Hawaii real estate exam course: format, topics, and passing scores

After completing a pre-licensing real estate exam course accredited by the Hawaii Real Estate Commission, candidates must pass a two-section licensing exam administered by PSI Services, LLC. The exam tests both national real estate concepts and Hawaii-specific law, and salesperson candidates must score 70% or higher on each section to earn a license. This guide covers the exam format, content outline, scheduling, fees, retake rules, and preparation strategies specific to Hawaii.

Hawaii real estate licensing exam overview

Hawaii requires salesperson and broker candidates to pass a state licensing exam after completing pre-licensing education from a Commission-accredited provider. The Hawaii Real Estate Branch^[1] requires a course completion certificate at check-in, and candidates must have a MyPVL account to receive the certificate, per the Hawaii REB prelicense information page^[2].

PSI Services, LLC has served as Hawaii's testing vendor since July 1, 2009, developing exam content with national and local subject matter experts under ARELLO accreditation^[3]. PSI maintains the registration portal, publishes the Candidate Handbook with the test content outline, and delivers score reports at the test center immediately after completion.

Candidates who pass receive the Salesperson license application at the test site, according to the Hawaii REB Examination & Licensing page^[1]. Broker candidates must present a valid, unexpired Broker Experience Certificate to gain entrance to the broker examination.

Hawaii real estate exam format and passing score

The Hawaii salesperson exam has two independently scored sections. Candidates must achieve 70% or higher on each section to pass, according to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[4] (published January 18, 2023).

Broker candidates must achieve 75% on each section, as published in the same bulletin. The exam is computer-delivered, and PSI issues score reports immediately after completion. The exam does not penalize for incorrect answers, so candidates should answer every question.

No statewide pass rate is published by the Hawaii Real Estate Commission, PSI, or any other authoritative source. Figures appearing on third-party websites cannot be traced to an official regulator or exam vendor and should not be treated as reliable.

What topics are on the Hawaii real estate exam?

The exam tests two distinct content domains: a national portion covering general real estate principles and a state portion covering Hawaii-specific statutes, rules, and practices. The PSI Candidate Handbook^[1] provides the complete content outline.

The national portion covers property ownership, land use controls and regulations, financing, valuation and market analysis, general principles of agency, property disclosures, contracts, leasing and property management, and the practice of real estate.

The state portion covers Hawaii real estate disclosures, property management, land management, titles and conveyances, Hawaii-specific forms and contracts, professional practice and conduct, and the escrow process and closing.

The Hawaii Real Estate Commission's prelicense curriculum also addresses subjects unique to the state, including preliminary title reports, condominium regulations, HARPTA and FIRPTA tax withholding, and mortgage terminology, according to the Hawaii REB prelicense information page^[2].

How much does the Hawaii real estate exam cost?

PSI charges a flat registration fee for each exam sitting, paid through its website at the time of booking. This exam fee is separate from the state license application fee, which the Hawaii Real Estate Commission prints on the candidate's score report after passing, according to the PSI HIRE Program Application^[5].

The full cost breakdown for getting licensed in Hawaii, including pre-licensing course tuition, application fees, and background check fees, is covered in a separate guide.

How to schedule your Hawaii real estate exam

Candidates schedule the exam through PSI's website or by phone after completing the pre-licensing course and obtaining a course completion certificate. PSI posts exam sessions at least 6 weeks in advance and recommends booking 4 to 6 weeks before the preferred date for the best availability, according to PSI's test-taker resources^[6].

Candidates can reschedule without penalty up to 2 business days before the appointment, per the same PSI resource page^[6]. Exam availability varies by demand: appointments may be a few days away during low-demand periods or a week or more out during peak times.

What to bring to the Hawaii real estate exam

Candidates must bring valid, government-issued photo identification and an unexpired Hawaii School Completion Certificate to the test center, according to PSI's test-taker resources^[6] and the Hawaii REB prelicense information page^[2]. Candidates with a current license in another state who have passed the uniform section of that state's exam may present an Equivalency to Uniform Portion certificate instead.

Broker candidates must additionally present a valid, unexpired Broker Experience Certificate to gain entrance to the broker examination, per the Hawaii REB Examination & Licensing page^[1].

The check-in process takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes, according to PSI's test-taker resources^[6]. For online proctored exams, candidates must be in a walled room with no distractions, and only one monitor is permitted. Prohibited items during online proctoring include mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, headphones, calculators, reference materials, paper, food, and beverages. If a candidate is viewed with prohibited items during the exam, the exam is terminated and fees are forfeited.

Failing and retaking the Hawaii real estate exam

Candidates who pass one section but fail the other need to retake only the failed section, provided they retake it within two years of the date of the first passed section and hold an unexpired School Completion Certificate or Prelicensing Education Equivalency Certificate. If both sections are not passed within that two-year window, the candidate must retake the entire exam, according to Haw. Code R. § 16-99-29^[7].

No maximum number of retake attempts exists for Hawaii. The two-year time window from the first examination date is the only constraint, and candidates may retake the failed section as many times as needed within that period.

After passing both sections, candidates must submit a complete license application within two years of the examination date. Candidates who fail to submit or cure an incomplete application within that window are considered unsuccessful and must retake the exam, according to the PSI HIRE Program Application^[5]. Application processing can take several weeks, as the Commission reviews applications at its regular meetings.

Practice tests and exam prep resources

PSI offers practice tests and study materials through its online store, and the official test content outline is available in the PSI Candidate Handbook. Candidates preparing for the Hawaii exam should prioritize materials aligned with PSI's test format, since PSI develops the actual exam content with national and local subject matter experts, according to the PSI Real Estate Guide^[8].

This practice resource excludes state law content. For state-section preparation, candidates should rely on their pre-licensing course materials and the content outline in the Candidate Handbook^[1]. A larger study bundle with extensive additional questions is also available through the PSI store^[9].

Pearson VUE offers a national real estate practice test^[10] for $19.95, but Pearson VUE is not Hawaii's exam vendor, and its practice tests contain no state-specific content. Candidates should treat any real estate exam practice test as a supplement to thorough study of the pre-licensing curriculum.

The pre-licensing course is the foundation of exam preparation, and candidates can choose between classroom and online formats based on their schedule and learning preferences.

Tips for passing the Hawaii real estate exam

A structured study plan covering both the national and state content domains gives candidates the strongest chance of passing on the first attempt. Most candidates benefit from at least two weeks of dedicated real estate exam prep after completing the pre-licensing course.

Effective study strategies include creating a personalized study schedule based on the PSI content outline, using flashcards for real estate vocabulary and Hawaii-specific terminology, and practicing real estate math such as commission calculations, loan-to-value ratios, and tax prorations. Taking a real estate exam practice test under timed conditions helps candidates identify weak areas and build test-day stamina. A real estate license exam prep course or real estate test prep course can provide additional structure for candidates who want guided instruction beyond their pre-licensing materials.

Since the exam does not penalize for incorrect answers, candidates should answer every question. Studying in focused intervals, such as 25-minute sessions with short breaks, helps maintain retention during long study sessions. Real estate practice questions and real estate exam practice tests are most effective when used to diagnose gaps rather than as a primary study method.

Broker candidates face different requirements before sitting for the broker-level exam.

After passing the exam, candidates should submit their license application to the Hawaii Real Estate Commission and begin the process of finding a sponsoring broker to activate their license.