Hawaii LPN License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees

Hawaii is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an LPN moving to Hawaii from another state cannot rely on a multistate license to practice there. Instead, the nurse must apply for a Hawaii license by endorsement before working in the state, going through the same joint RN/LPN endorsement process regardless of which state issued the original license.

An LPN already licensed in another state, territory, or country, who has passed the NCLEX-PN or an earlier equivalent exam, applies for a Hawaii license without examination on the joint RN/LPN endorsement form. This requires verification of every license held, an NPDB self-query report, an FBI and Hawaii fingerprint check through Fieldprint, and a fee of $254 or $186 depending on the issue period. A temporary permit is available, and nurses away from US practice for 5 years or more may need a refresher course.

Hawaii requires LPN candidates to graduate from a board-approved practical nursing program, with a final transcript or school completion letter sent directly to the board. The board does not state how long the program must be. Graduates of foreign nursing programs must submit a report from CGFNS or a credentials evaluation service. Candidates must then pass the NCLEX-PN, given through Pearson VUE; Hawaii does not require a separate jurisprudence exam. The board will not approve anyone who has failed the NCLEX three times without remediation.