The Auditor
State of Hawai‘i

A Comparative Study of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licenses

Report No. 05-14
December 2005

 

Foreword

Introduction

License Summaries

Accountant, Certified Public

Acupuncture

Chiropractor

Contractor

Electrician, Journeyman

Electrician, Supervising

Optometrist

Osteopathic Physician

Pharmacist

Pharmacy

Physician

Physician Assistant

Plumber, Journeyman

Plumber, Master

Podiatrist

Veterinarian

 

JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN
Summary Overall Rank Apprenticeship Continuing Education License Fees Table

Summary

Hawai‘i’s
journeyman electrician requirements are one of the most stringent among states that license journeyman electricians. In eighteen states journeyman electricians are not licensed or are regulated at the local government level. Of the thirty-two states that issue a license comparable to Hawai‘i’s, twenty-nine require four years of apprenticeship; two, including Hawai‘i require five years; and one requires two years. Hawai‘i’s license fees rank in the first quintile.

Requirement

Hawai‘i

Category Rank

National Median

OVERALL RANK (quintile)

 1

 

 

Education and Experience

5 years apprenticeship

1

4 years apprenticeship

Examination

 

Not ranked

 

Fees

$340

1

$122

Continuing Education

None

5

5 hours per year

Reciprocity or Endorsement

No

1

Yes. 21 states have some form of reciprocity or endorsement.

Notes on journeyman electrician ranking:

1 = most difficult, most requirements, highest fees.
5 = least difficult, fewest requirements, lowest fees.

Licensing:  Thirty-two states issue a journeyman electrician license that is comparable to Hawai‘i’s. Most of the other states regulate journeyman electricians at the local government level or issue a license that is not comparable to Hawai‘i.

Education:  States that issue a license require an apprenticeship between two and five years in length. Rank is based on the number of years of apprenticeship required.

Examination: This category was not ranked. All states require a written examination.

Fees: Rank is based on the cost of an initial license, an annualized renewal fee. This reflects the cost of obtaining and renewing a license.

Continuing education: This is expressed as hours per year.  Rank is based on the average hours per year required. Hawai‘i is one of eight states with no continuing education requirement.

Reciprocity:  Rank is based on whether a state offers reciprocity or endorsement. A rank of 1 was assigned for states that do not have reciprocity or endorsement, and a rank of 5 for states that do.

Sources: In addition to state websites, we referred to Contractor's State Licensing Information Directory, National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies, 2005 Edition.