Home Inspector / Hawaii
2026 data Hawaii board official source

Hawaii Home Inspector License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Inspects residential properties for safety and structural issues.

What the Hawaii data shows for Home Inspectors

To practice as a home inspector in Hawaii, the state licensing board requires 166 documented education or training hours, a passing score on NHIE (National Home Inspector Examination). A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Hawaii's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Home Inspector Training Course".

Budget $326 to get started, plus $247 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: Not typically reciprocal — state-specific.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Home Inspector · 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-
166 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$326
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$124/yr
$247 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
Home Inspector Training Course
166 hours
Exam Requirement
NHIE (National Home Inspector Examination)
Required
Initial License Fee
$326
Renewal Fee
$247
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
24 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Home Inspector 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 Home Inspector in Hawaii? ▼
Hawaii requires 166 education/training hours, passing an exam (NHIE (National Home Inspector Examination)), and an initial fee of $326. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Home Inspector in Hawaii? ▼
Certification as a home inspector in Hawaii means clearing the state's checklist: 166 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Hawaii licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Home Inspector license to Hawaii from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for home inspectors: Not typically reciprocal — state-specific. 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 Home Inspector licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the home inspector licensing process in Hawaii. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Home Inspector in Hawaii? ▼
To stay licensed as a home inspector in Hawaii, plan on 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $247.

Related Guides

What to do with this home inspector license

Home Inspector in Hawaii, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a home inspector-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Hawaii's home inspector requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Home Inspector in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state home inspector 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.