Hawaii Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Hawaii is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so its licenses are single-state. RNs renew every 2 years, complete 30 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a Hawaii nursing license
The lookup runs on Hawaii's state licensing portal, which covers RNs alongside other licensed professions. Nursys Quick Confirm is a free national check you can use as a second source.
Hawaii Board of Nursing (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Hawaii
Hawaii RN licenses renew every two years. Every license expires June 30 of odd-numbered years, regardless of when it was originally issued; the current renewal period runs from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. Renewal requires completion of 30 hours of continuing education. A license that lapses, or is forfeited, can still be restored within two years of expiration.
The renewal fee is $196, compared with $40 for an initial Hawaii license. NCLEX testing fees and the fingerprint-based criminal background check are billed separately, paid to Pearson VUE and Fieldprint rather than to the board. Renewal fees are paid by check to Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and a $25 charge applies to any payment that is returned or dishonored.
How much does a Hawaii RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Hawaii board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to Hawaii: endorsement and temporary permits
Hawaii is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. This means a Hawaii RN license is valid only in Hawaii, not a multistate license recognized automatically in other compact states. A registered nurse who holds a license from another state, territory, or country cannot simply practice in Hawaii on that license; they must apply for a Hawaii license by endorsement, which the board processes as licensure "without examination" once eligibility is confirmed.
Applying by endorsement requires verification of every nursing license the applicant has ever held, typically through Nursys, along with an FBI and Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center fingerprint check and payment of the licensing fee for the current issue period. Hawaii does not require a separate state jurisprudence exam, and the board offers a temporary permit for eligible applicants. Nurses who have not practiced in the United States for five or more years may be required to complete a refresher course.
Education and exam for an RN license in Hawaii
Hawaii does not restrict the education path to a particular degree type; the board accepts applicants from associate, bachelor's, or diploma nursing programs, as long as the school sends an official transcript or completion letter directly to the board. Candidates must pass the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE; Hawaii adds no separate state exam, and the board will not approve a candidate who has failed the NCLEX-RN three times without remediation.
What do RNs earn in Hawaii?
BLS OES May 2025 · 12,940 RNs employed in Hawaii · RN salary in Hawaii by city →
Sources
- Hawaii Board of Nursing (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/nursing/application_publications
- cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/nursing/continuing-competency-requirement
- cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PVL_Nursing_Continuing_Compe…
- cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PVL_Form_Nursing_RN_LPN_By_E…
- cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/RN-LPN-Nursing-endorsement-o…
- cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Combined-App-for-Temp-Permit…
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Hawaii RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.