Solar Contractor Licensing
To have solar equipment properly installed in Hawaii, ensure your contractor holds the appropriate specialty license for your system type—C-60 or C-61 for PV systems (requiring an Electrical Contractor C-13 license), or C-61a for solar hot water systems (which a licensed plumber can also install). Licensed installers must certify their work, protecting you from improper installation.
Hawaii requires specialty solar licenses (C-60, C-61, C-61a, C-61b) obtained through business and trade exams plus four years of experience; Electrical Contractors (C-13) can install PV systems, and Plumbing Contractors (C-37) can install solar hot water systems, though complete systems often require subcontracting across multiple license types. General engineering contractors ("A" classification) automatically hold the C-61 license without additional exam or fees.
Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs administers four solar specialty contractor licenses tied to specific technologies: C-60 (solar power), C-61 (solar energy), C-61a (solar hot water), and C-61b (heating/cooling systems). The licensing framework requires field experience and exams, with mandatory third-party certification (electricians for PV and backup systems; plumbers for solar water heating) to ensure system integrity and consumer protection across residential and commercial installations.
Program details
- Program ID
- 382
- Last updated
- 12/19/2024
Eligibility
- Sectors
- installers/contractors
- Technologies
- solar water heat solar space heat solar thermal process heat solar photovoltaics
Program summary
Hawaii offers several specialty licenses for solar contractors through Hawaii’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. The following specialty licenses are available: Solar Power Systems Contractor (C-60); Solar Energy Systems Contractor (C-61); Solar Hot Water Systems Contractor (C-61a); and Solar Heating and Cooling Systems Contractor (C-61b). These licenses require business and trade exams plus four years of experience. An Electrical Contractor (C-13) license is required to install photovoltaic systems other than low voltage DC wiring and it includes the work of the C-60 solar power systems contractor. Plumbing contractors (C-37) are also allowed to install solar hot water heating systems.
Note that a Solar Contractor’s license alone does not permit a contractor to install a complete solar energy system and may require that he or she subcontract with Electrical and/or Plumbing Contractors. General engineering contractors ("A" classification) automatically hold the Solar Energy Systems Contractor (C-61) specialty license without having to take a further exam or pay additional fees. For Photovoltaic (PV) systems other than low voltage DC wiring, a licensed electrician must certify that the system and its connections have been properly installed. Solar Water Heating (SWH) systems require the certification of a licensed plumber and, if the system is connected to a back-up energy supply, a licensed electrician. Electrical and Plumbing Contractors may conversely subcontract with Solar Contractors to install components of PV and SWH systems.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- contractor@dcca.hawaii.gov
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
