC the way many states do. License fees are set by category rather than by line of authority, so a standard Insurance Producer license runs $150 while a Limited Lines Portable Electronics license runs $10,000. Applications, renewals, and supporting documents all route through NIPR rather than a Hawaii-specific application system.
How to get licensed
Confirm you only need to pass the exam
Hawaii doesn't require a fixed-hour prelicensing course before you sit for the licensing exam — HRS §431:9A-105 and §431:9A-106 require only a passing exam score, and the DOI's exam information page lists no prelicensing hours. Hawaii also doesn't waive the exam for professional designations like CLU or ChFC, unlike many other states.
Register for and pass the licensing exam
Pearson VUE administers Hawaii's insurance licensing exams; call 1-800-274-2608 or register through the DOI's exam information page. Walk-in testing isn't available, so schedule ahead. Your passing score is valid for 2 years.
Get fingerprinted
Hawaii uses Fieldprint for the required criminal history background check, using registration code HI-DCCA-INS. Submit your license application within 60 days of being fingerprinted.
Apply for your license
The fastest path is to apply through InsureTrek — we file your Hawaii application for the state's fee, pulled from NIPR at the moment of application (the state's $150 resident fee). Supporting documents go to NIPR's Attachment Warehouse within 7 days of applying.
Wait for approval and verify your license
Once approved, look up or verify your license through DCCA's My PVL portal, which covers license verification for every DCCA-regulated profession, not just insurance.
Prelicensing education
Not required. Hawaii's producer statute requires only a passing exam score, not prelicensing course hours.
Exam
Vendor: Pearson VUE.
Fingerprinting
Required. Vendor: Fieldprint. Use registration code HI-DCCA-INS; submit your license application within 60 days of being fingerprinted.
Fees
| Fee | Initial | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Insurance Producer license | $150 | $100 |
| Resident adjuster license (independent, public, workers' compensation, or crop) | $165 | $90 |
| Resident independent bill reviewer license | $200 | $120 |
| Resident business entity producer license | $150 | $100 |
Fees as of 2026-08-21. Fees change without much notice. When you apply through InsureTrek, we always use the current fee at the moment of application. Sources: NIPR — Hawaii Resident Licensing, Individual, NIPR — Hawaii Resident Renewal, Individual
Renewal & CE
Grace period: A lapsed license can be reinstated without retaking the exam if you pay within 24 months of inactivation, plus a 50% penalty on the renewal fee. After 24 months the license expires and you have to reapply as a new applicant.
One CE credit hour equals 50 minutes of instruction. Course providers must report your completed hours to the Insurance Division within 15 days of the course.
24 total CE hours per renewal term, including 3 ethics hours.
| Line | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Life and Accident & Health | 10 | — |
| Property, Casualty and Surety | 11 | — |
For agencies and non-residents
Agencies, appointments & DRLP
Hawaii requires a separate business entity insurance producer license, alongside at least one designated responsible licensed producer (DRLP) who covers every line of authority on the application. The business entity fee is $150 initial and $100 to renew, the same category-based schedule as individual producers. Hawaii resident entities and trade names must also register separately with DCCA's Business Registration Division and generally need a Hawaii General Excise Tax license.
Insurers must file notice of a Hawaii producer's appointment within 15 days of the contract's execution or the producer's first insurance application, whichever comes first, under HRS §431:9A-114. If an insurer misses that window, the appointment still takes effect on the date DOI receives the filing rather than being rejected.
Appointments — Just-in-time appointments: Because a late filing still takes effect on receipt instead of voiding the appointment, Hawaii's rule functions like a just-in-time system rather than a hard deadline. Deadlines: Insurers must notify the commissioner within 30 days of an appointment's termination date, and mail the producer a copy within 15 days of that notice, under [HRS §431:9A-115](https://law.justia.com/codes/hawaii/title-24/chapter-431/article-9a/). Producers then have 30 days after receiving that notice to file written comments with DOI.
