Childcare Center Director / Hawaii
2026 data Hawaii board official source

Hawaii Childcare Center Director License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

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Manages childcare facilities providing care for young children.

What the Hawaii data shows for Childcare Center Directors

Hawaii sets the entry bar for childcare center directors at 95 training hours, with no mandatory exam. A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Hawaii's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Education or Training Requirements".

Budget $163 to get started, plus $124 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 24-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

For childcare center directors, the reciprocity picture is: Not typically reciprocal.

Licensing Ease Score

C
Licensing Ease Score
58/100
Childcare Center Director · Hawaii

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training B
95 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$163
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden D
$62/yr
$124 every 2 years
Continuing Education C-
12.0 hrs/yr
24 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Hawaii

Education / Training Hours
Education or Training Requirements
95 hours
Exam Requirement
Not Required
Initial License Fee
$163
Renewal Fee
$124
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
24 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Childcare Center Director All Hawaii licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Hawaii licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Childcare Center Director in Hawaii? ▼
Hawaii's requirements cover 95 hours of education or training, and an initial fee of $163. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Childcare Center Director in Hawaii? ▼
To become a licensed childcare center director in Hawaii, you must meet the state's requirements including 95 hours of education. Contact the Hawaii licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Childcare Center Director license to Hawaii from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for childcare center directors: Not typically reciprocal. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Hawaii licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Hawaii require a background check for Childcare Center Director licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for childcare center director licensing in Hawaii. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Childcare Center Director in Hawaii? ▼
Hawaii ties continued childcare center director licensure to 24 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $124 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this childcare center director license

Childcare Center Director in Hawaii, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a childcare center director-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Hawaii's childcare center director requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Childcare Center Director in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state childcare center director license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Hawaii's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Hawaii overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Hawaii licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.