How much does it cost to become a real estate agent in Hawaii?

Before you become a real estate agent in Hawaii, you need a clear picture of what the license will cost. The cost to get a Hawaii real estate license includes a pre-licensing course from a commission-accredited provider, the $61 exam fee, and the state application fee of $282 or $382 depending on the licensing year, with course tuition adding several hundred dollars to the total. Optional costs for REALTOR® membership, MLS access, and business expenses add several hundred dollars per year after licensing.

Total cost to get a Hawaii real estate license

The cost of getting a real estate license in Hawaii comes down to three required expenses: pre-licensing education, the licensing exam, and the state application fee. The table below summarizes these mandatory costs.

The exam and application fees are fixed costs set by the state and testing vendor. Pre-licensing course tuition varies by provider, format, and package tier, ranging from several hundred dollars for self-paced online courses to higher amounts for live-instruction premium packages. Optional expenses such as REALTOR® dues, MLS access, errors and omissions insurance, and exam prep materials are not required to obtain the license but factor into the total cost of practicing real estate. The application fee varies by whether the license is issued in an even-numbered or odd-numbered year, a distinction that can add hundreds of dollars to first-year costs.

Hawaii real estate license application fees

License fees are established by the Hawaii Real Estate Commission under HAR Chapter 53^[1]. The salesperson application fee differs depending on whether the license is issued in an even-numbered or odd-numbered year.

If an application is not approved, a $25 processing fee is retained from any refund, per the PSI Hawaii program application^[2]. Changing from inactive to active status costs $25, and dishonored payments incur a $25 service charge. License fees are not prorated, and all licenses expire on December 31 of each even-numbered year regardless of issuance date.

Hawaii real estate exam fee

Registration for the state licensing exam is handled through PSI, with payment due at sign-up.

Candidates can reschedule the exam without forfeiting the fee if they cancel at least two days before the test date. The exam includes a national portion and a Hawaii state portion, and candidates receive their scores immediately after completion.

Pre-licensing course costs in Hawaii

Hawaii requires commission-accredited pre-licensing education before a candidate can sit for the salesperson exam.

The required pre-licensing course is offered by multiple approved providers at different price points.

Course format affects both price and study flexibility, with online options generally costing less than live instruction.

Self-paced online courses are generally the most affordable option, while live-instruction and premium packages cost more. Courses typically expire six months after purchase, though some providers offer extension periods.

REALTOR® dues and MLS access costs in Hawaii

REALTOR® membership and MLS access are the two largest optional recurring costs for a practicing Hawaii agent. National Association of REALTORS® dues for 2027 are $156 per member, plus a $45 special assessment for the Consumer Advertising Campaign, totaling $201 annually, according to the NAR membership dues page^[3]. State and local association dues are billed separately and vary by association.

MLS access in Hawaii is provided through HiCentral MLS on Oahu and Hawaii Information Service on neighboring islands. The HiCentral MLS annual participation fee is $550 plus Hawaii State General Excise Tax (G.E.T.) per licensee for the July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 cycle, per the HiCentral MLS fee schedule. The HiCentral MLS participation fees page^[4] confirms this fee was increased on July 1, 2025 for the first time in over 20 years, and a $50 late fee applies if payment is not received by the June 30 due date. The non-member MLS Plus rate is $1,400 plus G.E.T. per licensee annually.

Ongoing costs of maintaining a Hawaii real estate license

Maintaining a Hawaii real estate license requires biennial renewal, continuing education, and optional business expenses.

The renewal cycle requires 20 hours of commission-approved continuing education during the two-year period preceding renewal, consisting of 6 core hours (Core A and Core B at 3 hours each) and 14 elective hours, per the Hawaii DCCA renewal instructions^[5].

Hawaii does not have a separate post-license education requirement. New salesperson licensees issued in an even-numbered year are deemed to have fulfilled their CE requirement for that first renewal cycle, according to the Hawaii DCCA Real Estate Branch renewal FAQ. For all other renewals, the standard 20-hour CE requirement applies.

Errors and omissions insurance typically costs around $500 per year for an individual agent policy, though many brokerages include E&O coverage for their agents at no separate charge. Continuing education course prices vary by provider. Most expenses related to maintaining a real estate license are typically tax deductible as business expenses, but agents should consult a tax professional for guidance specific to their situation.

The even-numbered year double-fee quirk

If you receive your license in an even-numbered year, you will pay the initial license fee and the renewal fee in the same year. All Hawaii real estate licenses expire on December 31 of even-numbered years, and license fees are not prorated, as stated in the PSI Hawaii application instructions^[2]. A salesperson licensed in 2026, for example, would pay both the application fee and the renewal fee by November 30, 2026, totaling approximately $550 in license fees that year. A licensee who receives their license in an odd-numbered year pays only the initial application fee and does not renew until the following even-numbered year.

Candidates should consider scheduling their exam to receive a license in an odd-numbered year when possible, spreading the costs across two calendar years rather than paying both fees within months of each other.

How much do real estate agents earn in Hawaii

Real estate agents in Hawaii earn income through commissions on completed transactions. Commission rates are legally negotiable.

Nationally, the median annual wage for real estate sales agents was $54,300 as of May 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics^[6]. The NAR Member Profile 2025 reports that REALTORS® with two years or less of experience earned a median of $8,100 annually, while those with 16 or more years of experience earned $78,900, according to the NAR agent income page^[7]. REALTORS® spent a median of $8,010 on business expenses in 2024.

New agents should expect low earnings in the first one to two years while building a client base. Hawaii's high median home values mean that individual transaction commissions can be substantial, but the time between transactions can be long for new agents.

Hawaii real estate broker license cost differences

The cost to become a real estate broker in Hawaii adds education and experience requirements on top of exam and license costs. Broker candidates must have at least three years of full-time (40 hours per week) Hawaii-licensed salesperson experience within a five-year period, per the Hawaii REB examination and licensing page^[8].

Broker entity renewal fees differ from individual license renewal fees. Sole proprietor broker renewal costs $298, and broker corporation, partnership, LLC, and LLP renewal costs $343, per the Hawaii REB fee schedule^[1].

Next steps after understanding the costs

Now that you know how much a real estate license costs in Hawaii, the next step is to choose a commission-accredited pre-licensing course provider and create a study schedule. Search for approved providers on the Hawaii Real Estate Branch education page^[9], and consider whether timing your exam and application in an odd-numbered year can help you avoid the double-fee quirk. After completing the pre-licensing course, register for the exam through PSI Services, then submit your license application with the required fee to the Hawaii Real Estate Commission.