50-State Architecture Licensing Compliance Guide
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Hawaii Architecture Industry Licensing

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Licensing requirements for architecture industry firms and individuals in Hawaii.

This page provides an overview of architecture industry licensing in Hawaii for individuals and firms. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

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Company Licenses

Hawaii Architecture Company Licenses

Hawaii Architecture Firm License

Not required



Architecture Firm licensure is not required on the State level in Hawaii.

Architecture firms are not licensed at the state level in Hawaii. Business entities are permitted to practice architecture provided that they comply with HAR § 16-115-4.

More information: Hawaii Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors & Landscape Architects
Law:

HRS § 464.12

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Partnerships
Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • Officers and directors need not be licensed, but the corporation must appoint a Hawaii licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm.

Professional Corporations:

  • At least 1/2 of the directors of a Hawaii professional corporation and all of the officers, other than the secretary and the treasurer, must be individuals licensed to perform a professional service performed by the firm.
  • At least one director must be a resident of Hawaii.

Limited Liability Companies:

  • Members and managers need not be licensed, but the LLC must appoint a Hawaii licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm.

Partnerships:

  • Partners need not be licensed, but the partnership must appoint a Hawaii licensed individual to be responsible for all professional activities undertaken by the firm.

Hawaii Interior Design Firm License

Not required



Interior Design Firm licensure is not required on the State level in Hawaii.

Hawaii does not currently license or register interior design businesses.

Hawaii Landscape Architecture Firm License

Not required



Landscape Architecture Firm licensure is not required on the State level in Hawaii.

More information: Hawaii Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors & Landscape Architects

Individual Licenses

Hawaii Individual Architecture Licenses

Hawaii Architect License

Agency:Hawaii Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors & Landscape Architects
Exam Required?Yes

Initial Registration

This section applies to architects that are applying for a license in Hawaii for the first time.

Form:

Requirements & Application 

Instructions:

There are two basic pathways to licensure:

1. If you are currently licensed in another state, you will be seeking licensure via endorsement.
2. If you are NOT licensed in any other state, you will be seeking licensure via exam.

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

A non-refundable application fee of $150 for endorsement or $100 for exam and $60 examination fee for the Hawaii Plant
Materials examination.

Notes:
  • Verification of Education and Experience 
    • Applicants are required to document his/her education and experience. However, your level of education and pathway for licensure will
      dictate the type of verification you will need to submit. Refer to the listing on page 2 for ways to provide evidence of your experience.
    • NOTE: If you need to sit for an exam, all experience must be completed by the filing deadline of the examination date you are requesting:

1. CLARB Council Record holder. You must request CLARB to transmit your CLARB Council Record to the Board.
2. Supervised experience:
 You must have the "Verification of Supervision" form (EAS-16) completed by your supervisor(s). If your supervisor is no longer available,
 contact your original state of licensure and have them submit copies of documentation on your experience directly to the Board.
3. "Experience in Responsible Charge" (for licensure via endorsement):
 You must have form EAS-11 completed. Please note that experience in responsible charge will require twice the amount of the
 required lawful experience. (For example: Every two (2) years of experience in responsible charge will be credited for one (1) year of
 the required lawful experience.)
4. Combination of #2 and #3 above

 

  • Examination 
    • Applicants for licensure via endorsement - 
      • Verification of your current license, examination and exam scores must be accomplished. Send the "Verification of Exam/License" form (S-1) to the state in which you were ORIGINALLY LICENSED BY EXAMINATION with the appropriate service fee, if any. Contact your state licensing agency for any charge. If more than one form is needed, in cases where the exams were taken in more than one state, please duplicate. Completion of this form will also serve to verify your out-of-state license.
      • If you wish to have the CLARB exam waived, you will need to have a licensed landscape architect complete the "Verification of Experience in Responsible Charge" form (EAS-11) documenting 15 years of experience in responsible charge.
    • Applicants for licensure via the CLARB exam:
      • In Hawaii, the CLARB exam (L.A.R.E.) is administered only on Oahu. All candidates must submit a completed state application form to the Board and receive approval in order to sit for any section(s) of the exam including the Board-produced Hawaii Plant Materials exam. The L.A.R.E. is regularly conducted three times a year in April, August and December, and applications shall be submitted at least ninety (90) calendar days prior to the date of the L.A.R.E.
      • An applicant may apply for the Board-produced landscape architectural licensing exam (Hawaii Plant Materials) on the same application for the L.A.R.E. exam
Required Attachments:
  • Provide a copy of all pertinent diplomas or official transcript(s) from an approved school or college or ECE report (if you are a graduate
     of a foreign college);
  • A non-refundable application fee of $150 for endorsement or $100 for exam made payable to: Commerce & Consumer Affairs;$60 examination fee for the Hawaii Plant Materials examination made payable to: Commerce & Consumer Affairs; AND
  • "Verification(s) of Supervision" form completed by your supervisor(s), who is a licensed landscape architect and/or "Experience in
     Responsible Charge" form from a licensed landscape architect.
  • "Verification of Exam/License" form from another state Board.
  • OR CLARB Council Record. Request CLARB to transmit your CLARB Council Record. 

Reciprocal Registration

This section applies to architects licensed in another state that are looking for reciprocal licensure in Hawaii.

