Construction / Home Improvement License / Hawaii
- Hawaii
- C-5 Remodeling & Repairs
- Cabinet, Millwork & Carpentry
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your Hawaii C-5 Remodeling and Repairs Contractor License
How to qualify for Hawaii’s C-5 Cabinet, Millwork, and Carpentry Remodeling and Repairs license, what the work covers, and what to expect on the two closed-book exams.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from Hawaii Contractors License Board requirements
Application fee
$50
Plus $80 for each PSI exam
Exam time
5 hrs
180-min Business Law + 120-min C-5 exam
Time to get license
~4 yrs
Supervisory experience within the last 10 years
Continuing ed
Not required
Licenses renew by Nov 30 of even years
Overview
Do you need a Hawaii home improvement license?
In Hawaii, remodeling and repair work on existing buildings, along with installing cabinets, millwork and similar carpentry, falls under the C-5 contractor classification. You need the license before you contract for that work.
License required when
- Installing cabinets, cases, sashes, doors, trim or nonbearing partitions that become a permanent part of a structure
- Remodeling or repairing existing buildings or structures
- Installing window shutters, garage doors, bifold and shutter doors
- Installing manufactured siding
Common exceptions
- Changes to foundations, beams, rafters, joists or other load-bearing members aren’t C-5 work and need a different classification
- Additions to a building’s basic structural components fall outside C-5 scope
Penalties for unlicensed work
Our source doesn’t list specific penalties. The Hawaii Contractors License Board can take action against anyone who contracts without the required license, so get your C-5 before you take on remodeling or repair jobs.
Your fast-track Hawaii home improvement license checklist
The Hawaii application, one page
- 4 years of supervisory experience in the last 10 years
- Experience certificates and chronological project history
- Credit report and entity appointment
- Proof of insurance on file with the board
- Passing scores on Business Law and the C-5 exam
Types
Hawaii home improvement license types and classifications
C-5 is a specialty classification for finish carpentry and non-structural remodeling. If your work touches load-bearing parts of a building, you’ll need a different classification.
C-5
Remodeling & repairs
Cabinet, Millwork, and Carpentry Remodeling and Repairs
Cabinets, doors, trim, nonbearing partitions, siding, shutters and garage doors, plus remodeling and repairs that don’t change a building’s basic components.
Exam
Business Law + C-5
Limit
Non-structural work
Requirements
Hawaii home improvement license requirements, class by class
You qualify on experience, character and a full application, then pass two exams once the board approves you.
| Requirement | C-5 license |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Experience | 4 years supervisory, within the last 10 years |
| Character | Good reputation for honesty, financial integrity and fair dealing |
| Documents | Experience certificates, project history, credit report, entity appointment |
| Insurance | Continuous coverage, with proof on file with the board |
| Exams | Business Law + C-5 trade exam |
Steps
How to get your Hawaii home improvement license, step by step
- Build your experienceBefore you apply
Get 4 years of supervisory experience within the last 10 years. You must be at least 18. - Gather your documentsBefore you apply
Pull together experience certificates, a chronological history of projects, a credit report and your entity appointment. - Apply for pre-approvalApplication
Submit your complete application and fees through the board’s application page or call 808-586-3000. - Schedule your exams with PSIAfter approval
Once approved, book at psiexams.com or 833-333-4754. Test centers are in larger cities around the state. - Pass Business Law and C-5Exam day
Both exams are closed book. Business Law has 80 questions and you need 75% to pass. The C-5 exam has 40 questions. - Keep insurance on fileOngoing
Maintain continuous insurance coverage for as long as you’re licensed, with proof on file with the board.
Exam
What to expect on the Hawaii home improvement exam
C-5 applicants pass two closed-book exams through PSI: Business Law and the C-5 trade exam. You can only schedule them after the board approves your application.
Format
Closed book
Questions
80 + 40
Passing score
75% (Business Law)
Exam vendor
PSI
Scoring & content
- Business Law: 80 questions, 180 minutes, 75% to pass
- Business Law topics: business organization, contracts, estimating, financial management, labor and lien law, OSHA, tax and public works law
- C-5: 40 questions, 120 minutes
- C-5 topics: plan reading and estimating, rough carpentry including stairs, carpentry and millwork, siding, drywall, windows and doors, OSHA safety
- No books allowed in the exam room
Retake policy
- Retake rules not stated in our source
- C-5 passing score not stated
- Contact PSI at 833-333-4754 to reschedule or retake
Exam references · Closed book
Hawaii’s contractor exams are closed book, so you can’t bring any books into the testing room. Use these references to study for the C-5 Cabinet, Millwork and Carpentry Remodeling and Repairs trade exam and the Business & Law exam.