Managing DRLPs across states? See how InsureTrek handles it →
Non-residents
Hawaii waives most licensing requirements for nonresidents who hold a valid license in good standing in their home state, as long as that state extends the same courtesy to Hawaii residents, under HRS §431:9A-116. That waiver doesn't cover Hawaii's own nonresident application conditions — you still have to apply, pay Hawaii's fee, and show your home-state license is current and in good standing. Applications and renewals route through InsureTrek; the nonresident individual fee is $225 initial and $150 to renew. Since Hawaii doesn't waive its own exam for professional designations, confirm a designation-based exemption from your home state before assuming Hawaii will honor it.
Apply for a non-resident Hawaii license through InsureTrek, plus the state fee.
Official resources
- Hawaii Insurance Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — licensing
- DOI phone: 808-586-2788
Terms used on this page
Sources & disclaimer
This guide is informational and summarizes publicly available state and NIPR licensing rules as of 2026-08-21. Requirements change — verify current rules with the Hawaii Insurance Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs or NIPR before you rely on anything here.
Official NIPR reseller · Applications filed through InsureTrek are submitted via NIPR.
- DCCA Insurance Division — accessed 2026-08-19
- DCCA Insurance Division – Continuing Education — accessed 2026-08-19
- DCCA Insurance Division – Exam Information — accessed 2026-08-19
- DCCA Insurance Division – Fee Schedule — accessed 2026-08-19
- DCCA Insurance Division – Producer License Instructions — accessed 2026-08-19
- Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 431, Article 9A — accessed 2026-08-19
- NIPR – Hawaii Non-Resident Licensing (Individual) — accessed 2026-08-19
- NIPR – Hawaii Resident Licensing (Business) — accessed 2026-08-19
FAQs
How much does it cost to get an insurance producer license in Hawaii?
DOI's application fee is $150 for a resident Insurance Producer license, renewing at $100. On top of that you'll pay Pearson VUE exam fees and Fieldprint fingerprinting fees, neither of which DOI publishes itself, so check current pricing with each vendor before budgeting.
Do I need a prelicensing course before the Hawaii exam?
No. Hawaii's producer statute requires only a passing exam score — there's no fixed-hour prelicensing course to complete first, unlike most states.
Where do I take the Hawaii insurance licensing exam?
Pearson VUE administers Hawaii's exams. Walk-in testing isn't available, so call 1-800-274-2608 or register through DOI's exam information page before your target date.
How do I look up or verify a Hawaii insurance license?
Use DCCA's My PVL portal at mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov/public-license-search — it covers every DCCA-regulated profession, not just insurance, so search by name or license number.
Can I get a Hawaii non-resident license without retaking the exam?
Yes, if your resident state is in good standing and grants Hawaii residents the same courtesy. You still have to apply and pay the $225 non-resident fee through InsureTrek, and Hawaii doesn't extend exam waivers for professional designations even if your home state does.
How much continuing education do I need in Hawaii, and how often do I renew?
Hawaii licenses run on a 2-year cycle. Producers holding both major line groups need 24 CE hours per cycle — 10 in Life/Accident & Health, 11 in Property/Casualty/Surety, and 3 ethics hours — with single-line-group holders needing 21 hours plus the 3 ethics hours.
Does Hawaii license insurance adjusters?
Yes. Hawaii licenses independent, public, workers' compensation, and crop adjusters separately from producers, at $165 initial and $90 to renew, plus a separate independent bill reviewer category at $200 initial and $120 to renew.
What happens if my Hawaii license lapses?
You can reinstate without retaking the exam if you pay within 24 months of inactivation, plus a 50% penalty on the renewal fee. Miss that 24-month window and the license expires outright, requiring a fresh application.
See how InsureTrek handles Hawaii licensing at scale.
Renewals, CE, and appointments tracked across every state your producers write in.