LicensebyState

Kansas to Hawaii: general contractor license reciprocity

No credit· Start overVerified September 17, 2026· 15 sources

Kansas does not issue a statewide general contractor license, so there is nothing to transfer. Here is Hawaii's standard path for out-of-state applicants.

Your origin state does not issue a statewide license at this level, so there is no license to transfer. The destination's standard out-of-state path is shown; expect to meet it in full.

Reference only, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the licensing board before you apply. Full disclaimer.

Out-of-state experience credited toward the four years, full Hawaii examination (every state)

Your out-of-state credentials give no advantage. You meet the destination's requirements from scratch.

Hawaii runs no reciprocity at any level. The Board's FAQ says so in one line: Hawaii has no reciprocity agreements with other states, and all applicants must meet the same licensing and examination requirements. Its form list carries no verification-of-licensure form and no examination waiver, its rules contain no provision recognizing another state's license, and Hawaii is not one of the states that accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination. An arriving contractor therefore files as a new applicant, but does not start from zero: the four years of supervisory experience within the past ten years may be served under another state's license, the Board asks for proof of that licensure, and an out-of-state contractor who held a license in that state is among the people who may sign the notarized experience certificates. At least three certificates are required, one for each classification sought, together with a Chronological History of Projects that sets out each job, what was built in-house and what was subcontracted, the contract amount and the real on-site supervision time. Once the Board approves the application at a monthly meeting, the qualifying person has six months to pass both examination parts at seventy-five percent each.

Nevada's endorsement charts map the Hawaii B General Building Contractor license onto the Nevada B and B-2 classifications for experience purposes, but Hawaii publishes nothing in the other direction and names no state, so no pairwise agreement is authored here. A Class B applicant who also wants a specialty classification files a separate project list and sits a separate part II examination for each one, though the ten subclassifications that come free with Class B need neither. HAR 16-77-35(b) also allows the Board to ask a Class C licensee who is applying for a Class A or Class B license for a current financial statement and supporting documents. A licensee already holding a Hawaii license in a classification may be excused the examination only where it qualified by written examination within the previous four years and is applying in that same classification.

At a glance

Trade exam
Required
Law / code exam
Required
Out-of-state hours
Count toward eligibility

What you must already have

  • Four full years of supervisory experience within the ten years immediately before the application, in the classification applied for, at the level of journeyman, foreman, supervisor or contractor, counting only time actually spent on site supervising and directing employees.HRS 444-11(a)(2) lets the Board accept experience acquired on a self-employed or unlicensed basis where it can be verified. Technical training may be approved as acceptable experience but never counts for more than one year. Design time, ordering materials and scheduling around rain-outs or deliveries do not count.
  • Supervisory years worked under another state's contractor license count toward the four years. The Board asks an applicant with licensed experience elsewhere to provide proof of licensure, and an out-of-state contractor who held a license in that state may sign an experience certificate. The proof of licensure does not replace the certificates or the project list.
  • You must have no disciplinary action or unresolved complaints on your record.
  • The qualifying person must be at least eighteen and, unless applying as a sole proprietor, must be employed by the licensed contracting entity as its Responsible Managing Employee. The principal RME must be in residence in Hawaii while the entity's license is in effect or a project is under construction, and a licensee must keep a physical place of business in the State; a post office box is not accepted.

