
If you want to become a professional painter in Hawaii, you must obtain a license from the commerce and consumer affairs department. This applies to both interior and exterior painting jobs, whether residential, commercial, or industrial. The specific license you need is the C-33 Painting and Decorating contractor’s license. To qualify, you must meet several eligibility criteria, including having four years of documented supervisory experience in painting/decorating, passing a written exam, submitting to background checks, and providing proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance. Once approved, you must pass two exams within six months: the Business and Law Exam and the Painting Trade Exam.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| License classification | Painting and Decorating (C-33) |
| Who must obtain the license | Anyone who performs painting services for compensation |
| Scope | Interior and exterior painting of all types of buildings and structures |
| Other services | Staining decks, fences, and other exterior wood surfaces |
| Applying decorative finishes like faux finishes, glazing, distressing | |
| Eligibility criteria | Have a good character and reputation |
| Have 4 years of documented supervisory experience in painting/decorating within the past 10 years | |
| Pass a written exam covering business, law, and the painting trade | |
| Submit fingerprints for an additional background check | |
| Provide proof of general liability insurance meeting state minimums | |
| Provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance meeting state minimums (if applicable) | |
| The 4 years of required painting/decorating experience must be verified by certificates from past employers, contractors, or coworkers | |
| Pass 2 exams within 6 months to obtain your license: Business and Law Exam and Painting Trade Exam | |
| Register your business with the Business Registration Division if operating as a company | |
| Be over 18 years of age | |
| Get secured insurance |
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What You'll Learn

Eligibility criteria
To obtain a painting licence in Hawaii, you must meet the eligibility criteria set by the Contractors License Board. The specific requirements for obtaining a licence to paint in Hawaii are outlined below:
- Age: Applicants must be at least 18 years old to obtain a painting contractor's licence in Hawaii. Some sources suggest that the minimum age may be 21 years old.
- Character and Reputation: Applicants should have a good character and reputation, which includes financial integrity, reliability, and fair dealing. The Contractors License Board may review credit reports and conduct background checks as part of the evaluation process.
- Supervisory Experience: Applicants must have a minimum of four years of documented supervisory experience in painting and decorating within the past ten years. This experience must be verified by certificates, letters from past employers, contractors, or coworkers, detailing the hands-on supervisory role in managing painting projects and crews.
- Written Examination: Passing a written exam is a crucial requirement. The exam covers three main areas: business, law, and the painting trade. The business and law portions cover contracting laws, labour laws, business organisation, estimating, taxation, and lien laws. The painting trade exam covers health and safety, surface preparation, application methods, materials, tools, and estimating.
- Background Check: Applicants are required to submit fingerprints for an additional background check.
- Insurance: Proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance (if applicable) is mandatory. The insurance must meet the minimum requirements set by the state of Hawaii.
- Project List and Certificates: Applicants should provide a comprehensive project list documenting their painting experience. The Contractors Board will closely review the project list and certificates to ensure sufficient experience managing real-world painting jobs before approving the application.
- Business Registration: If operating as a company, it is necessary to register your business with the Business Registration Division in Hawaii. This establishes your business entity as authorised to work within the state.
It is important to note that the eligibility criteria and requirements may be subject to change, so it is always advisable to consult the most up-to-date information provided by the Contractors License Board or the relevant licensing authority in Hawaii.
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Application process
To apply for a painting licence in Hawaii, you must obtain a Professional and Vocational License from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. This department oversees the licensing of 25 professional boards and commissions and 24 licensing programs, including for painters.
The specific classification of the painting license is called "Painting and Decorating" (C-33). This license allows painters to offer services like interior and exterior painting of buildings, staining decks and fences, and applying decorative finishes.
- Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria: You must be over 18 years of age, have good character and reputation (including financial integrity, reliability, and fair dealing), have four years of documented supervisory experience in painting/decorating within the past ten years, and have proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance.
- Register your business: If you are operating as a company, you must register your business with the Business Registration Division. This establishes your business as a legitimate entity authorized to work in Hawaii.
- Complete the license application forms: These forms will require basic contact information, your experience background, and a project list documenting your painting experience. You can download the application forms from the PVL website or request them by phone.
- Gather eligibility documents: In addition to the application forms, you will need to provide certificates from past employers, contractors, or coworkers that detail your supervisory role in managing painting projects. You will also need to submit fingerprints for a background check and provide a CPA-signed financial statement.
- Submit your application package: You can submit your completed application package by mail or in person by the deadline for the desired Contractors Board meeting date.
- Pass the required exams: Once your application is approved, you must pass two exams within six months to obtain your license: the Business and Law Exam and the Painting Trade Exam. These exams cover a range of topics, including contracting laws, labour laws, health and safety, surface preparation, application methods, and more.
It is important to note that having an incomplete application rejected can cause delays, so it is highly recommended to consult with an experienced painting contractor or licensing specialist when applying to ensure a smooth process.
