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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Licenses renewed online, for less

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i engineers, architects, surveyors and landscape architects who renew their licenses online can get a discount on the renewal and a related fee.

The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is offering a "25 percent customer appreciation credit on the renewal fee and a 10 percent discount on the compliance resolution fund fee," which drops the total on those fees from $150 to $123, according to spokeswoman Christine Hirasa. There are nearly 8,000 licensed professionals in the four categories.

The discounts are for online renewals only and can be found at http://pvl.ehawaii.gov/renewals. The deadline for online renewals is midnight April 30.

After that, renewals will not be accepted online, and renewals must then be submitted by mail or in person.

These professionals are required by state law to renew their licenses every two years. During their last renewal cycle in 2006, more than 6,300 licensees (or about 94 percent of those licensed at that time) renewed their licenses online.

Hirasa said the online renewal program has been around since 2001 and the discounts were first offered in 2005, but more types of licensing areas were added.

She said the state offers online renewals in 32 of 45 licensing areas. The other 13 can't be done online because they require submittal of original documents and other verifications.

"We are hopeful this upward trend will continue as we encourage licensees to take advantage of the discounts offered for renewing their license online," said Licensing Administrator Noe Noe Tom.

Renewal postcard notices with instructions for completing the online renewal and details of the online discounts have been mailed to each current license holder.

Those who prefer to mail in their renewal may call 586-3000 to request an application or they can pick up an application form in person at the DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, 335 Merchant St., Room 301.

Neighbor Island residents may call the following numbers followed by 6-3000 and the # sign: Kaua'i, 274-3141; Maui, 984-2400; Big Island, 974-4000; Lana'i and Moloka'i, 800-468-4644.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.