50-State Employment Services Industry Licensing Guide
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Hawaii Employment Agency

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Licensing requirements for Hawaii employment, staffing and talent agencies.

This page provides an overview of employment services licensing in Hawaii for individuals and agencies. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

Companies that provide employment services in Hawaii must apply for a license prior to doing business. Depending on the services offered, businesses may need to apply for more than one license type, and in some cases, an individual license will be required as well.

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Company Licenses

Hawaii Employment Services Company Licenses

Companies acting as employment agencies in Hawaii must obtain the following licenses before offering employment services. Applications usually require proof of incorporation or a certificate of authority.

Hawaii Employment Agency License

Agency:Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing

Initial Registration

This section applies to firms that are applying for a license in Hawaii for the first time.

Form:

http://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/programs/employment/application_publications/

Agency Fee:

$315 if you file from July 1 of an even-numbered year to June 30 of an odd-numbered year and $190 if you file from July 1 of an odd-numbered year to June 30 of an even-numbered year.

Registration Renewal

This section applies to firms that are already licensed in Hawaii and need to renew their license.

Form:

Applications are mailed in May.

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Hawaii Professional Employer Organization Registration

Agency:Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Law:

HRS § 373L-2

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Insurance Requirements:

Registrants must obtain and provide a certificate of insurance for worker’s compensation coverage and temporary disability insurance.

Bond Requirements:
  • For professional employer organizations with a total payroll up to and including $25,000,000, a
    bond or its irrevocable letter of credit equivalent of $25,000
  • For professional employer organizations with a total payroll up to and including $25,000,001 to
    $150,000,000, a bond or its irrevocable letter of credit equivalent of $75,000
  • For professional employer organizations with a total payroll up to and including $150,000,001
    and higher, a bond or its irrevocable letter of credit equivalent of $250,000

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Application

Agency Fee:

$500

Required Attachments:
  • A copy of the certificate of authority to transact business in Hawaii, issued by the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Proof of valid worker’s compensation coverage in compliance with all laws of Hawaii by providing a copy of Certificate of Insurance
  • Proof of compliance with the Hawaii temporary disability insurance law by providing a copy of Certificate of Issuance
  • Proof of compliance with the Hawaii prepaid health care act by providing a copy of Certificate of Coverage
  • Form PEO-3: PEO Client Companies List
  • A copy of the Internal Revenue Service Form W-3 that was most recently filed with the federal government
  • A surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit equivalent to the required bond amount, which is based on the previous year’s payroll of the professional employer organization based on the Internal Revenue Service Form W-3 (Form PEO-2)

Registration Renewal

Form:

Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Application (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$750

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Required Attachments:
  • A copy of the certificate of authority to transact business in Hawaii, issued by the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • proof of valid worker’s compensation coverage in compliance with all laws of Hawaii by providing a copy of Certificate of Insurance
  • Proof of compliance with the Hawaii temporary disability insurance law by providing a copy of Certificate of Issuance
  • Proof of compliance with the Hawaii prepaid health care act by providing a copy of Certificate of Coverage
  • Form PEO-3: PEO Client Companies List
  • A copy of the Internal Revenue Service Form W-3 that was most recently filed with the federal government
  • A surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit equivalent to the required bond amount, which is based on the previous year’s payroll of the professional employer organization based on the Internal Revenue Service Form W-3 (Form PEO-2)

Supplemental Reporting
Annual W-3 Filing

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually by June 30.

Notes:

Every year PEOs must submit a copy of the Internal Revenue Service Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, that was most recently filed with the federal government.

Hawaii Talent Agency License

Agency:Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing
Notes:

Hawaii does not have a separate talent agency license, but an employment agency license may be required.

Initial Registration

Form:

http://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/programs/employment/application_publications/

Agency Fee:

$315 if you file from July 1 of an even-numbered year to June 30 of an odd-numbered year and $190 if you file from July 1 of an odd-numbered year to June 30 of an even-numbered year.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Applications are mailed in May.

Due:

By June 30 of even-numbered years.

Individual Licenses

Hawaii Individual Employment Services Licenses

Hawaii Employment Principal Agent License

Agency:Hawaii Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (PVL)

Employee Leasing Company - Enter into leasing contracts with other businesses that require labor. The leasing company loans its workers to the lessee while still providing specified responsibilities, such as workers compensation insurance, to the employees. This includes long term (6 months or more) temporary arrangements but often excludes temporary help arrangements. Unlike professional employer organizations, employee leasing companies are contracted when an employer needs to hire staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.

Employment Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment for a person.

Professional Employer Organization - PEOs take on the human resources role for businesses and act as a co-employer in the sense that the client company's workers are administratively employees of the PEO but functionally these employees are controlled by the client company. Unlike employee leasing companies, PEOs are contracted when an employer already has staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.

Staffing Agency - An entity that procures temporary or part-time employment for a person who then works under the supervision of a worksite employer.

Talent Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment or placement for an artist. (Certain art forms are excluded)

American Staffing Association
Staffing, recruiting, and workforce solution industry advocacy group.

National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Education and training oriented association for personnel services providers.

National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO)
Provides advocacy efforts, information, and other services to members of the employment industry.

Revised June 02, 2021. Complete data last reviewed March 12, 2018.
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