License and Permit Information

The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) warns licensees to be aware of scams where thieves pose as state officials to obtain Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and intimidate potential victims. HTSB account holders should send a message using the Contact HTSB tab of their account with any questions and we will respond using your secure account.  If you do not have an account, email us at htsb@hawaii.gov  and we will respond via return email.  If you need detailed assistance, you may request a ZOOM meeting by your Contact HTSB tab or by emailing htsb@hawaii.gov.  

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HTSB’S OFFICE HOURS  

In response to the “Act Now Honolulu: No Social Gatherings” emergency order, starting August 18, 2020 HTSB’s office located in Dole Cannery at 650 Iwilei Road, Suite 268, Honolulu will reduce in-person access to staff but remain open from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, except State holidays.  We are limiting all consultations to phone or online meetings. Please call us at 808-586-2600 or email HTSB@HAWAII.GOV to schedule a FaceTime/Skype/Zoom meeting or phone consultation.  To date, our COVID-19 safety precautions have worked to prevent the spread of the disease in our office, and we thank you for helping us to keep it that way. You can continue to receive timely help, usually the same day, from HTSB’s licensing staff by one of the following options: 

1. The best method: Use the Contact HTSB tab in your online HTSB license or permit account; 
2. Email us at htsb@hawaii.gov;
3. Call 808-586-2600;
4. Email us at htsb@hawaii.govto set up a virtual meeting appointment.

The most efficient way to contact HTSB is through the “Contact HTSB” tab in your online HTSB profile page. If you would like to speak with the specialist assigned to you, please use this chart to call them.

If your last name starts with…	Licensing Specialist assigned to you…	Direct office line
A-H	Tracey Idica	808-586-2619
I-P	RJ Rodriguez	808-586-2603
Q-Z	Sungti Hsu	808-586-2617

For everyone’s health and safety, visitors must follow these guidelines: 

1. Make an appointment;
2. Please ring the doorbell and wait to be escorted into the HTSB office;
3. Wear a mask covering their nose and mouth;
4. Have temperature taken, by HTSB staff, prior to entry;
5. Not exhibit any signs of COVID-19, such as a fever, cough or other respiratory symptoms, or have had close, prolonged contact with a person who has or is suspected to have COVID-19 (We will take your temperature prior to entry);
6. Not have traveled outside Oahu within the 14 days preceding their visit to HTSB’s office; and
7. Avoid physical contact and keep a six-foot distance from others unless behind the sneeze guard.

Stay safe and healthy, everyone! 

Requirement to Have a License or Permit in Hawaii

All Hawaii DOE and Charter School teachers, librarians, and counselors must have a license.  Click here to see the laws requiring a license. If no licensed teacher is available, the school may hire an emergency hire teacher. Click here to read the law on emergency hire teachers. There is a penalty for both the teacher and the administrator if a person is teaching without the proper license or permit.  Click here to read about the penalty for teaching without a license or permit.

Status of Application Evaluations

We are currently working on messages and applications submitted before May 6, 2021.   You will receive a notice when your application is approved or if we need additional information.  If you are currently enrolled in or have recently completed a State Approved Teacher Education Program, we will process your application after we receive the list of completers from your program. During peak application times, May – July and January – March, it may take up to six weeks to process your application, especially if we are waiting on documentation from agencies, schools, or organizations to support your application. Due to system-wide upgrades, if an application is not approved on or before June 30, 2021, the application will expire automatically. A new application may be submitted on or after July 1, 2021, to continue the application process.

Submitting Documents

Please scan and upload all required documents directly to your HTSB account Documents Tab. This instantly notifies HTSB that a document has been added. Due to COVID-19 protocols,  documents submitted by regular mail may be subject to extended processing time. NOTE: When creating an HTSB online profile and completing applications, first and last name must match the name on legal documents. Use of multiple forms of your name on documents may result in a delay in application processing.

Submitting Non-US Documents

All transcripts and official documents from non-US institutions that you would like reviewed must include an evaluation/report completed by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member agency.

Military and Military Spouses

If you are a military spouse, then please be sure to indicate that on your application. Our licensing team can speak with you about our expedited licensing process for military spouses. Please also read about other federal resources that have been made to support the process for transferring a teaching license from your home state. Click here to read more about these resources for military spouses.

Reciprocity

HTSB honors reciprocity for all 50 states, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and CNMI for jurisdictional approved preparation programs leading to licensure, licenses, and verifiable relevant experience.  HTSB will evaluate non-US programs,  licenses, and experiences, please provide the necessary documentation during the application process.  

	License or Permit Type	Description	Term		Requirements
	Provisional License	The Provisional License is a NASDTEC Stage 2 License.  For teachers who have completed a preparation program and have less than three years of full time teaching experience.	3 Years, not renewable		Submit an online application and the following required documentation: Provisional License Requirements
	Standard License	The Standard License is a NASDTEC Stage 3 License.  There are multiple ways to qualify for this license if you have three or more years of full time teaching experience within the last five years.	5 Years, renewable		Submit an online application and the following required documentation: Standard License Requirements
	Standard Limited License in CTE or Computer Science	The Limited Standard License restricts teaching to the field on the license, and additional fields may not be added to this license.  Three years of industry experience in the license field are required.	5 Years, renewable		Submit an online application and the following required documentation: Standard Limited CTE License Requirements or Standard Limited Computer Science License Requirements
	Advanced License	The Advanced License is a NASDTEC Stage 4 License.  There are three ways to qualify for this license if you have five years of full time teaching experience within the last eight years.	10 Years, renewable		Submit an online application and the following required documentation: Advanced License Requirements
	Emergency Hire Permit	The Emergency Hire Permit is issued to an unlicensed individual who wishes to teach in a Hawaii public school in a shortage area or hard to fill position when no licensed teacher is available.	1 Year, expires on June 30 of each year.  May be reissued two times.		Submit an online application and the following required documentation: Emergency Hire Permit Requirements
	CTE Permit	The CTE Permit is issued to an unlicensed individual employed by the Hawaii Department of Education or a Hawaii Charter School in a CTE classroom when no licensed teacher is available.	5 years, may be renewed one time		Submit an online application and the following required documentation: CTE Permit Requirements
	Hawaiian Permit	The Hawaiian Permit is issued to an unlicensed individual employed by the Hawaii Department of Education or a Hawaii Charter School in Kaia ̒ōlelo‐Kaiapuni Hawai ̒i, Hawaiian Language Immersion, and Hawaiian Knowledge classrooms when no licensed teacher is available.	1 year, may be renewed for five years		Submit an online application and the following required documentation: Hawaiian Permit Requirements
	Student Teacher Permit	The Student Teacher Permit is issued to an unlicensed individual recommended by a Hawaii state approved teacher education program to serve as a student teacher. Educators with an Emergency Hire permit should not apply for a student teacher permit.	1 year limited duty		Submit an online application and the following required documentation: Student Teacher Permit Requirements
		Available license fields and levels			License Fields and Levels
		How to Verify  Basic Skills			Basic Skills Verification Options
		How to Verify Content Knowledge			Content Knowledge Verification Options
		How to Verify Completion of an Educator Preparation Program			Preparation Program Verification Options
		How to Meet Professional Fitness Requirements			Professional Fitness Verification Information

 

Who do I contact for questions regarding teaching in Hawaii?

Contact us for questions regarding licenses and permits for teachers, counselors, and librarians. For all other questions, please see Where to go: A Guide for Hawaii Teacher Applicants and Licensees

Question about licensure after retirement? 

Please visit the webpage on Renewing Your License.