If you’d like to become a real estate agent in Hawaii, it helps to understand everything involved before you start the process. Here, we’ll cover the benefits of the profession as well as everything that is required to receive your license.
There are a number of steps in the Hawaii real estate licensing process, so we’ve broken it down to keep things simple. To get your license, you will need to:
Step 1: Complete Pre-License Education
Step 2: Create an eHawaii Account
Step 3: Pass the Course Exam
Step 4: Pass the Hawaii Real Estate Licensing Exam
Step 5: Submit a Real Estate License Application
Step 6: Choose a Sponsoring Broker
Before we move on to the steps to get your license, consider if becoming a Hawaii real estate agent is right for you.
The Benefits of Working as a Hawaii Real Estate Agent
At salary.com, the average salary for a real estate agent in Hawaii is listed as $44,000 to $57,000 per year. This varies depending on your commission percentage, the number of homes you sell, if you have any caps, what your split is with your broker, and the value of the homes sold.
In Hawaii, the median home value is $672,429. Real estate agents often make 5% commission on sales, which would be $33,621.
Salary aside, becoming a real estate agent includes these other benefits:
- Flexibility in your schedule
- Unlimited income potential
- Career mobility
- Helping people
- Familiarity with your community and neighborhoods
- Varying environments and tasks
If this sounds like a good fit for you, these are the things you should consider next.
Do You Prequalify?
To prequalify as a Hawaii real estate agent, you need to:
- Be at least 18-years old.
- Have a highschool diploma, or its equivalent
- Be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or an alien authorized to work in the United States.
- Have a reputation of “competency, honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity and fair dealing,” – this will be assessed during the license application.
As long as you meet these prerequisites, you can take the next steps towards obtaining your license.
1. Complete Pre-License Education
To qualify as a real estate agent in Hawaii. you need to complete 60 hours of pre-license education. The course can be taken in a live classroom or online, and there are a number of real estate institutes available across Hawaii.
The pre-licensing education covers these (and other) topics:
- Licensing laws
- Tenancy and Ownership
- Property Development and Hawaii Land Use
- Financing
- Closing
- Condos, Timeshares, and Unit Developments
- Environmental Issues
- Tenant-Landlord Code
If you have graduated from an accredited law school, received a degree from a university with a major course study in real estate, are a former licensee, or have a current real estate license in another state, see the Hawaii Real Estate Branch website to find requirements for your particular situation.
2. Create an eHawaii account
The state requires that official certificates are sent through the eHawaii site. Create an account with eHawaii, and make sure you enter your name as it’s printed on your government-issued ID.
3. Pass the Course Exam
The final course exam can be scheduled through the real estate school that you took classes through. To pass the 130-question exam and earn your certificate, you need to get a score of at least 70%.
Once you pass you will receive a School Completion Certificate. The certificate will be valid for two years, so you will need to complete the next step within two years of passing the course exam.
4. Pass the Hawaii Real Estate Licensing Exam
Once you’ve completed your courses and passed the course tests, you can apply to take the Hawaii Real Estate Salesperson Exam. This will be administered by PSI, an outside agency. You can register for the course by phone by calling PSI Services (PSI) at 1(855) 579-4640, or you can schedule an appointment online at https://candidate.psiexams.com.
Hawaii has a number of testing centers that you can choose from. You can find one close to you by using the PSI “find a test center” tool. The exam fee is $61.
The state also provides the option of taking a remote online proctored exam – you can check your system compatibility here. For any questions regarding compatibility or if you have any issues launching your remote exam, you can contact PSI’s remote proctoring technical support team at (844) 267-1017.
On the day of the exam, you will need to bring:
- One (1) form of photo ID – this must contain your signature
- A printed or original Hawaii High School Completion Certificate, OR an original (hard copy) Prelicensing Education Equivalency Certificate for Real Estate License Examination
- If applicable, an original (hard copy) unexpired Equivalency to Uniform Portion of Examination Certificate
According to the PSI website: “If you cannot provide the required identification, you must call (855) 579-4640 at least three (3) weeks prior to your scheduled appointment to arrange a way to meet this security requirement.”
Once you’re in the exam site, you will need to place all electronic devices, bulky clothing, and other personal items in a secure location. You will then sit at a computer to take the test.
The exam consists of 130 questions split into two parts: 80 questions covering national real estate topics, for which you will have 150 minutes to answer, and 50 questions specific to Hawaii for which you will have 90 minutes to answer. You will have 4 hours to complete the exam. For more information you can see the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin here.
Some of the topics covered in the exam are:
- Real estate practice
- Contracts
- Property ownership
- Leasing and property management
- Transfer of title
- Valuation and market analysis
- Financing
- Real estate calculations
To pass the test you need to get at least 70%. Your score will be given to you as soon as the exam is completed.
5. Submit a Real Estate License Application
Upon completing and passing your exam at the testing center, they will provide you with instructions on how to submit your application. They will also give you your score report and any other documentation you might need to apply.
You need to file your application within 2 years of passing the licensing exam. The completed application, along with the fees and required documents, should be sent by mail or hand-delivered.
6. Choose a Sponsoring Broker
To become a licensed and practicing real estate agent in Hawaii, you need to be associated with a registered brokerage firm or broker. Before submitting your application, you’ll need to have secured this sponsorship. It’s important to choose the right broker, as they’ll play a key role in growing your real estate career.
Consider the following when choosing a broker to work with:
- Their reputation as a broker or brokerage firm
- The types of agents they look for
- If they provide education and training for agents
- If they provide marketing materials and potential leads
- Which systems they use
- The benefits they offer
- What is their commission structure?
- What is the growth potential?
Once you’ve completed all of these steps successfully, you will receive your Hawaii Real Estate Agent License. At this point, you might want to consider if you’re interested in becoming a Realtor. Here is what that means:
Real Estate Agent vs Realtor: What’s the difference?
For a real estate agent to become a Realtor, they need to become a member of the National Association of Realtors®. The NAR is an organization for real estate agents and other industry professionals. Members are required to subscribe to standards and a code of ethics set by the association. Membership offers access to market data and transaction management services, and other benefits.
To become a part of this community, these are the steps you need to take:
- Get your state real estate license
- Join your local REALTORS® Association – find one close to you with their “find an association” tool
- Pay the application fee – this varies by association
- Maintain membership dues – to keep your title of REALTOR®, you need to pay an annual fee of $150
Become a top Real Estate Agent!
Now that you’re a Real Estate Agent. You’ll need a website to show off your listings, attract buyers and sellers and if your ambitious get real estate coaching or digital marketing from some of the best in the field. Reach out to us at RE Digital to learn how we can help you become a top performer.
"*" indicates required fields
