Hawaii Nurse Practitioner License Requirements 2026
Hawaii requires APRNs to hold an active Hawaii RN license and complete an accredited graduate program in their clinical role. You’ll also need national certification from a Board-approved agency. Hawaii is not an NLC member state, so licensure is state-specific. APRNs who want prescriptive authority apply separately for APRN-RX status.
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Hawaii’s advanced practice nurses are regulated by the Hawaii Board of Nursing under Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL). Every APRN holds two credentials: an RN license issued by PVL, and a separate APRN recognition in one of four roles. Because Hawaii is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, RNs licensed in other states cannot practice in Hawaii without first obtaining a Hawaii license.
Hawaii recognizes four APRN roles:
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Use the links below to jump to education requirements, application steps, prescriptive authority, and renewal information.
- Education and certification requirements
- NP and CNS subspecialties
- Out-of-state APRNs
- How to apply for Hawaii APRN recognition
- Prescriptive authority (APRN-RX)
- License renewal and CE requirements
- Board contacts and professional associations
Education and Certification Requirements
Hawaii requires APRN applicants to complete an accredited graduate degree program focused on direct clinical practice. The program must prepare the nurse to work in one of the four recognized APRN roles. Programs in nursing administration, public health nursing, or nursing education do not qualify, even if they result in a master’s degree.
The master’s program must be accredited by an institutional or programmatic accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and it must be appropriately accredited and meet the Hawaii Board of Education requirements for APRN recognition. Required coursework includes advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology, alongside population-specific didactic and clinical content.
National certification is required for APRN recognition. The certification must come from an agency approved by the Board or recognized by the American Board of Nursing Specialties. The Hawaii Board has explicitly approved the following certifying bodies:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Council on Certification of the American College of Nurse Midwives
- National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
- National Certification Corporation for Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties
- Pediatric Nurses Certification Board (PNCB)
- The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
You must hold an unencumbered Hawaii RN license before applying for APRN recognition. If you haven’t been licensed in Hawaii previously, file for an RN license by examination or endorsement through PVL before submitting your APRN application. See Hawaii RN licensing requirements for the full process.
NP and CNS Subspecialties
Nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists apply under a Board-recognized specialty or population focus. Refer to the current Hawaii APRN application for the complete list of recognized specialties.
NP subspecialty options include:
- Adult
- Family
- Pediatric
- Neonatal
- School
- Acute care
- Psychiatric mental health
CNS subspecialty options include:
- Adult psychiatric/mental health
- Child and adolescent psychiatric/mental health
- Oncology
- Advanced diabetes management
- Pain management
- Community health
- Medical-surgical
- Gerontological
Additional APRN designations may require submission of supporting documentation and applicable fees. Check the current Hawaii Board of Nursing fee schedule before applying.
Out-of-State APRNs
Advanced practice nurses credentialed by another state board before October 1, 2009, are held to different standards and may be recognized based on a master’s degree in nursing or advanced practice specialty certification from a Board-recognized agency. For anyone credentialed after that date, full Hawaii requirements apply. Applicants qualifying under historical grandfathering provisions should contact PVL directly to determine current documentation requirements.
Out-of-state RN licenses and APRN recognitions must be unencumbered. If your current license has any restrictions or disciplinary actions attached, resolve those before applying.
Hawaii is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. An RN license issued by another state does not grant practice rights in Hawaii. You’ll need to obtain a Hawaii RN license by endorsement through PVL before applying for APRN recognition. See how to become an RN in Hawaii if you’re starting from pre-licensure.
How to Apply for Hawaii APRN Recognition
Applications are processed by Professional and Vocational Licensing. The general steps are:
- Obtain an active, unencumbered Hawaii RN license through PVL.
- Complete an accredited graduate program and earn national certification in your APRN role and subspecialty.
- Download the APRN application packet from the PVL website at cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/nursing/application_publications/.
- Arrange primary source verification: transcripts sent directly from your school, certification documentation sent directly from the certifying agency.
- Request verification of all current RN licenses and any existing APRN designations.
- Submit application fees. Fees vary depending on where you are in the biennial renewal cycle. Check the current fee schedule through PVL before submitting.
- Mail or hand-deliver the completed packet to the PVL office in Honolulu. Two mailing addresses are listed in the application packet.
Applicants applying simultaneously for two APRN designations must document qualifications for each separately. Read the applicable statutes and administrative rules before submitting, as you’re responsible for compliance with all requirements cited in the packet.
