Hawaii real estate license renewal and CE requirements

Hawaii real estate licensees must complete 20 hours of Commission-approved continuing education and pay a renewal fee every two years to maintain active status. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission sets a filing deadline of November 30 in even-numbered years, with licenses expiring December 31 of the same year. CE real estate coursework must be finished before the expiration date, or the Commission will process the renewal as inactive. This guide covers the renewal cycle, CE requirements, fees, the MyPVL renewal portal, and the consequences of missing the deadline.

Hawaii real estate license renewal cycle and deadlines

The Hawaii real estate license renewal cycle runs on a two-year biennium from January 1 of odd-numbered years through December 31 of even-numbered years. The Commission's filing deadline is November 30 of each even-numbered year, and all licenses expire on December 31 of that year, according to the Hawaii DCCA license renewal instructions^[1].

For the 2025-2026 biennium, the filing deadline is November 30, 2026, and licenses expire December 31, 2026. Any license not renewed by expiration forfeits automatically on January 1, 2027, making the holder unlicensed. The PSI HIRE program application^[2] confirms these dates.

The Commission does not prorate fees, issue refunds, grant filing extensions, or defer license issuance. If a renewal payment is dishonored, the license forfeits on January 1 without further notice.

Online renewal through the MyPVL portal stays open until 11:59:59 p.m. on December 31, but the Commission processes applications at monthly meetings. Filing after the November 30 deadline introduces processing risk, as applications may not be reviewed before expiration.

Continuing education hour requirements for Hawaii renewal

Hawaii requires 20 hours of Commission-approved continuing education per two-year renewal cycle: 6 core hours and 14 elective hours. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission Bulletin, February 2026 confirms the current biennium's split as 6 core hours, consisting of Core A (3 hours) and Core B (3 hours), plus 14 elective hours.

A prior structure used a single longer core course with fewer elective hours, as described by the Hawaii Island REALTORS® license renewal page^[3]. That format is superseded for the 2025-2026 biennium; the Commission now designates two 3-hour core courses instead.

The Honolulu Board of REALTORS®^[4] states that both Core A and Core B must be completed to receive any core credit. If a licensee finishes only one core course, no core course credit is awarded.

Elective hours may be drawn from any Commission-approved elective offerings. Common elective topics include ethics, fair housing, contracts, disclosures, antitrust, and agent safety.

Core course requirements for the 2025-2026 biennium

Core A and Core B are the two mandatory Commission-designated courses covering legislative and rule changes from different years of the biennium. Core A addresses law changes from the odd-numbered year, and Core B addresses law changes from the even-numbered year.

For 2025-2026, Core A is titled "Advertising, Agency, and Accountability — It's Your Kuleana!" Core B is titled "Get Real: Manage/Mismanage!" and covers property management and 2026 legislative updates.

Core B is typically released around June or July of the even-numbered year, after the legislative session concludes. The Honolulu Board of REALTORS® recommends completing Core A during the first (odd) year and Core B during the second (even) year of the biennium.

Completing Hawaii real estate CE online

Hawaii licensees can satisfy the entire CE requirement through approved internet-delivered courses, with options ranging from self-paced modules to live webinars and in-person classes. Online real estate education has expanded across multiple Commission-approved providers, with package options that bundle core and elective coursework together.

CE course pricing varies by provider and format. Individual online courses are generally inexpensive, while full renewal packages vary depending on the provider and included features. In-person classes typically cost more than online alternatives.

Hawaii real estate license renewal fees

Renewal fees vary by license type under the Hawaii REB fee schedule^[5], which implements Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 53 (effective October 10, 2016):

Fees are the same for active and inactive status. The schedule does not provide for proration, refunds, or credits.

A $25 fee applies to change from inactive to active status, in addition to completing the CE requirement. A $25 service charge applies to dishonored payments, and a $25 non-refundable application fee is assessed if an application is not approved or processing is terminated, per the PSI HIRE program application^[2].

Brokers face the same CE obligation as salespersons when renewing.

Using the MyPVL portal for renewal

The state's MyPVL portal serves as the centralized system for managing real estate license status and submitting renewal applications online. The Real Estate Branch CE resources page^[6] describes MyPVL as available around the clock for licensee services.

To renew, a licensee logs into the system, confirms that CE credits are reflected in the record, submits the renewal application, and pays the renewal fee. The portal processes online payments and issues confirmation. Principal brokers can verify the compliance status of all affiliated agents through the same system.

Broker license renewal follows the same process through the portal.

What happens if you miss the renewal deadline

A Hawaii real estate license not renewed by December 31 of an even-numbered year forfeits automatically on January 1 of the following year. The holder becomes unlicensed and cannot legally practice real estate until the license is restored.

The Hawaii DCCA renewal instructions^[1] outline the restoration framework under Act 11, effective April 1, 2010, which caps the restoration window at 5 years from the date of forfeiture:

A forfeited broker license cannot be restored after 5 years. The former broker must begin again as a new salesperson applicant and relinquish all prior experience.

If a licensee fails to complete CE by the expiration date, the Commission processes the renewal as inactive without notification. The licensee can later reactivate by completing the missing CE and paying the reactivation fee.

Reactivating an inactive Hawaii real estate license

A licensee on inactive status can reactivate by submitting proof of CE completion, paying the reactivation fee, and filing a completed Change Form, per the renewal instructions^[1].

To reactivate before the end of the current biennium, the licensee must satisfy the prescribed CE hours of the prior renewal period, totaling at least 20 credit hours. Previous biennium core courses remain available through May 31 of odd-numbered years; after that date, the licensee must complete 20 hours of elective courses only, according to the Hawaii Island REALTORS®^[3].

The reactivation process and associated fees are detailed in the PSI HIRE program application^[2], which also governs the inactive-to-active status change.

CE equivalency and duplicate course rules

A salesperson issued a license during an even-numbered year is deemed to have completed the equivalent of 20 CE hours and will be renewed on active status, provided the renewal is filed by the November 30 deadline. This equivalency applies only to the first renewal cycle, as documented in the DCCA renewal instructions^[1].

Licensees with current out-of-state licenses recognized by ARELLO may receive CE equivalency for their out-of-state coursework, but must still complete the Commission-designated core course for the current biennium.

Under HAR Section 16-99-95^[7], a licensee may not take a CE course for which they have already received a certificate within two consecutive biennia. The Commission allows repeating a course every other biennium, but duplicate credit is not awarded for a repeated course.

NAR requirements separate from Hawaii state CE

REALTOR® members face an additional national obligation: periodic ethics and fair housing coursework administered by the National Association of REALTORS®, distinct from Hawaii's state CE mandate. These NAR training cycles do not replace or substitute for the Commission's CE requirement, though a specific NAR course may also carry Commission-approved elective credit.

Next steps for Hawaii licensees approaching renewal

Log into MyPVL to confirm your CE credits are recorded and both Core A and Core B appear in your history. If any hours are missing, contact your CE provider, as providers transmit rosters electronically to the state each business day but delays can occur. Complete all 20 hours and file the renewal application through MyPVL well before the November 30, 2026 deadline to avoid the processing bottleneck that builds as expiration approaches. Licensees who finish early avoid the risk of losing active status and the costs associated with late restoration.