| Book | Edition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| International Building Code (IBC) — C-5 trade exam | 2018 | Study only |
| Carpentry and Building Construction — C-5 trade exam | 2016 student edition | Study only |
| Finish Carpenter’s Manual — C-5 trade exam | Not stated | Study only |
| The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture & Cabinet Construction — C-5 trade exam | Not stated | Study only |
| The Gypsum Construction Handbook — C-5 trade exam | 7th edition | Study only |
| OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Construction Industry Regulations — C-5 trade exam | Not stated | Study only |
| NASCLA Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Hawaii edition — Business & Law exam | 1st edition | Study only |
| Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 103, Expenditure of Public Money and Public Contracts — Business & Law exam | Not stated | Study only |
| Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 104, Wages and Hours of Employees on Public Works — Business & Law exam | Not stated | Study only |
| Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 12, Chapter 22, Wage Determinations — Business & Law exam | Not stated | Study only |
Prep
Best Hawaii home improvement exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does a Hawaii home improvement license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Fixed | $50 |
| Business Law and C-5 exams | Fixed | $160 ($80 each) |
| Original license fee | Fixed | $260 |
| Recovery fund fee | Fixed | $150 |
| Education fund fee | Fixed | $10 |
| Compliance resolution fund fee | Fixed | $74 or $148 |
| Credit report | Variable | Varies |
| Insurance coverage | Variable | Varies |
| State fees and exams | Application, both exams and original license fee; excludes fund fees | $470 |
Fees from HAR 16-53-17, the Contractors License Board application and the PSI contractor candidate bulletin, checked October 2026.
Reciprocity
Does Hawaii accept out-of-state home improvement licenses?
Our source doesn’t list any reciprocity agreements for the C-5 license.
No reciprocity agreements listed
Plan to apply as a new applicant and take both Business Law and the C-5 exam. Confirm with the board if you hold a license in another state.
Local
Do Hawaii cities and counties have their own home improvement licensing rules?
Your C-5 license comes from the state. Counties still issue building permits and inspect the work.
State handles
- C-5 and other contractor licenses
- Application review and exam approval
- Insurance records
- License renewals every even year
City & county handle
- Building permits
- Inspections
Governance
Who regulates remodeling and repair contractors in Hawaii
Licensing authority
Hawaii Contractors License Board, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional & Vocational Licensing Division
808-586-3000
Oversight responsibilities
- Issues contractor licenses, including C-5
- Reviews experience, credit and entity documents
- Approves applicants to sit for the Business Law and trade exams
- Keeps insurance records and handles renewals
Maintenance
How to renew your Hawaii home improvement license and keep it active
All Hawaii contractor licenses expire on November 30 of even-numbered years. Send your renewal to the board before that date. There’s no continuing education requirement. The biennial renewal fee is $190 for a contracting entity or sole proprietor and $60 for a responsible managing employee, plus a $5 education fund fee, a $10 recovery fund fee and a $148 compliance resolution fund fee. Restoring a forfeited license adds a $50 penalty.
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years (Nov 30, even years)
CE hours
None required
Renewal fee
$190
Late penalty
$50
FAQ
Hawaii home improvement license FAQs
What does a C-5 license cover in Hawaii?
Installing cabinets, doors, trim, nonbearing partitions, shutters, garage doors and siding, plus remodeling and repairs that don’t change foundations, beams, rafters, joists or other load-bearing members.
How much experience do I need?
Four years of supervisory experience within the last 10 years. You also need to be at least 18.
Are the Hawaii contractor exams open book?
No. Both the Business Law and C-5 exams are closed book.
What score do I need to pass?
You need 75% on the 80-question Business Law exam. Our source doesn’t state the passing score for the 40-question C-5 exam.
When do I schedule my exams?
After the board approves your application. Then you book through PSI at psiexams.com or 833-333-4754.
When does my license expire?
Every Hawaii contractor license expires on November 30 of even-numbered years, and no continuing education is required to renew.
Sources
Official sources for the Hawaii home improvement license
- Hawaii Contractors License Board, Applications and publications
- PSI, exam scheduling
- HRS Chapter 103, Expenditure of Public Money and Public Contracts
- HRS Chapter 104, Wages and Hours of Employees on Public Works
- Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 12, Chapter 22, Wage Determinations (PDF)
- HAR Chapter 16-53, DCCA fees (PDF)
- Hawaii Contractors License Board, Sole proprietor application (PDF)
- PSI, Hawaii Contractor Examinations Candidate Information Bulletin
Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Hawaii Contractors License Board.