Prescriptive Authority (APRN-RX)
Prescriptive authority is not automatic with APRN recognition. You’ll apply separately for APRN-RX status. To qualify, you need an accredited master’s degree, national APRN certification, and 30 contact hours of recent coursework in advanced pharmacology that includes advanced pharmacotherapeutics.
Hawaii does not grant prescriptive authority by reciprocity. If you didn’t complete the advanced pharmacology requirement as part of your master’s program, you can meet it through coursework at a Board-recognized institution or through continuing education. CE coursework must be taken through providers approved by Board-recognized certifying agencies and must include advanced pharmacotherapeutics in your specialty area. The Board accepts coursework completed within the prior three years.
When submitting the APRN-RX application, include documentation from your school or CE provider and course descriptions. Because Hawaii maintains a separate file for prescriptive authority, you may need to resubmit some materials already included in your APRN application, including official transcripts and certification documentation.
Application and licensing fees apply for prescriptive authority. Verify current fee amounts through PVL before submitting. Submitting all fees with your initial application will expedite processing.
Prescriptive authority renews every two years. To renew, you’ll need to maintain your current national certification and meet a continuing education requirement. Nurse anesthetists do not need to apply for prescriptive authority to administer anesthesia.
License Renewal and CE Requirements
Hawaii APRN licenses renew biennially in odd-numbered years. To renew, you must maintain active national certification in your APRN specialty and satisfy Hawaii’s continuing competency requirements. APRNs with prescriptive authority must also complete at least 30 contact hours of continuing education every renewal period, including 8 hours in advanced pharmacology or pharmacotherapeutics. Verify current requirements with the Hawaii Board of Nursing before your renewal deadline, as requirements are subject to change.
The PVL office can be reached at (808) 586-2695 or by email at [email protected] for questions about renewal procedures.
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Board Contacts and Professional Associations
The Hawaii Board of Nursing operates under Professional and Vocational Licensing. Contact information:
- Phone (main PVL line): (808) 586-3000
- Phone (Board of Nursing direct): (808) 586-2695
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/nursing
PVL also provides neighbor-island phone numbers on the main Nursing Licensing page of its website for nurses not on Oahu.
State professional associations:
Last verified: June 2026. Licensing requirements and fees are subject to change. Confirm all details with the Hawaii Board of Nursing before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hawaii participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
No. Hawaii is not an NLC member state. An RN license from another state does not allow you to practice in Hawaii. You must obtain a Hawaii RN license through PVL by endorsement before applying for APRN recognition.
What degree do I need to become an NP in Hawaii?
You need at minimum a master’s degree from an accredited graduate program focused on direct clinical practice in one of the four recognized APRN roles. Programs in nursing administration, public health, or nursing education do not qualify. Some APRNs hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which also satisfies the educational requirement.
How many CE hours do Hawaii APRNs need for license renewal?
Hawaii APRNs must satisfy continuing competency requirements and maintain active national certification. APRNs with prescriptive authority must also complete at least 30 contact hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period, with 8 of those hours in advanced pharmacology or pharmacotherapeutics. Verify current requirements with the Hawaii Board of Nursing before your renewal deadline.
Can I apply for prescriptive authority at the same time as my initial APRN recognition?
Yes. You can submit the APRN-RX application concurrently with your initial APRN application. Submitting all required fees at once will expedite processing. You’ll still need to document all requirements for each application separately, and some materials may need to be submitted twice since Hawaii maintains a separate prescriptive authority file.
What happens if I was credentialed as an APRN in another state before 2009?
APRNs credentialed by another state board before October 1, 2009, are evaluated under different standards. You may qualify for Hawaii APRN recognition based on a master’s degree in nursing or specialty certification from a Board-recognized agency, without meeting all current requirements. Contact PVL directly to confirm what documentation applies to your situation.
Key Takeaways
- Dual credential required — Every Hawaii APRN holds both an active Hawaii RN license and a separate APRN recognition in one of four roles: NP, CNS, CNM, or CRNA.
- Hawaii is not NLC — Out-of-state RN licenses don’t transfer. You must obtain a Hawaii RN license by endorsement through PVL before applying for APRN recognition.
- National certification is mandatory — The Board won’t recognize you as an APRN until you hold active certification from an approved agency such as ANCC or AANP.
- Prescriptive authority is a separate application — APRN-RX status requires 30 hours of advanced pharmacology coursework and carries its own fees. It doesn’t come automatically with APRN recognition.
- APRN-RX holders have specific CE obligations — APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete at least 30 CE hours per renewal period, including 8 in pharmacology, in addition to maintaining active national certification.
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