The Regulated Industries
What Industries, professionals, and tradespersons fall within RICO’s enforcement authority?
In the interest of public health, welfare and safety, a professional or vocational license is required to perform certain services and work, in a regulated industry, for consumers. The professional or vocational license is not the same as a general excise tax license or business registration. The professional and vocational licenses that RICO has enforcement authority over are managed by the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (PVL) of the DCCA, and governed by the industry board, commission or program.
A professional or vocational license is a significant and unique achievement for the holder. It cannot be loaned out to, or borrowed, by someone else. The license assures the consumer that the industry person they will be hiring has the minimum level of education, training and experience needed to competently perform the specialized work.
The following is a list of the regulated industries and the professionals and tradespersons who perform their specialized services.
| Industry | Governing Board or Program in the DCCA | Profession or Vocation Requiring a License / Registration (R) / Certificate (C) / Permit (Please note that this is not exhaustive) | Governing Licensing Laws |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountancy | Board of Public Accountancy | Accountant Permit to Practice Firm Permit to Practice | HRS Chapter 466 HAR Chapter 71 |
| Activity Desk | Activity Desk Program | Activity Desk (R) | HRS Chapter 468M HAR Chapter 117 |
| Acupuncture | Board of Acupuncture | Acupuncturist | HRS Chapter 436E HAR Chapter 72 |
| Appraisal (real estate) | Appraisal Management Company Program | Appraisal Management Company (R) | HRS Chapter 466L |
| Athletic Trainers | Athletic Trainers Program | Athletic Trainers (R) | HRS Chapter 436H |
| Barbering & Cosmetology | Board of Barbering and Cosmetology | Barber Barber Shop Beauty Operator Beauty Shop Beauty Instructor Beauty School Beauty Apprentice Barber Apprentice | For Barbering: HAR Chapter 438 HAR Chapter 73 For Cosmetology: HRS Chapter 439 HAR Chapter 78 |
| Behavior Analysts | Behavior Analyst Program | Behavior Analyst | HRS Chapter 465D |
| Boxing | Hawaii State Boxing Commission | Boxer Manager Matchmaker Second Timekeeper Promoter Judge Referee Physician | HRS Chapter 440 HAR Chapter 74 |
| Cemetery | Cemetery and Pre-Need Funeral Authority Program | Cemetery Authority Pre-Need Funeral Authority | HRS Chapter 441 HAR Chapter 75 |
| Chiropractor | Hawaii Board of Chiropractic | Chiropractor | HRS Chapter 442 HAR Chapter 76 |
| Collection Agency | Collection Agency Program | Collection Agencies (R) Exempt Out-of-State Collection Agency Designation (R) | HRS Chapter 443B HAR Chapter 112 |
| Condominium | Condominium Property Regimes | Condominium – CPR Registration (R) | HRS Chapter 514B (Limited enforcement authority) |
| Contractor | Contractor License Board | Contractors –Sole Proprietor Responsible Managing Employee Entity General Engineering General Building Specialty Contractors | HRS Chapter 444 HAR Chapter 77 |
| Dentist & Dental Hygienist | Board of Dentistry | Dentist Dentist Temporary Community Service Dentist Dental Hygienist Temporary Community Service Dental Hygienist | For Dentist: HRS Chapter 448 HAR Chapter 79 For Dental Hygienist: HRS Chapter 447 HAR Chapter 79 |
| Dispensing Optician | Dispensing Optician Program | Dispensing Optician | HRS Chapter 458 HAR Chapter 91 |
| Electricians & Plumbers | Board of Electricians and Plumbers | Electrician Plumber | HRS Chapter 448E HAR Chapter 80 |
| Electrologists | Electrologist Program | Electrologist | HRS Chapter 448F HAR Chapter 113 |
| Elevator Mechanic | Elevator Mechanics Licensing Board | Elevator Mechanic Elevator Mechanic Apprentice (R) | HRS Chapter 448H HAR Chapter 81 |
| Employment Agency | Commercial Employment Agency Program | Employment Agency Employment Agency Principal Agent | HRS Chapter 373 HAR Chapter 108 |
| Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, & Landscape Architects (EASLA) | Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, & Landscape Architects | Engineer Architect Land Surveyor Landscape Architect | HRS Chapter 464 HAR Chapter 115 |
| Hearing Aid Dealer & Fitter | Hearing Aid Dealer and Fitter Program | Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters | HRS Chapter 451A HAR Chapter 83 |
| Marriage & Family Therapist | Marriage and Family Therapist Program | Marriage and Family Therapist | HRS Chapter 451J |
| Massage | Board of Massage Therapy | Massage Therapist Massage Therapy Establishment Massage Therapist Apprentice | HRS Chapter 452 HAR Chapter 84 |
