Plumber License from Georgia to Hawaii: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing — Board of Electricians and Plumbers ↗
No — Hawaii has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Georgia plumbing license holders. You must apply to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing — Board of Electricians and Plumbers as a new applicant and meet Hawaii's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
Hawaii has no plumbing reciprocity or endorsement covering Georgia, so this is a full journeyman application either way. Hawaii waives its journey worker plumber examination for no one; the Board of Electricians and Plumbers states in its FAQ 'Does Hawaii have reciprocal agreements with other states? No. All applicants must meet the same licensing and examination requirements,' so every out-of-state plumber must document the required experience and pass the Hawaii examination. The productive plan: gather proof of the apprenticeship or on-the-job hours you logged in Georgia, register for Hawaii's journeyman exam, and treat your experience as exam preparation and as credit toward Hawaii's experience requirement. Budget a new-applicant timeline and order your certified license history early — it is the long-lead item.
What changes, Georgia → Hawaii
| Georgia (current) | Hawaii (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $80–$160 (Journeyman ~$80 ($70 application + $10 processing); master ~$160 ($150 application + $10 processing) per the Division's plumbing exam/initial-application form. Examination administered by PSI with a separate exam fee paid to PSI; that exam is waived only for a qualifying reciprocity applicant under Rule 121-2-.03. Fee figures obtained via search extraction of the Division's official forms because the sos.ga.gov fee-schedule PDF returned HTTP 403 on direct load) | $130–$436 ($40 application + $90 examination = $130 to apply; the triennial license fee is prorated $102-$306 depending on the year of the triennium in which the license is issued (billed on approval; a license issued in calendar 2026 falls in the 3rd year = $102). Same fees for all applicants — no reduced reciprocity fee. Figures from the DCCA Electricians & Plumbers FAQ) |
| Processing time | No board-stated processing time in weeks; the Division publishes exam dates and application deadlines and an application must be approved before the scheduled examination | No board-stated processing time in weeks; examinations are scheduled periodically and licensure follows passing the exam |
| Licensing authority | Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (Office of the Secretary of State) | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing — Board of Electricians and Plumbers |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Hawaii sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Hawaii's initial-licensure requirements on the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing — Board of Electricians and Plumbers website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Hawaii's education/experience requirements and pass its required exams — prior out-of-state licensure may still count toward experience.
- Submit the standard (new applicant) application with fees ($130–$436 ($40 application + $90 examination = $130 to apply; the triennial license fee is prorated $102-$306 depending on the year of the triennium in which the license is issued (billed on approval; a license issued in calendar 2026 falls in the 3rd year = $102). Same fees for all applicants — no reduced reciprocity fee. Figures from the DCCA Electricians & Plumbers FAQ)).
- Allow No board-stated processing time in weeks; examinations are scheduled periodically and licensure follows passing the exam.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Hawaii accept a Georgia plumbing license?
No — Hawaii has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Georgia plumbing license holders. You must apply to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing — Board of Electricians and Plumbers as a new applicant and meet Hawaii's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exam applies moving from Georgia to Hawaii?
Hawaii waives its journey worker plumber examination for no one; the Board of Electricians and Plumbers states in its FAQ 'Does Hawaii have reciprocal agreements with other states? No. All applicants must meet the same licensing and examination requirements,' so every out-of-state plumber must document the required experience and pass the Hawaii examination.
What does the Georgia-to-Hawaii move cost and how long does it take?
$130–$436 ($40 application + $90 examination = $130 to apply; the triennial license fee is prorated $102-$306 depending on the year of the triennium in which the license is issued (billed on approval; a license issued in calendar 2026 falls in the 3rd year = $102). Same fees for all applicants — no reduced reciprocity fee. Figures from the DCCA Electricians & Plumbers FAQ); processing No board-stated processing time in weeks; examinations are scheduled periodically and licensure follows passing the exam, plus the exam and experience-documentation costs of qualifying as a new applicant.
Can I keep my Georgia plumbing license after I'm licensed in Hawaii?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Georgia credential active on its own renewal and continuing-education schedule and you hold both, which is common for plumbers working near a state line.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Hawaii DCCA — Electricians & Plumbers FAQ (reciprocity 'No'; PJ 5yr/10,000hr; application $40, exam $90, license fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii DCCA — Board of Electricians and Plumbers (board page, renewal fees, license search) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Georgia Rules & Regulations 121-2 (Qualifications) incl. Rule 121-2-.03 Statewide License by Reciprocity ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Georgia Rules & Regulations 121-3 (Application for Licensure — 1-yr journeyman / 5-yr master experience, exam minimum score 70) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Georgia SOS — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (board page) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Georgia SOS — Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers FAQ (reciprocity statement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]