HONOLULU – The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' (DCCA) Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (PVL) is encouraging about 10,000 Hawaii professionals to renew their licenses online at www.ehawaii.gov/pvlrenew.

Professionals able to renew online include:

i Electrologists

i Mortgage Brokers

i Mortgage Broker Branch Offices

i Mortgage Solicitors

i Occupational Therapist

i Physical Therapist

Online renewals for these licensees increased from 30% in 2002 to 40% in 2004. "When taken with the real estate renewals which began last week, there are more than 30,000 licensees able to renew their professional license online at this time. We hope more licensees decide to take advantage of this faster and more efficient renewal system," said PVL Licensing Administrator Noe Noe Tom.

Instructions for completing the online renewal have been mailed to each current license holder. Online renewals will be accepted until midnight on December 31, 2006. After that date, renewals will not be accepted online and persons wishing to renew their license must submit the forms by mail or in person to:

DCCA/PVL Licensing Branch

335 Merchant Street, Room 301

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

For more details, call 586-3000 on Oahu. Neighbor island residents may call the following numbers followed by 6-3000 and the # sign:

Kauai: 274-3141

Maui: 984-2400

Hawaii: 974-4000

Lanai & Molokai: 1-800-468-4644 (toll free)

The development of this online service is part of the state's overall campaign to improve efficiency by implementing electronic government services. Currently ehawaii.gov has more than 30 online applications that residents, businesses and visitors may use to conduct business with the state government via the Internet.