What you'll do to get licensed in Hawaii

  1. 1Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. Part I of the contractor examination: the building, safety, health, labor and lien laws of Hawaii and the basic administrative principles of the contracting business. Seventy-five percent is needed to pass. It is never waived for an out-of-state applicant. The Board strongly recommends obtaining a copy of the contractor licensing law and rules before sitting it..
  2. 2Trade exam. Pass the destination's trade exam. Part II of the contractor examination: trade knowledge in the classification requested, here Class B general building. Seventy-five percent is needed to pass. The applicant registers with the testing agency only after the Board approves the application and issues an examination approval letter, and must pass both parts within six months or file a new application and fee. A failed part may be retaken for a further fee inside that six-month window..
  3. 3Application fee. Pay the application fee ($50). $50 nonrefundable application fee for each application filed, payable to Commerce and Consumer Affairs. More than one classification may be requested on a single application, but a contracting entity and its Responsible Managing Employee file separate applications and pay the fee separately, so an inbound company and its qualifying person pay $50 each. A further $10 contractors education fund fee accompanies every application, and a dishonored payment carries a $25 service charge..
  4. 4Exam fee. Pay the exam fee. Examination fees are paid directly to the testing agency when the approved applicant registers, and are charged for each part taken. The Board's published FAQ lists $75 per part, with most classifications taking both parts, but that document dates from before the examinations moved to PSI Services LLC, so confirm the current amount with PSI on (833) 333-4754 before registering. An interpreter, if the Board approves one, adds $100 to the examination fee..
  5. 5License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee. The Board assesses the license fee after the application is approved and the examinations are passed, telling the applicant the exact amount at that point. Its published FAQ gives $663 for a contracting entity or sole proprietor licensed in the first year of the two-year cycle and $494 in the second, and $438 or $334 on the same split for a Responsible Managing Employee, so budget for both. Licenses run to September 30 of the next even-numbered year whatever date they were issued. On-time renewal currently costs $338 for an entity or sole proprietor, $208 for an RME and $160 for an inactive license, plus $5 education fund and $10 recovery fund fees..
  6. 6Financial responsibility. Show financial responsibility. A current financial statement, dated within one year, that is compiled, reviewed or audited and accompanied by an independent accountant's report from a CPA or public accountant holding a current permit to practice; an accountant licensed in another state attaches a copy of that license. For compiled and reviewed statements the applicant also signs the Board's own Financial Statement form CT-02 whether or not the accountant used it. The Board publishes no minimum net worth or working capital figure: it weighs the statement together with the credit reports and the tax clearance to decide whether the applicant has financial integrity, and whether to impose a bond. RMEs do not file a financial statement; the entity or sole proprietor does..
  7. 7Surety bond. Post a surety bond (if applicable). A surety bond is not automatic in Hawaii. The Board may require one as proof of financial integrity, and sets the amount case by case; the bond form leaves the penal sum blank. Where one is imposed, it runs to the State of Hawaii on form CT-09, is conditioned on compliance with HRS chapter 444 and on paying employees' wages, is continuous, and can be canceled by the surety only on thirty days' written notice. Both the applicant and the surety notarize it. After a licensee has maintained the bond for at least a year it may ask the Board to waive it on proof of financial integrity, supported by current credit reports, financial statements and a tax clearance..
  8. 8Insurance. Carry the required insurance. A certificate of comprehensive liability and property damage insurance with minimum limits of $100,000 bodily injury each person, $300,000 bodily injury each occurrence and $50,000 property damage each occurrence, plus a workers' compensation certificate from a carrier authorized in Hawaii or proof of self-insurance or exclusion. An out-of-state contractor may use a non-admitted carrier where the producer qualifies for an exemption under HRS 431:9A-104(b)(6). Coverage must be continuous for the life of the license: a lapse forfeits both the entity and the RME license automatically, and if it is not restored within sixty days both must apply as new applicants. Certificates are filed fastest through the Board's online insurance submittal system..
  9. 9Business license. Obtain a business license. The contracting entity must be registered with the DCCA Business Registration Division before it can be licensed: a Hawaii corporation or LLC files a stamped copy of its articles, a foreign corporation its certificate of authority and a partnership its registration statement, and an entity registered for more than a year attaches a Certificate of Good Standing issued within the past year. Any trade name must be separately registered and a filed-stamped copy supplied. A current Hawaii tax clearance, issued within six months, is filed with the application and again at every renewal, and the name on it must match the license name exactly..
  10. 10Background check. Complete a background check. A current and complete credit report for each officer, partner, manager or member, issued not more than six months earlier and covering at least the previous five years, showing each current and past debt, its status and any public records; a summary or a bare credit score is not accepted. Where a partner or member is itself a business, the credit reports of its officers or a comprehensive business credit report are filed instead. The RME files a credit report with the RME application as well..
  11. 11Continuing education. Complete continuing education (if applicable). Hawaii imposes no continuing education requirement on contractors. Renewal by September 30 of each even-numbered year instead turns on continued financial integrity: a current tax clearance or payment arrangement, a statement about any liens, undisputed debts or judgments, proof that workers' compensation and liability coverage have been maintained without a break, and proof that any bond the Board imposed is current..
  12. 12Other. The application, fee and every supporting document must reach the Board's Honolulu office on or before the first Tuesday of the month before the meeting at which it will be considered; the Board meets monthly except in December, and faxed or emailed copies are not accepted. An application is abandoned if licensure is not completed within a year of filing or the examinations are not passed after eligibility, and the Board keeps a denied application for two years. A Social Security number must be given or the application is treated as deficient..

