Contractors License requirements

[DanielP]

I have a non-active California B-General Building Contractors License. While I am not really actively considering getting back into the business at this time, who knows what lies in the future.

Anyone out there know offhand what is entailed in getting the same license in Hawaii?

Mahalo, Dan

[Dan De Soto]

I'm not a contractor but you have to take the exam (classes are available), submit financial statement and resume. Financial statement will determine the bond requirement. General Liability coverage and proof of bonding will be required to be submitted after passing the exam and getting a condiitonal approval.

Dan De Soto
Mutual Underwriters
Insurance Agent
www.insurancehi.com
dan@mutualunderwriters.com
Tel: 808-961-3207
Fax: 808-969-1120
275 Ponahawai St., Ste#105
Hilo, HI 96720

[DanielP]

Thanks Dan, and Mike too for e-mailing the website. I had heard that the experience portion had to be from employers in Hawaii, which I don't have. All of my experience has been in California.

Dan

[Bullwinkle]

Look into wether an r.m.e. / r.m.o. is allowed here in Hawaii, that may get you going

[jerry]

There is a contractors licensing school in Honolulu that (for a fee) helps with the paperwork, etc. I could not have gotten my electrical contractors license without them. The test is easy, the paperwork a nightmare.

For an electrical contractor (I don't know about building) you either have to have your own ES (supervisory electrician) license or hire an r.m.e. (it might be dme here, designated management employee.)

Jerry

[Kapohocat]

Bldg dept is also cracking down on plumbing - have to have a legit a journeyman working.

Dan - One of our friends who had a GC license (the full boat) in Cali came over here four years ago to build his home and then decided get his license. They told him he had to work for 2 years under a GC to be able to take the tests to get his license . He had applied for the almost full boat here too (GC with elec & plumb)

This was a guy who had strapped on his bags for 40 years not just got windshield time, and had held his cali license since about 1982.

[DanielP]

Hi Cat,

That is what I feared. I would be in a similar situation. I've been bagged up since the 70s and had my GC since 93. I'm not ready to bag up under someone else's license. I've been building under the same UBC as Hawaii for decades.

This seems like a restriction of trade. Stinks in my opinion. I bet the local contractors love the government protecting their market. I think I'll opt out.

If the contractor's position about unlicensed contractors was really about protecting the consumer, I think they would try to remove the local experience requirement. That would be the ethical move.

No wonder so many folks build without permits and work without licenses.

Back to the garden.

Aloha, Dan