Become a Nurse in Hawaii – Licensure & Requirements

Graduate-level education requirements shown in the table above reflect the Hawaii Board of Nursing's current APRN requirement — completion of an accredited graduate-level education program preparing the applicant for the CRNA, nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse practitioner role (current as of September 2026).

Hawaii Nursing Salaries

State-wide and metropolitan-area nurse salary figures above (except the state-wide Nurse Anesthetist figure) were retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Hawaii for the May 2025 reference period. The state-wide Nurse Anesthetist figure was not reproducible in the current release and remains as retrieved in January 2020.

There are many paths to becoming a nurse in Hawaii. The path you take will mostly depend upon the type of nurse you’d like to become and your current or prospective level of education. The higher your level of education, the more opportunities you’ll have to choose where and how you pursue your career in nursing.

In addition to nursing salaries in Hawaii, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of Hawaii nursing licensure. We’re constantly making updates, but with the speed of change in the healthcare sphere it’s difficult to stay current.If you have any comments or suggestions for our information on nursing in Hawaii, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

Hawaii is not a Nursing Licensure Compact state as of September 11, 2026, per the compact commission's current roster and implementation map, which lists 43 participating jurisdictions and does not include Hawaii.

Because Hawaii has not joined the compact, a multistate license alone does not authorize practice in Hawaii; the nurse must obtain Hawaii authorization before practicing. Current Board pathways include permanent licensure by endorsement for eligible out-of-state licensees and a temporary permit for narrowly eligible nurses already appointed or accepted for employment with one Hawaii health care entity; examination is the initial-licensure route. Hawaii's legislature directed the Hawai'i State Center for Nursing to study the compact's feasibility, and the resulting report was delivered to the 2024 legislature; two 2026-session bills that would enact the compact (SB 3104, HB 2285) remain introduced and have not been enacted as of this update.

Prescriptive Authority in Hawaii

Advanced registered nurse practitioners in Hawaii may apply for prescriptive authority within their practice specialties, as described and outlined by the board.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Hawaii

Recognized APRN roles in Hawaii include: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Nurse Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), and Nurse Practitioner.

Education: Completion of an accredited graduate-level education program preparing the applicant for the CRNA, nurse midwife, CNS, or NP role, per the Hawaii Board of Nursing (current as of September 2026)

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications

Certification Required: National Certification in Specialty Area

Fees:

• $194 for a license issued between July 1 of an odd-numbered year and June 30 of an even-numbered year, per the Hawaii Board of Nursing (current as of September 2026)
• $126 for a license issued between July 1 of an even-numbered year and June 30 of an odd-numbered year, per the Hawaii Board of Nursing (current as of September 2026)

Additional Information: A current and valid Hawaii Registered Nurse license is required to obtain or maintain the APRN license; applicants may submit their RN and APRN applications concurrently without waiting for the RN license to be issued, per the Hawaii Board of Nursing (current as of September 2026)

Renewal: All nursing and APRN licenses expire on June 30th of each odd-numbered year; APRN licenses cannot be renewed without renewal of the underlying RN license. The board's fee schedule separately lists an APRN active-status renewal fee of $36 for the July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027 period ($66 if restored after expiration).

^{Source: CCA.Hawaii.GOV}

Learn more on how to become an advanced practice registered nurse.

Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Hawaii

Education: RN applicants must complete the applicable registered-nursing education requirements; LPN applicants must complete the applicable practical-nursing education requirements.

Examination: NCLEX

Fees:

• $40 nonrefundable application fee, per the Hawaii Board of Nursing (current as of September 2026)
• $200 NCLEX Examination Fee for U.S. registrations completed through January 31, 2027 ($350 for registrations on or after February 1, 2027)

Once the Hawaii Board of Nursing has received all required documents, the completed application, and the fee, allow 3–4 weeks for the Board to determine exam eligibility — this period precedes license issuance (current as of September 2026).

Endorsement: Eligible RNs and LPNs licensed elsewhere may apply for the corresponding Hawaii license by endorsement, subject to board approval. A $254 application fee is required for licenses issued between July 1st of an odd-numbered year and June 30th of an even-numbered year; a $186 application fee is required for licenses issued between July 1st of an even-numbered year and June 30th of an odd-numbered year. Endorsement applications typically take 15–20 working days to process once complete, per the Hawaii Board of Nursing (current as of September 2026); incomplete applications delay processing further.

Renewal: On-time active-status renewal is $196 for both RN and LPN for the July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027 licensing period (renew by June 30 of each odd-numbered year); late renewal (restoration) is $226.

^{Source: CCA.Hawaii.GOV}

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse or more information on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Information Disclosure:

^{Information for the nursing careers above: advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, and licensed practical nurse was retrieved from the Hawaii Board of Nursing, verified September 11, 2026. NCLEX examination fees are set separately by NCLEX/NCSBN.}