Published fees on this path total $50, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.

What you'll need to buy or arrange

Exam preparation

Most boards contract PSI, Prov, or ICC for exams. Check which code edition the exam is written to before buying a prep course.

  • Law / code exam
  • Trade exam
  • Exam fee

Surety bond

A license or contractor bond is bought from a surety, not the state. Price is a small percentage of the bond amount and depends on your credit.

  • Surety bond · if applicable

Liability insurance

Some states require proof of general liability or workers' compensation coverage at licensing time.

  • Insurance

Business registration

If you plan to contract in your own name, budget for a business license or entity registration on top of the trade license.

  • Business license

Continuing education

Renewals usually need approved CE hours, often on the latest NEC. Reciprocal licensees are rarely exempt.

  • Continuing education · if applicable

How Hawaii licenses general contractors

Hawaii general contractor · “Class B General Building Contractor”

Statewide license

Verified September 17, 2026· 8 sources

Issued by Hawaii Contractors License Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division)

Hawaii's building tier is the Class B general building contractor license issued by the Contractors License Board at the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. HRS 444-7 splits the contracting business into just three branches, Class A general engineering for fixed works such as highways, bridges, harbors, dams and utility plants, Class B general building for structures, and Class C specialty for the individual trades, and there is no residential class anywhere in Hawaii law, so Class B is the license for houses and for commercial buildings alike. A Class B license covers any contract requiring more than two unrelated building trades, and it automatically carries ten Class C subclassifications, among them carpentry framing, carpentry remodeling, drywall, scaffolding, cement concrete and roofing shingles, without a further examination or fee. It does not cover a job that needs only one or two unrelated trades unless the holder also carries the matching specialty license, and electrical and plumbing work always needs the C-13 or C-37 classification plus an individually licensed electrician or plumber. The license is held by the business and qualified by a person: a corporation, partnership, joint venture, LLC or LLP must employ a licensed Responsible Managing Employee, who is the one with the four years of supervisory experience and the passed examinations, and who must live in Hawaii while the license is in force. A contractor trading in their own name is licensed as a sole proprietor instead.

Moving to HawaiiLeaving Hawaii

Why Kansas has nothing to transfer

Kansas general contractor · “General contractor license (Class A) or building contractor license (Class B)”

Licensed by cities and counties

Verified September 17, 2026· 18 sources

Issued by No state authority; cities and counties license general and building contractors

