Hawaii real estate broker and real estate agent: roles, requirements, and licensing

A Hawaii real estate broker can operate an independent real estate business, hire sales agents, and keep full commission without a supervising broker. To earn the license, a salesperson must complete 3 years of full-time experience, 80 hours of broker pre-licensing education, a Broker Experience Certificate, and a PSI-administered broker exam with a 75% passing score. The distinction between a broker and a REALTOR® is that a broker holds a state-issued license with expanded authority, while a REALTOR® is a National Association of REALTORS® member who may hold either a salesperson or broker license.

What is a real estate broker in Hawaii?

A real estate broker in Hawaii is a licensee who has met additional education and experience requirements beyond the salesperson level and is licensed to manage an independent real estate business, employ sales agents, and supervise real estate transactions. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission, composed of nine members appointed by the Governor, oversees licensure and discipline of real estate professionals under Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 99^[1].

A salesperson operates under broker supervision and cannot independently conduct real estate transactions. A broker can work solo, form a brokerage entity, and sponsor salesperson licenses. Brokers also take on compliance and supervisory responsibilities that salespersons do not have.

Nationally, real estate brokers held about 111,300 jobs in 2024, and 54% were self-employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics^[2]. The median annual wage for brokers was $72,280 in May 2024, compared with $56,320 for sales agents. Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034, with approximately 46,300 openings each year on average.

The same license covers both residential and commercial transactions in Hawaii.

How Hawaii defines broker, agent, and real estate agent roles

The three terms, broker, agent, and real estate agent, refer to different things in Hawaii real estate. A broker holds expanded authority after completing extra education and experience requirements. A salesperson (the statutory term for an agent) operates under broker supervision. A REALTOR® is a National Association of REALTORS® member who may hold either license type.

In Hawaii, "real estate salesperson" is the statutory term for the entry-level license. "Real estate agent" is the everyday term for the same role.

Prerequisites: starting as a licensed salesperson

You must hold an active Hawaii real estate salesperson license before pursuing a broker license. The salesperson license has its own eligibility, education, and exam requirements, and all broker experience must be earned while the salesperson holds an active license under a Hawaii broker.

The Broker Experience Certificate

The Broker Experience Certificate is a required document verifying that a broker candidate has at least 3 years of full-time experience as a Hawaii-licensed salesperson. Candidates must obtain this certificate from the Hawaii Real Estate Commission before registering for the broker exam with PSI. According to the Hawaii Real Estate Branch^[3], the certificate requires practical experience as a full-time salesperson, defined as devoting at least 40 hours per week, associated with a Hawaii-licensed broker for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately before submitting the application. No prorated credit is given for part-time activity.

The 5-year lookback window means a candidate who earned a salesperson license 6 years ago can still qualify if at least 3 of those years fell within the most recent 5-year period. The experience must be active, meaning the salesperson was licensed and associated with a broker during those years.

Failure to obtain the Broker Experience Certificate before taking the exam results in invalidation of the exam score, pursuant to Hawaii Administrative Rules Section 16-99-19.2. The Commission reviews certificate applications at its monthly meetings, normally held on the fourth Friday of each month, so candidates should submit applications well in advance of their planned exam date.

Out-of-state salesperson experience may qualify for an equivalency if the candidate holds a current, unencumbered real estate broker's license in another state or jurisdiction recognized by ARELLO, with licensing requirements the Commission deems equivalent.

Completing broker pre-licensing education

Broker candidates must complete 80 hours of Commission-approved pre-licensing education. The Hawaii Real Estate Branch^[3] requires this education unless the candidate is granted a prelicense education equivalency.

Candidates who hold a current license in another state with similar or superior pre-licensing requirements may qualify for an education equivalency. A law degree from an accredited U.S. law school also qualifies. The education completion certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance, and candidates must pass the broker exam within that window.

The Hawaii real estate broker exam

The Hawaii real estate broker exam is administered by PSI Services, LLC^[3], which has served as Hawaii's testing agency since July 1, 2009. The exam consists of two portions: a national (uniform) section and a Hawaii-specific state section. The exam fee is $61 per attempt, as stated in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[4].

The minimum passing score for broker applicants is 75% on both the national and state portions, as established by Hawaii Administrative Rules Section 16-99-29^[5], effective January 1, 2026. This is higher than the 70% passing score required for salesperson applicants.

PSI offers the exam at accredited test centers and through secure online proctoring. On Oahu, the test center is at the Ala Moana Pacific Center. Candidates can register at the PSI website^[6].

If a candidate passes one portion but fails the other, only the failed portion must be retaken, as long as the retake occurs within 2 years of passing the first portion. Candidates who do not pass both portions within 2 years must retake both.

Applying for your broker license

Candidates who pass the broker exam receive the Broker (Individual) license application at the test site from PSI, according to the Hawaii Real Estate Branch^[7]. The application must be submitted within 2 years of the exam date; candidates who miss this deadline must retake the exam, per the PSI HIRE Program Application^[8].

All broker applicants must complete the continuing education requirement to receive an active broker license. A $25 non-refundable fee is deducted from any refund if the application is not approved.

The license application fee depends on the year of issuance and license type, as set under Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 53^[9], effective October 10, 2016:

Licenses issued in an even-numbered year require the applicant to pay the license fee and then pay the renewal fee by November 30 of that same year, because all licenses expire on December 31 of even-numbered years. License fees are not prorated.

A candidate who passes the broker exam before the salesperson license expires may submit the broker application during the renewal period, request that the salesperson license not be renewed, and have the broker license take effect January 1 of the odd-numbered year.

Out-of-state and equivalency pathways

Hawaii does not offer blanket reciprocity for real estate broker licenses. The Commission provides equivalency pathways instead, evaluated case by case.

Candidates with a current license in another state who have passed the uniform section of that state's licensing exam may qualify for an equivalency to the uniform section of the Hawaii exam, according to the Hawaii Real Estate Branch^[3]. If granted, the candidate takes only the Hawaii state section.

Out-of-state broker experience may satisfy the Broker Experience Certificate requirement if the candidate holds a current, unencumbered broker license in an ARELLO-recognized jurisdiction with equivalent licensing laws. Out-of-state pre-licensing education may also qualify for an equivalency if the prior state's requirements are similar or superior.

After licensure: what changes when you become a broker

A Hawaii real estate broker can work independently, form a brokerage entity, and sponsor salesperson licenses. Brokers who operate as sole proprietors or form corporations, partnerships, LLCs, or LLPs must hold the corresponding broker license type and register any branch offices with the Commission.

All Hawaii real estate licenses expire on December 31 of even-numbered years and must be renewed by November 30, per the Hawaii DCCA renewal instructions^[10]. Brokers must complete Commission-approved continuing education per two-year renewal cycle.

A broker license that lapses can be restored within 5 years of forfeiture. Restoration within 1 year requires paying required fees and penalties. Restoration after 1 to 4 years requires completing 30 hours of elective CE or passing the pre-licensing exam for the forfeited license level. After 4 to 5 years, the licensee must pass the pre-licensing exam. After 5 years, the license is automatically terminated, and the individual must start over as a salesperson applicant.

To begin the broker licensing process, verify that your salesperson experience meets the full-time requirement, then submit a Broker Experience Certificate application to the Hawaii Real Estate Commission through your MyPVL account. Once approved, enroll in a Commission-approved broker pre-licensing course, schedule your exam with PSI, and prepare your application materials for submission at the test site.