StateLicensed

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Hawaii

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$200
Exam
Part I – Business and Law Examination, Part II – Trade Examination (C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Hawaii Contractors License Board, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division (PVL), Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old. No fingerprint-based criminal background check is described in the Board's application requirements. Instead, applicants must demonstrate 'a good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity and fair dealing,' and entities/sole proprietors must submit a current credit report and Hawaii tax clearance as part of the character/financial-integrity review. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete the required training. Hawaii licenses HVAC only at the contractor level — there is no separate journeyman/technician license and no fixed classroom-hour or approved-program requirement. Instead, an applicant (sole proprietor or the entity's Responsible Managing Employee) must document 4 years of full-time supervisory experience in the C-52 classification within the preceding 10 years, verified with notarized experience certificates and a Chronological History of Projects form. [1]

  3. 3

    Part I – Business and Law Examination

    Pass the Part I – Business and Law Examination (fee: $75). Covers Hawaii contractor laws and rules (HRS Chapter 444 and Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 16, Chapter 77). Required in addition to the Part II trade exam for the C-52 classification. [2]

  4. 4

    Part II – Trade Examination (C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning)

    Pass the Part II – Trade Examination (C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning) (fee: $75). Closed-book trade knowledge exam for the C-52 classification. Applicant must be approved by the Board before registering to sit for either exam part, and must complete both parts within 6 months of application approval. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Hawaii Contractors License Board, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division (PVL), Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) with the $50 application fee. [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Hawaii Contractors License Board, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division (PVL), Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) issues your C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor License for Hawaii.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $50
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $353
Part I – Business and Law Examination [2] $75
Part II – Trade Examination (C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning) [2] $75
Examination fee (per part; two parts required — Business & Law and Trade) [2] $75
License fee, contracting entity or sole proprietor — if licensed Oct 1 of an even-numbered year through Sep 30 of the following odd-numbered year [2] $663
License fee, contracting entity or sole proprietor — if licensed Oct 1 of an odd-numbered year through Sep 30 of the following even-numbered year [2] $494

The initial license fee is prorated to the biennial cycle (licenses always expire Sept 30 of an even-numbered year), so it is $663 or $494 depending on when in the 2-year cycle the license is issued — recorded under 'other' rather than as a single 'license' figure since there is no fixed number. Application fee ($50, non-refundable, covers all classifications requested on one application) and renewal fee ($353, biennial) are fixed. Figures per the Board's own Contractor FAQ.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

All Hawaii contractor licenses expire September 30 of every even-numbered year regardless of issue date. Renewal requires a current tax clearance and, if insurance lapses before Sept 30, proof of current liability/workers' compensation coverage. No continuing-education requirement is listed for contractor license renewal, so ceHours is null.

Reciprocity

No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.

The Board's own FAQ states Hawaii has no reciprocity agreements with other states — all applicants must meet the same licensing and examination requirements. An applicant licensed in another state may still submit proof of that license, but must independently document at least 3 supervisory-experience certificates and pass both Hawaii exam parts.

1 state-approved training provider in Hawaii — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $75
  • $75
Total$200

Frequently asked questions

Does Hawaii license individual HVAC technicians, or only contractors?

Hawaii licenses HVAC work at the contractor level only, through the C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor classification. There is no separate state license tier for employees or journeyman-level technicians working under a licensed contractor.

What experience do I need to qualify for a C-52 license?

You need 4 years of full-time supervisory experience in ventilating/air conditioning work within the 10 years before you apply, documented with at least 3 notarized experience certificates and a Chronological History of Projects form.

Does Hawaii have reciprocity with other states?

No. The Contractors License Board's FAQ states that all applicants, regardless of licensure elsewhere, must meet the same Hawaii licensing and examination requirements.

Who administers the contractor licensing exams?

Prometric (formerly Thomson Prometric) administers both required exam parts — Part I Business and Law, and Part II Trade — under contract with the Board.

How often does a C-52 license need to be renewed, and is continuing education required?

All Hawaii contractor licenses run on a fixed biennial cycle expiring September 30 of every even-numbered year, with a $353 renewal fee. The Board's FAQ does not list a continuing-education requirement for renewal.

Sources

  1. [1] cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Require-App-for-Contractor-Sole-Proprietor_10.25.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/files/2018/08/Contractor_FAQ-18.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12