Plumber License from Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas, 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 Texas, 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, Texas → Hawaii
| Texas (current) | Hawaii (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $40 ($40 non-refundable out-of-state journeyman examination processing fee to TSBPE ($25 for master); a separate computer-based test fee is payable to Pearson VUE on approval, plus IdentoGO fingerprint costs and the license issuance fee once passed; Louisiana/Arkansas applicants use the Reciprocal License Verification pathway) | $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 | 4–6 weeks (TSBPE states typical processing of 30-45 days for straightforward applications; longer with criminal history or unclear immigration status) | No board-stated processing time in weeks; examinations are scheduled periodically and licensure follows passing the exam |
| Licensing authority | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) | 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 Texas plumbing license?
No — Hawaii has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas-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 Texas plumbing license after I'm licensed in Hawaii?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Texas 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)
- TSBPE — Out-of-State Examination Application (LA/AR reciprocity banner; 2-year license; $40 journeyman fee; fingerprints; written + practical exam), Rev. March 2026 ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TSBPE — License Types (Tradesman, Journeyman, Master Plumber) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TSBPE — Printable Forms (Reciprocal License Verification, Louisiana and Arkansas only) ↗ (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]