Substitute Teacher / Hawaii
2026 data Hawaii board official source

Hawaii Substitute Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

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

PlainCredential home → About this data

Fills in for absent teachers. Requirements range from diploma to license.

What the Hawaii data shows for Substitute Teachers

Becoming a licensed substitute teacher in Hawaii means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 2,000 training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. Hawaii regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Degree".

Upfront cost is $100 on a 5-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in Hawaii, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

Hawaii handles out-of-state credentials on a case-by-case basis instead of a standing reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
36/100
Substitute Teacher · 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 F
2,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Hawaii

Education / Training Hours
Degree
2,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Substitute Teacher 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 Substitute Teacher in Hawaii? ▼
Hawaii requires 2000 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $100. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Substitute Teacher in Hawaii? ▼
Hawaii licenses substitute teachers who complete its requirements (2000 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Hawaii licensing board.
Can I transfer my Substitute Teacher license to Hawaii from another state? ▼
Out-of-state substitute teacher credentials get a case-by-case review in Hawaii rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the Hawaii licensing board.
Does Hawaii require a background check for Substitute Teacher licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for substitute teacher licensing in Hawaii. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

Related Guides

What to do with this substitute teacher license

Substitute Teacher in Hawaii is one requirement row in a substitute teacher-wide, 50-state comparison.

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.