Kansas has no statewide general, commercial or unlimited building contractor license, no state contractor board and no state licensing exam, so there is nothing at state level for an out-of-state general contractor's license to transfer into and no NASCLA route to take. What the legislature provides instead is a shared test. K.S.A. 12-1556 designates standard examinations for general, building and residential contractors; K.S.A. 12-1557 tells every Kansas city or county that licenses builders to use that examination, to set the passing score at 75 percent, to charge a uniform examination fee and to accept the resulting certificate of competency 'without additional examination' anywhere else in the state; and K.S.A. 12-1558 lets a jurisdiction use a different examination, at the price that the resulting license is good only inside that jurisdiction unless the two political subdivisions have a reciprocal agreement. The examinations are the ICC Kansas contractor series, exam 550 for the Class A general building contractor with no height limit and 551 for the Class B building contractor up to three stories. Licenses are held by the company and qualified by a named individual, so a commercial contractor arriving in Kansas is really doing two things: getting one person through the Kansas standard examination, and then licensing the company in each jurisdiction where it will pull permits. Those jurisdictions differ in what else they want - Johnson County asks for $1,000,000 of liability cover and eight hours of continuing education a year, Wichita and Sedgwick County for $300,000 and a two-year license costing $1,000 at Class A, Lawrence for six years of documented Class A experience - and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County does not license general contractors for competency at all, only for occupational tax. Roofing is the one contractor credential Kansas itself issues, through the Attorney General's roofing registration, and it has a carve-out for a general contractor whose roofing work is not more than half of a project's cost.

How local licensing works in Kansas

How local licensing works. Contractor licensing in Kansas is entirely local, but it runs on a statewide examination. K.S.A. 12-1556 designates the standard examinations for general, building and residential contractors; these are published today by the International Code Council as the Kansas contractor series, exam ID 550 for the Standard General Building Contractor, 551 for the Standard Building Contractor and 552 for the Standard Residential Building Contractor. K.S.A. 12-1557 requires a licensing city or county to use that examination and 'shall not be allowed to ask further questions not designated on such examination', to prescribe a 75 percent passing score, and to honor the resulting certificate of competency 'without additional examination' - the certificate, in the statute's words, 'shall be valid proof of competency for licensure... in any county or city of the state which requires licensure of such contractors', and the licenses issued on it 'shall be valid in any other county or city which requires examination and licensure of such contractors.' K.S.A. 12-1558 permits a jurisdiction to use an alternative examination, but then the license works only inside that jurisdiction 'except when authorized by reciprocal agreement between the political subdivisions involved.' The plain consequence for someone arriving from another state: pass the Kansas standard examination once and it travels across Kansas; a license from Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska or anywhere else travels nowhere. No jurisdiction below publishes any credit for an out-of-state contractor license.

Johnson County (Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Leawood, Shawnee and the rest of the county). Johnson County Contractor Licensing issues eleven license types for the whole county, and its application sets out the reach: building permits come from Johnson County Building Codes in the unincorporated county and from the city everywhere else, but 'when a building permit is issued in the company/firm's name, the company/firm must comply with Johnson County Contractor Licensing Regulations (Resolution 076-24) and be subject to the jurisdiction of the Johnson County Contractor Licensing Review Board.' Class A 'entitles the company to construct, remodel, repair, and demolish any structure... regardless of occupancy or height', and Class B covers 'all structures not exceeding three (3) stories in height'; neither entitles the holder to perform HVAC, plumbing, electrical or fire protection work, which need the separate DM, DP, DE and DF or DFA licenses, and there are further specialty classes for roofing, swimming pools and wood framing. Qualification is ICC exam 550 or KGA for Class A and 551 or KGB for Class B at 75 percent or better, or a Bachelor of Science or higher in architecture, relevant engineering, construction science or construction management from an ABET or ACCE accredited program; ICC National exams may also be considered at 75 percent where the outline content mirrors the Kansas exam. The company designates a qualifying individual working at least 30 hours a week, and every qualifying individual needs eight hours of approved continuing education a year for the company to renew. Insurance is $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence plus $1,000,000 completed operations, with the county as certificate holder, and workers' compensation with $100,000 employer's liability or a notarized waiver. Fees: $100 application plus $225 per license type, so $325 for one type and $550 for two, renewing at $225 per type with a $75 late fee from February 1. Licenses last one year and new applications must be filed on paper. 111 S. Cherry Street, Suite 1000, Olathe; 913-715-2233 option 1.

