- A licensed plumber may contract directly only on projects of $1,000 or less that need no plumbing permit. The general $1,500 handyman exemption does not apply to plumbing work that needs a permit.
- Contractor license: 4 years of supervisory experience in the classification within the past 10 years. Journey Worker Plumber: 5 years and at least 10,000 hours of plumbing work under the Uniform Plumbing Code. Master Plumber: 2 years as a licensed journey worker plumber.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- A bond only if the board requires one.
- Contractor licenses expire September 30 of even numbered years. Plumber licenses renew every three years by June 30 (2027, 2030, 2033) and need a Uniform Plumbing Code update course.
Do you need a state license in Hawaii?
Hawaii licenses plumbing work at the state level through the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Contractors License Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
A licensed plumber may contract directly only on projects of $1,000 or less that need no plumbing permit. The general $1,500 handyman exemption does not apply to plumbing work that needs a permit.
County building departments handle plumbing permits and codes.
Hawaii license types for plumbing work
Hawaii splits the work into 5 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| C-37 Plumbing contractor | The contractor license for a plumbing business |
| C-37a Sewer and drain line contractor | Sewer and drain lines |
| C-37b Irrigation and lawn sprinkler systems contractor | Irrigation and lawn sprinklers |
| Master Plumber (PM) | Individual plumber license, 2 years as a licensed journey worker plumber |
| Journey Worker Plumber (PJ) | Individual plumber license, 5 years and at least 10,000 hours of plumbing work |
Steps to get licensed in Hawaii
- Build 5 years and 10,000 hours of plumbing work and get your Journey Worker Plumber license, then 2 more years for Master Plumber.
- Build 4 years of supervisory experience in plumbing within the past 10 years.
- Apply to the Contractors License Board for the C-37 classification and pay the $50 application fee.
- Once approved, pass Part I Business and Law and Part II Trade exams.
- Pay the license fee and file proof of liability and workers compensation insurance.
- Renew the contractor license by September 30 of even years and your plumber license every three years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Contractor license: 4 years of supervisory experience in the classification within the past 10 years. Journey Worker Plumber: 5 years and at least 10,000 hours of plumbing work under the Uniform Plumbing Code. Master Plumber: 2 years as a licensed journey worker plumber.
The license to apply for. C-37 Plumbing Contractor (plus a Master Plumber license).
Hawaii plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. The contractor exam has a trade part (Part II). Plumber licenses also need a written exam that covers the Uniform Plumbing Code.
Business and law exam. Yes. Part I of the contractor exam covers business and law.
What it costs in Hawaii
The board lists 6 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $50 |
| Exam fee, specialty classifications | $80 |
| License fee, sole proprietor or entity, Oct 1 of an even year to Sept 30 of an odd year | $663 |
| License fee, sole proprietor or entity, Oct 1 of an odd year to Sept 30 of an even year | $494 |
| Contractor renewal, sole proprietor or entity | $353 |
| Plumber license renewal, active | $306 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence, property damage liability of $50,000, plus workers compensation if you have employees.
Bond. A bond only if the board requires one.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Contractor licenses expire September 30 of even numbered years. Plumber licenses renew every three years by June 30 (2027, 2030, 2033) and need a Uniform Plumbing Code update course.
Reciprocity. Hawaii has no reciprocity agreements. All applicants meet the same licensing and exam requirements.
Good to know in Hawaii
- The owner builder exemption does not cover plumbing work.
- Plumbers licensed within one year of the renewal date do not need the continuing competency course for that renewal.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a plumber near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Contractors License Board and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how plumbing companies run on Koira.