Do you need a state license in Hawaii?
Hawaii licenses septic system work at the state level through the Hawaii Department of Health, Wastewater Branch. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Steps to get licensed in Hawaii
- Get an A, C-9, C-37, C-37a or C-43 contractor license from the state.
- Work from plans approved by the Wastewater Branch.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. C-43 Sewer, Sewage Disposal, Drain and Pipe Laying contractor (or A, C-9, C-37, C-37a).
Hawaii septic installer exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Hawaii
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: Hawaii Department of Health, Wastewater Branch.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Hawaii
- The Wastewater Branch will not accept a contractor with any other license class.
- A licensed civil engineer prepares the system plans and submits them for review.
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 septic installation 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 Health, Wastewater Branch and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.