Real Estate School in Hawaii: Pre-Licensing Course Requirements

Hawaii requires 60 hours of Commission-accredited pre-licensing education for salesperson candidates and 80 hours for broker candidates, covering real estate law, finance, property ownership, contracts, disclosures, and Hawaii-specific topics like condominium law and HARPTA/FIRPTA. The Hawaii Real Estate Branch (REB) approves courses delivered online, via live Zoom, and in person, and a completion certificate from an accredited real estate school is required to sit for the state licensing exam administered by PSI Services.

Hawaii pre-licensing course requirements

The salesperson pre-licensing course is 60 hours and the broker course is 80 hours. Both require completion through a Commission-accredited provider. A MyPVL account through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is required at enrollment, because the account information is used to generate the course completion certificate needed to sit for the licensing exam (Hawaii REB Salesperson Prelicense Information^[1]).

There is no age or residency requirement to enroll in a pre-licensing course, though candidates must meet state eligibility requirements to take the licensing exam. You do not need to be a Hawaii resident to take the course or apply for a license.

The salesperson license covers all real estate activity in Hawaii, regardless of sector.

Broker candidates face an additional prerequisite: they must obtain a Broker Experience Certificate before registering for the broker exam. The certificate requires at least three years of full-time (40 hours per week) Hawaii-licensed salesperson experience within the five-year period immediately prior to submission (Hawaii REB Examination & Licensing^[2]).

What the pre-licensing course covers

The Hawaii pre-licensing course covers real estate law, property rights and ownership, legal descriptions, titles and deeds, contracts, mandatory disclosures, finance and mortgages, appraisal, taxation, closing procedures, and professional ethics. The curriculum prepares candidates for both the uniform (national) and state portions of the PSI licensing exam. PSI Services has been Hawaii's testing agency since July 1, 2009, and the exam content outline is published in the PSI Candidate Handbook available through the REB website (Hawaii REB Real Estate Education^[3]).

The following table summarizes the main curriculum areas covered by approved providers:

Hawaii-specific curriculum topics

The Hawaii Real Estate Commission includes several Hawaii-specific handouts in the Salesperson Prelicense Curriculum that address state laws and practices not covered in the national portion of the exam (Hawaii REB Salesperson Prelicense Information^[1]). These handouts cover topics unique to Hawaii real estate transactions:

These topics are integrated into the salesperson curriculum rather than offered as separate credentials.

Course formats: online, live instruction, and in-person

Hawaii pre-licensing courses are available in three primary delivery formats, and candidates can filter by medium when searching the REB course database.

Self-paced online realty classes allow students to complete the course requirement on their own schedule. Online providers enforce a minimum seat-time requirement through their delivery platforms, ensuring students spend the required hours engaged with course content. At a full-time study pace, an online course can be completed in under two weeks; at a part-time pace, the course takes approximately five weeks.

Live Zoom and webinar courses follow a set schedule, typically running approximately three to five weeks. These real estate classes combine live instruction with reading assignments, quizzes, and sometimes additional exam prep sessions. Textbooks and printed materials may be mailed to students.

In-person classroom courses are available on Oahu and Maui, with some schools serving students from all islands. Classes may be held on evenings and weekends to accommodate working students. Some programs offer three consecutive weekend sessions or multi-week evening schedules.

How to find an approved Hawaii real estate school

Approved Hawaii real estate schools must register with the REB and are subject to Commission oversight of their curriculum and instructors. The REB charges prelicense school registration fees of $1,436 in odd-numbered years or $1,373 in even-numbered years for schools offering both salesperson and broker courses, and $1,026 (odd year) or $963 (even year) for schools offering either salesperson or broker courses. Instructor registration costs $218 in odd years or $155 in even years (Hawaii REB Application & Registration Fees^[4]).

Course tuition varies by provider, format, and package tier. Self-paced online courses generally range from approximately $275 to $600, while live-instruction and premium packages reach higher price points. Additional fees for the state exam, background check, and license application apply separately.

When comparing schools, candidates should consider delivery format, schedule, included exam prep materials, retake policies, and instructor support. Some schools offer policies that allow students who fail the state exam to repeat the course at a reduced administrative fee. Candidates with possible disqualifying background issues may request a preliminary decision from the Real Estate Commission before enrolling in a pre-licensing course (Hawaii REB Salesperson Prelicense Information^[1]).

Completing the course: final exam and certificate

Most approved providers require students to pass a school-administered final exam to earn the Hawaii School Completion Certificate. The school final exam is separate from the state PSI licensing exam, and its format varies by provider. Some schools set their own minimum passing score and limit the number of retake attempts, while others administer longer comprehensive exams lasting several hours.

After a student passes the final exam, the school issues a signed completion certificate and reports the completion to the Hawaii Real Estate Commission. Providers typically post completion information to the student's MyPVL account within a week or two of course completion. The original completion certificate must be submitted with the license application after passing the state exam (PSI HIRE Program Application^[5]).

Course certificate validity and next steps

The Hawaii School Completion Certificate is valid for two years from the date of issuance. Candidates must pass both sections of the state licensing exam within two years of the first passed section, using an unexpired certificate. If both sections are not passed within that window, the candidate must retake both sections (Hawaii REB Examination & Licensing^[2]). Candidates who fail to submit a complete license application within two years of the examination date must retake the exam (PSI HIRE Program Application^[5]).

After completing the pre-licensing course and passing the PSI exam, the next steps are to submit the license application, affiliate with a sponsoring broker, and begin practicing. Once licensed, salespersons must complete 20 hours of Commission-approved continuing education per two-year renewal cycle to maintain an active license.

To get started, create a MyPVL account through the DCCA website, search for an approved pre-licensing course using the REB's Prelicense School and Course Search tool, and enroll in a format that fits your schedule and budget.