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Hawaii

Hawaii Occupational Licensing

64 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

1st most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$506

Hawaii Licensing Overview

Hawaii licenses 64 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are more burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 1st in the nation. Hawaii licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Tree Trimmer (8 other), Travel Agency (5 other).

On average, Hawaii requires $506 in licensing fees, 972 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a Hawaii is the most regulated?

Out of the 64 occupations that require an occupational license in Hawaii, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $256 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Hawaii is the least regulated?

Out of the 64 occupations that require an occupational license in Hawaii, licenses for Auctioneer, Fisher, Commercial have the lowest burden.

Which occupational license in Hawaii is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Hawaii costs the most for Midwife, Direct Entry. A Midwife, Direct Entry license requires $2130 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 years of education.

Which occupational license in Hawaii is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Hawaii costs the least for Child Care Home, Family. A Child Care Home, Family license requires $22 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Hawaii takes the most time to obtain?

In Hawaii, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2555 days (7 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $256 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in Hawaii takes the least time to obtain?

In Hawaii, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Crane Operator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Weigher, Travel Agency, Child Care Home, Family, Bill Collection Agency, Auctioneer, Fisher, Commercial.

In Hawaii, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Hawaii, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Earth Driller, Water Well, Fire Alarm Installer, Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Residential), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Security Alarm Installer, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Tree Trimmer, Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Athletic Trainer, Midwife, Direct Entry, Optician, Pest Control Applicator, Cosmetologist, School Bus Driver, Shampooer, Barber, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, Security Guard, Unarmed, Massage Therapist, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Crane Operator, Emergency Medical Technician, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Weigher, Travel Guide. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Hawaii’s occupational licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the most burdensome in the nation. On average, Hawaii’s barriers to entry comprise $438 in fees, 988 days—nearly three years—of education and experience, and around two exams. Hawaii also licenses 63 of the 102 occupations studied here—more than average, though fewer than some other similarly burdensome states. For this reason, it ranks as the fifth most broadly and onerously licensed state. While this rank is better than Hawaii’s first-place burden score, it still means the Aloha State is one of the worst licensing environments for lower-income occupations.

Some of Hawaii’s most burdensome licenses are for occupations rarely licensed by other states. Tree trimmers, for example, must pay $615 in fees, demonstrate 1,460 days (four years) of experience and pass two exams before they can work, while the average burdens in the seven states that license the occupation are $325 in fees, 574 days of education and experience, and roughly two exams. With so few states licensing tree trimmers, it is questionable for Hawaii to license them at all, let alone so onerously.

Hawaii also imposes burdens on 54 occupations that are more onerous than those for EMTs, an occupation that arguably has a stronger connection to public safety. For example, it is harder to become a city/transit bus driver, cosmetologist or construction contractor than it is to become an EMT. Would-be EMTs must demonstrate 180 hours of education and 135 hours of experience (losing about 74 days) and pass two exams, while all 33 of the Hawaii contractor licenses studied require nearly 20 times as much education and experience (1,460 days or four years) and at least one—if not two—exams. Hawaii could improve its rankings by repealing or reducing such heavy burdens, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.

Hawaii State Licensing Requirements for Lower-Income Occupations

Select a chart to view:
Burden Rank Occupation Number of States that License Fees Education/Experience (Days) Education Experience Exams Minimum Grade Minimum Age
1 Preschool Teacher, Public School 50 256 2555 4 years 3 years 2 0 0
2 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) 25 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) 30 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) 24 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) 30 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) 25 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) 30 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Fire Alarm Installer 39 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial) 22 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) 27 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Glazier Contractor (Commercial) 26 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Glazier Contractor (Residential) 30 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 HVAC Contractor (Commercial) 37 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 HVAC Contractor (Residential) 35 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Insulation Contractor (Commercial) 24 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Insulation Contractor (Residential) 30 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) 26 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) 30 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Mason Contractor (Commercial) 26 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Mason Contractor (Residential) 31 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Painting Contractor (Commercial) 22 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Painting Contractor (Residential) 27 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Paving Contractor (Commercial) 24 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Paving Contractor (Residential) 28 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Pipelayer Contractor 27 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Security Alarm Installer 37 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) 37 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 36 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) 26 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) 31 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
2 Tree Trimmer 8 694 1460 None 4 years 2 0 18
35 Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) 24 619 1460 None 4 years 1 0 18
35 Door Repair Contractor (Residential) 29 619 1460 None 4 years 1 0 18
35 Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) 23 619 1460 None 4 years 1 0 18
35 Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) 28 619 1460 None 4 years 1 0 18
39 Athletic Trainer 49 525 1460 4 years None 1 0 18
40 Midwife, Direct Entry 37 2130 730 2 years None 1 12 0
41 Optician 22 548 730 2 years None 2 12 18
42 Pest Control Applicator 51 530 730 None 2 years 3 0 18
43 Cosmetologist 51 92 420 1800 clock hours None 1 12 16
44 School Bus Driver 51 110 365 None 1 year 6 0 21
45 Shampooer 33 182 292 1250 clock hours None 1 12 16
46 Barber 51 45 350 1500 clock hours None 1 0 17
47 Makeup Artist 37 182 140 600 clock hours None 1 12 16
47 Skin Care Specialist 51 182 140 600 clock hours None 1 12 16
49 Manicurist 51 182 82 350 clock hours None 1 12 16
50 Security Guard, Unarmed 34 132 1 8 clock hours None 1 12 18
51 Massage Therapist 45 245 133 570 clock hours None 1 0 18
52 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 105 0 None None 5 0 21
52 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 105 0 None None 5 0 21
54 Truck Driver, Other 51 100 0 None None 4 0 21
55 Crane Operator 16 390 0 None None 2 0 21
56 Emergency Medical Technician 51 200 35 150 clock hours None 2 0 18
57 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 200 0 None None 2 0 18
58 Weigher 24 25 0 None None 1 0 18
59 Travel Agency 5 85 0 None None 0 0 18
60 Child Care Home, Family 44 22 0 None None 0 0 18
61 Travel Guide 37 35 2 12 clock hours None 1 0 0
62 Bill Collection Agency 29 167 0 None None 0 0 0
63 Auctioneer 28 100 0 None None 0 0 0
63 Fisher, Commercial 43 100 0 None None 0 0 0

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

View Report