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Required documents
To obtain a painting licence in Hawaii, you must submit a range of documents as part of your application package. Here is a detailed breakdown of the required documents:
Registration Documents
Firstly, you must register your business with the Business Registration Division. This step is crucial for establishing your business entity as authorised to operate in Hawaii. Make sure to include the relevant registration certificates or proof of registration with your application.
Application Forms
You need to complete the license application forms, which can be downloaded from the Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) website or requested by phone. These forms will require basic contact information, your experience background, and a project list documenting your painting experience. Ensure that your forms are thoroughly filled out before submission.
Eligibility Documents
Along with the application forms, you must provide various eligibility documents. These include:
- Certificates and project lists: You should provide certificates from past employers, contractors, or coworkers that detail your hands-on supervisory role in managing painting projects. The Contractors Board will closely review these certificates and project lists to ensure you meet the experience requirements.
- Proof of experience: Hawaii requires at least four years of documented supervisory experience in painting or decorating within the past ten years. Your proof of experience should demonstrate your management of real-world painting jobs.
- Proof of insurance: You must provide proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance (if applicable) that meets the state minimums.
- Financial statement: A CPA-signed financial statement is required to assess your financial integrity and reliability.
- Background check: A background check is necessary to demonstrate your good character and reputation. This includes a review of credit reports, and you may also be required to submit fingerprints for an additional background check.
Examination Requirements
While not exactly a document, passing the relevant examinations is a crucial step in obtaining your licence. You will need to pass two exams: the Business and Law Exam and the Painting Trade Exam. These exams cover a range of topics, including contracting laws, labour laws, health and safety, surface preparation, application methods, and more. You must achieve a score of 75% or higher on each exam.
It is important to carefully review the requirements and consult with a licensing specialist if needed to ensure your application package is complete and meets all the necessary criteria.
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Examinations
To obtain a painting contractor's license in Hawaii, you must pass two exams within six months of your application being approved by the Hawaii Contractors License Board.
The first is the Business and Law Exam, which covers Hawaii contracting laws, labor laws, business organization, estimating, taxation, lien laws, and more. This exam consists of 80 questions, and you need to score 75% or higher to pass.
The second is the Painting Trade Exam, which covers health and safety, surface preparation, application methods, materials, tools, estimating, and other painting-related topics. This exam has 50 questions, and you must score 75% or above to pass.
To prepare for these exams, it is recommended to study the approved references and resources and consider taking an exam preparation course, as the tests are known to be challenging.
Before your application is approved, the Contractors Board will closely review your certificates and project list to ensure you have sufficient experience managing real-world painting jobs. It is crucial to have gained experience through working on large and small-scale jobs or through a painter's apprenticeship to gather the necessary references and expertise.
Additionally, to qualify for a painting contractor's license in Hawaii, you must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being over 18 years of age, having a good reputation with financial integrity, reliability, and fair dealing, and possessing at least four years of supervisory experience in the trade.
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License classification
To apply for a painting license in Hawaii, you must first determine the relevant license classification. The state of Hawaii requires all contractors to go through the same steps to obtain a license, and the specific license classification you need will depend on the type of work you intend to undertake.
The main contractor classification in Hawaii is "Classification A: General Engineering Contractor". This classification applies to any contractor whose principal contracting business requires engineering knowledge and skills. This includes paving and surfacing work, as well as cement and concrete work. Those who hold this license automatically hold several specialty classifications and do not need to take additional classification exams or pay further fees.
The second classification is "Classification B: General Building Contractor". This classification applies to contractors whose principal business involves any structure that is built, being built, or will be built. This includes structures for the support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, or movable personal property, including livestock.
There are also specialty classifications for specific types of work. For example, contractors holding a "C-61: Solar Energy Systems" license can install poles in new pole lines and replace poles, while those with a "C-62: Pole and Line" license can install duct lines if they are also held by a contractor with a "C-13: Electrical" license.
For those seeking to become painting contractors in Hawaii, the relevant license classification is "C-33: Painting and Decorating". This license allows contractors to offer a range of services, including interior and exterior painting of various buildings and structures, staining exterior wood surfaces, and applying decorative finishes. To qualify for this license, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria, including having a good character and reputation, four years of documented supervisory experience in painting and decorating, passing a written exam, and providing proof of insurance.
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Frequently asked questions
You must register your business with the Business Registration Division and complete the license application forms.
To qualify for a C-33 Painting and Decorating contractor’s license, you must have 4 years of documented supervisory experience in painting/decorating, pass a written exam, submit fingerprints for a background check, and provide proof of insurance.
There are two exams you need to pass to obtain your license: the Business and Law Exam and the Painting Trade Exam. The former covers Hawaii contracting laws, labor laws, business organization, estimating, taxation, and lien laws, while the latter covers health and safety, surface preparation, application methods, materials, tools, and other painting-related topics.











