Form:

Verification of Exam/License – EASLA & Requirements & Application

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

$75

Notes:
  • Verification of Education and Experience 
    • Applicants are required to document his/her education and experience. However, your level of education and pathway for licensure will
      dictate the type of verification you will need to submit. Refer to the listing on page 2 for ways to provide evidence of your experience
    • NOTE: If you need to sit for an exam, all experience must be completed by the filing deadline of the examination date you are requesting:

      1. CLARB Council Record holder. You must request CLARB to transmit your CLARB Council Record to the Board.
      2. Supervised experience:
       You must have the "Verification of Supervision" form (EAS-16) completed by your supervisor(s). If your supervisor is no longer available,
       contact your original state of licensure and have them submit copies of documentation on your experience directly to the Board.
      3. "Experience in Responsible Charge" (for licensure via endorsement):
       You must have form EAS-11 completed. Please note that experience in responsible charge will require twice the amount of the
       required lawful experience. (For example: Every two (2) years of experience in responsible charge will be credited for one (1) year of
       the required lawful experience.)
      4. Combination of #2 and #3 above

  • Examination 
    • Applicants for licensure via endorsement:
      • Verification of your current license, examination and exam scores must be accomplished. Send the "Verification of Exam/License" form (S-1)
        to the state in which you were ORIGINALLY LICENSED BY EXAMINATION with the appropriate service fee, if any. Contact your state
        licensing agency for any charge. If more than one form is needed, in cases where the exams were taken in more than one state, please
        duplicate. Completion of this form will also serve to verify your out-of-state license.

        If you wish to have the CLARB exam waived, you will need to have a licensed landscape architect complete the "Verification of Experience
        in Responsible Charge" form (EAS-11) documenting 15 years of experience in responsible charge.

    • Applicants for licensure via the CLARB exam:
      • In Hawaii, the CLARB exam (L.A.R.E.) is administered only on Oahu. All candidates must submit a completed state application form to the Board and receive approval in order to sit for any section(s) of the exam including the Board-produced Hawaii Plant Materials exam. The L.A.R.E. is regularly conducted three times a year in April, August and December, and applications shall be submitted at least ninety (90) calendar days prior to the date of the L.A.R.E.
Required Attachments:

1. Complete the entire application; provide details of your experience in the "Experience Record" portion (keep in mind that "supervisor"
 refers to a licensed landscape architect other than yourself);
2. Provide a copy of all pertinent diplomas or official transcript(s) from an approved school or college or ECE report (if you are a graduate
 of a foreign college);
3. A non-refundable application fee of $150 for endorsement or $100 for exam made payable to: Commerce & Consumer Affairs;
4. $60 examination fee for the Hawaii Plant Materials examination made payable to: Commerce & Consumer Affairs; AND
5. "Verification(s) of Supervision" form completed by your supervisor(s), who is a licensed landscape architect and/or "Experience in
 Responsible Charge" form from a licensed landscape architect.
6. "Verification of Exam/License" form from another state Board.
 OR
7. CLARB Council Record. Request CLARB to transmit your CLARB Council Record.

Registration Renewal

This section applies to architects that are already licensed in Hawaii and need to renew their license.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$150

Due:

By April 30 of even-numbered years.

Hawaii Interior Designer License

Not required



Interior Designer licensure is not required on the State level in Hawaii.

Hawaii Landscape Architect License

Agency:Hawaii Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors & Landscape Architects

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Licensure - Landscape Architect

Agency Fee:

$100 exam fee + $60 plant materials exam fee + license fee of $216 for licenses issued between May 1 of an even-numbered year to April 30 of an odd-numbered year and $114 for licenses issued between May 1 of an odd-numbered year to April 30 of an even-numbered year.

Reciprocal Registration

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$216

Due:

By April 30 of even-numbered years.

Learn about architecture licensing in other states:

ARE (Architect Registration Examination) - Assesses candidates for their knowledge, skills, and ability to provide the various services required to be a practicing architect.

AXP (Architectural Experience Program) - NCARB program for architectural internship, a requirement for licensure that occurs after filling the educational requirements.

BEFA (Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect) - An alternative NCARB certification that allows foreign architects to independently practice architecture.

COA (Certificate of Authorization) - The most common name of the registration required for firms to practice architecture in a given state.

Design Firm - Architectural firm registration is sometimes grouped with engineering and land surveying on a single “design firm” application form.

NCARB Certification - Licensed architects have the option to become Certificate holders to signify that they have met national standards established by U.S. licensing boards for protecting public health, safety, and welfare. Certification also facilitates reciprocal registration in all 54 jurisdictions, 11 Canadian jurisdictions, and can be used to support an application for licensure in other countries.

Reciprocity - This is when a licensed architect in one state can provide documentation (often a NCARB certificate) to more easily apply for licensure in another jurisdiction.

State Board - Often referred to as the State Architects Licensure Board or Board of Architects, an individual state’s board serves as the regulatory authority for architects. The board qualifies and licenses individuals seeking architectural licensure. The board is responsible for preserving the public health, safety, and welfare of individuals who occupy built environments.

National Architecture Accrediting Board
NAAB establishes criteria for and accredits professional architecture degree programs in the United States.

The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
AIAS is an independent, student-run group that promotes excellence in architecture education, training, and practice.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
AIA is a voluntary professional organization for architects providing advocacy, information, and community.

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)
ACSA represents architectural education programs across the globe.

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
NCARB is the national organization representing the state registration boards.