Wichita and Sedgwick County. The Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department licenses contractors for unincorporated Sedgwick County, the City of Wichita and the small cities in its jurisdiction, including Andale, Bentley, Cheney, Clearwater, Colwich, Garden Plain, Goddard, Maize, Mulvane and Valley Center, where the MABCD license must be active but permitting starts with the city (and Valley Center requires its own license as well). MABCD states flatly that it 'does not reciprocate with other jurisdictions.' The unlimited class is Class A and the three-story class is Class B; general contractor licenses run two years and expire December 31 of each even year, with a penalty-free grace period to January 31. The qualified person files 'a copy of Kansas Standard ICC exam' at 75 percent or better, with an ICC test release form if the exam was taken outside Kansas, and must be an owner or full-time employee authorized in writing by the owners to bind the company in contracts. Two-year fees are $1,000 Class A, $600 Class B, $450 Class C Residential and $360 for Class D Residential Maintenance and the specialty classes, plus $50 for a new application; late renewal costs 25 percent extra in February and 50 percent after. Also required: liability insurance of at least $300,000 naming MABCD as certificate holder in the exact company name from an insurer accepted by the State of Kansas, workers' compensation and auto insurance certificates or notarized waivers for each, and a Kansas Certificate of Good Standing unless the applicant is a sole proprietor. Review takes up to two weeks. 271 W. 3rd, Suite 101, Wichita; 316-660-1840, by appointment.

Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County. The Unified Government is the outlier among the large Kansas jurisdictions: it runs no general contractor competency license. 'General contractors and subcontractors are required to obtain a city occupational tax license (Business License) if working within Wyandotte County', handled by Business Licensing on (913) 573-8780, while 'trade masters are required to carry a master's license with Building Inspections', earned on a standard examination delivered through Prometric and approved by the Chief Building Inspector. A commercial builder therefore pays the occupational tax, pulls permits, and relies on separately licensed electrical, mechanical and plumbing masters for the licensed trades. Building Inspection and the License Department share the Neighborhood Resource Center at 4601 State Avenue, Indian Springs Marketplace; Building Inspection (913) 573-8620.

Topeka. Development Services issues every contractor and trade license in the city and requires all trades to be licensed before pulling permits. Class A is the Kansas Standard General Building Contractor with unlimited stories, ICC exam 550; Class B is the Kansas Standard Building Contractor up to three stories, ICC exam 551; Class C is residential only, ICC exam 552. All examinations require 75 percent or better, and results from Prometric, Thomson-Prometric, Experior, NAI-Block and Block are also accepted at that score subject to review. An official transcript for at least 30 hours of coursework from an accredited school in construction science, engineering or architecture is an alternative, provided the degree holder is the qualifying party and works for the company full time. The filing includes the application, the exam or educational certification, a qualifying party verification form, the Renovate Right form, a general liability certificate and a workers' compensation certificate or notarized affidavit naming City of Topeka Development Services, 620 SE Madison Unit 6, as certificate holder; allow up to ten days. Class A, B and C licensees need eight hours of continuing education a year, and every license renews by December 14. Fees are never prorated and no refunds are issued. The city does not publish its general contractor license fee online - call Development Services on 785-368-3905 for the current amount.

Lawrence. A Lawrence contractor license is required before undertaking any work in the city for which a building permit is required. Class A, General Contractor entitles the licensee to perform any permitted work in the city, including the Class D specialties; Class B, Building Contractor covers any structure not exceeding three stories from grade, plus non-structural remodeling, tenant finishes and repairs on all buildings. Class A needs six years of qualifying experience performing Class A work, or a valid Class B license plus ten years as a licensed Class B contractor; Class B needs four years, or a Class C license plus six years as a licensed Class C. Experience must be verified by a licensed contractor, building official, architect or engineer. Competency comes from a certificate of competency issued by a nationally recognized testing institution of the kind contemplated by K.S.A. 12-1556, from a bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture or construction science, or from 'an equivalent Contractor License from another jurisdiction with whom the City has an existing and valid reciprocity agreement' - a route the ordinance allows but for which it names no partner, so confirm with Building Inspections before counting on it. Fees are $75 for each applicant and each qualifying party plus a $75 annual license fee. Liability insurance must be at least $1,000,000 per occurrence including completed operations, from a Kansas-licensed insurer, alongside workers' compensation. The Building Official decides within 30 days, and an applicant whose license was revoked anywhere in the past five years is refused. The license is company-held; a change of name, ownership or qualifying party voids it and a new license must be obtained. Renewal takes eight hours of construction-related continuing education a year per qualifying party, payment of all delinquent city fees, and closing or extending inactive open permits. Class E licenses for mechanical, plumbing, electrical and fireplace work are separate and are not covered by a Class A license. (785) 832-7700.