| Medical, Osteopathy & Medical Assistance | Hawaii Medical Board | Physician Assistant Physician Osteopathic Physician Podiatrist Emergency Medical Technician Basic Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic Emergency Medical Technician Advanced © | For Physician Assistant: HRS Chapter 453 HAR Chapter 85 For Physician: HRS Chapter 453 HAR Chapter 85 For Osteopath: HRS Chapter 453 HAR Chapter 93 For Podiatrist: HRS Chapter 463E HAR Chapter 85 For EMT: HRS Chapter 453 HAR Chapter 85 |
| Mental Health Counselor | Mental Health Counselor Licensing Program | Mental Health Counselor | HRS Chapter 453D |
| Midwives | Midwives Licsening Program | Midwives | HRS Chapter 457J |
| Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) | Mixed Martial Arts Contests Program | Mixed Martial Arts Pro Contestant Mixed Martial Arts Judge Mixed Martial Arts Manager Mixed Martial Arts Promoter Mixed Martial Arts Referre Mixed Martial Arts Second | HRS Chapter 440E |
| Motor Vehicle Industry | Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board | Motor Vehicle Salesperson Motor Vehicle Dealer Motor Vehicle Consumer Consultant (R) | HRS Chapter 437 HAR Chapter 86 |
| Motor Vehicle Repair | Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board | Mechanic Motor Vehicle Repair Dealer Motor Vehicle Salvage Repair Dealer | HRS Chapter 437B HAR Chapter 87 |
| Naturopaths | Board of Naturopathic Medicine | Naturopath Naturopathy Professional Corporation | HRS Chapter 455 HAR Chapter 88 |
| Nurse Aide | — | Certified Nurse Aide © | HRS Chapter 457A HAR Chapter 89A |
| Nursing | Board of Nursing | Licensed Practical Nurse Registered Nurse Advanced Practice Registered Nurse APRN with Prescriptive Authority Limited Practial Nurse | HRS Chapter 457 HAR Chapter 89 |
| Nursing Home Administrator | Nursing Home Administrator | Nursing Home Administrator | HRS Chapter 457B HAR Chapter 90 |
| Occupational Therapy | Occupational Therapy Program | Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapy Assistant | HRS Chapter 457G |
| Optometry | Hawaii Board of Optometry | Optometrist Optometry Professional Corporation | HRS Chapter 459 HAR Chapter 92 |
| Pest Control | Pest Control Board | Pest Control Operator Pest Control Field Representative | HRS Chapter 460J HAR Chapter 94 |
| Pharmacy & Pharmacist | Board of Pharmacy | Pharmacist Pharmacy Pharmacy -Miscellaneous Permit Wholesale Prescription Drug Distributor | HRS Chapter 461 HAR Chapter 95 |
| Physical Therapy | Board of Physical Therapy | Physical Therapist Physical Therapist Assistant | HRS Chapter 461J HAR Chapter 110 |
| Port Pilot | Port Pilot Program | Port Pilot Deputy Port Pilot | HRS Chapter 462A HAR Chapter 96 |
| Private Detective & Guard | Board of Private Detectives and Guards | Guard Employee (R) Guard Guard Agency Private Detective Private Detective Agency | HRS Chapter 463 HAR Chapter 97 |
| Psychology | Board of Psychology | Psychologist | HRS Chapter 465 HAR Chapter 98 |
| Real Estate | Real Estate Commission | Real Estate Salesperson Real Estate Broker Prelicense Education School (R) Prelicense Instructor (C) Condominum Hotel Operator (R) | HRS Chapter 467 HAR Chapter 99 HRS Chapter 514B |
| Real Estate Appraisal | Real Estate Appraiser Program | State Licensed Appraiser State Certified Residential Appraiser (C) State Certified General Appraiser (C) Real Estate Appraiser Trainee Appraisal Management Company | HRS Chapter 466K HAR Chapter 114 |
| Respiratory Therapist | Respiratory Therapists | Respiratory Therapist | HRS Chapter 466D |
| Social Worker | Social Worker Program | Licensed Bachelor Social Worker Licensed Clinical Social Worker Licensed Social Worker | HRS Chapter 467E |
| Speech Pathology and Audiology | Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology | Audiologist Speech Pathologist | HRS Chapter 468E HAR Chapter 100 |
| Time Share | Time Share | Developer (R) Plan Manager (R) Acquisition Agent (R) Exchange Agent ® | HRS Chapter 514E HAR Chapter 106 |
| Travel Agency | Travel Agency Program | Charter Tour Operator (R) Travel Agency (R) | HRS Chapter 468L HAR Chapter 116 |
| Uniform Athlete Agent | Uniform Athlete Agents Program | Uniform Athlete Agent (R) | HRS Chapter 481E |
| Veterinary | Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine | Veterinarian | HRS Chapter 471 HAR Chapter 101 |
| Veterinary | Veterinary Technician Program | Veterinary Technician | HRS Chapter 472 |
Additional Information on certain industries, trades, and professions
- Accountancy
- Barbering, Cosmetology, Electrology
- Cemeteries and Pre-Need Funeral Providers
- Collection Agencies
- Contractors, Electricians, Plumbers, and Elevator Mechanics
- Employment Agencies
- Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects
- Information about Healthcare and Social Service Professions
- Massage Therapy Establishments and Massage Therapists
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Motor Vehicle Repairs
- Motor Vehicle Sales
- Pest Control
- Port Pilots
- Private Detectives and Guards
- Real Estate Sales, Real Estate Appraisals, and Condominiums
- Travel Agencies, Activity Desks, and Time Shares
- Uniform Athlete Agents
- Veterinary