Everywhere else, and what does travel. Any other Kansas city or county may license builders on its own terms. The credential that actually moves around Kansas is the certificate of competency from the designated standard examination, not a license from another state and not the NASCLA Accredited Examination, which no Kansas agency participates in because Kansas has no state contractor agency. Before bidding, identify the building department with jurisdiction over the site and ask what it licenses. Statewide, register with the Kansas Attorney General before providing roofing services for a fee unless the project qualifies for the exempt general contractor carve-out - which requires, among other things, that roofing be no more than 50 percent of the total project cost and that the contractor not sell door to door - and use properly licensed masters for electrical, plumbing and mechanical work.

Moving to KansasLeaving Kansas

Common questions

Do I have to take the Hawaii general contractor exam if I'm licensed in Kansas?
Yes. Hawaii requires the trade exam on this path, plus a law or code exam.
What does it cost to get a Hawaii general contractor license from Kansas?
Published fees on this path total $50, not counting exam vendor fees or bonds.
Do my Kansas work hours count in Hawaii?
Yes. Documented out-of-state experience counts toward Hawaii's eligibility requirements.
Does it work the other way, from Hawaii to Kansas?
Not necessarily. Reciprocity is directed. Going from Hawaii to Kansas, the mechanism is not applicable.

Sources

  1. Contractors License Board Application Forms and Publications - DCCA Hawaii · Hawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
  2. Contractors License Board - Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs · Hawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
  3. Bond Form - Contractors License (form CT-09, rev. 09/2013) · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Form · verified September 17, 2026
  4. Description of Contractor License Classifications - Hawaii Contractors License Board · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Other · verified September 17, 2026
  5. Contractors License Board Examination - Application Deadline and Examination Dates · Hawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division · Agency Page · verified September 17, 2026
  6. Contractor Frequently Asked Questions - Hawaii Contractors License Board · Hawaii DCCA, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division · Faq · verified September 17, 2026
  7. Contractors Financial Statement (prescribed form CT-02, rev. 11/2017) · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Form · verified September 17, 2026
  8. Requirements for License - Contractor, Entity (Form CT-00, rev. 10/2025) · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Form · verified September 17, 2026
  9. Requirements for License - Contractor, Responsible Managing Employee (Form CT-00(A), rev. 10/2025) · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Form · verified September 17, 2026
  10. Requirements for License - Contractor, Sole Proprietor (rev. 10/2025) · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Form · verified September 17, 2026
  11. Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 16, Chapter 77 - Contractors · HAR 16-77-6, 16-77-8, 16-77-11, 16-77-12, 16-77-28, 16-77-32, 16-77-33, 16-77-35, 16-77-39 to 16-77-46, 16-77-54, 16-77-55, 16-77-71, 16-77-76, 16-77-89 · Hawaii DCCA, Contractors License Board · Admin Rule · verified September 17, 2026
  12. HRS 444-11 - No license issued when (contractor qualifications) · HRS 444-11 · Hawaii State Legislature · Statute · verified September 17, 2026
  13. HRS 444-7 - Classification (contractors) · HRS 444-7 · Hawaii State Legislature · Statute · verified September 17, 2026
  14. HRS 444-9 - Licenses required (contractors) · HRS 444-9 · Hawaii State Legislature · Statute · verified September 17, 2026
  15. NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors · National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies · Other · verified September 17, 2026

Verified dates are when a person last opened each source and confirmed the facts above. Cite the board, not us.

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