Online Professional License Renewals at www.eHawaii.gov Reach Record Levels.

HONOLULU -- Licensed professionals in Hawaii continue to use the state's online license renewal services in increasing numbers. The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs recently announced that 94 percent of the state's 7,510 engineers, architects, surveyors, and landscape architects chose to renew their professional licenses online during the most recent renewal cycle, nearly triple the rate from two years ago. Professional license renewals are available online through www.eHawaii.gov, the state's official Web site.

"The 94 percent online renewal rate is nearly triple the rate in 2004, when 37 percent of these licensed professionals submitted online renewals," said Noe Noe Tom, Licensing Administrator for the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. "It has been very rewarding to see our online renewal rate consistently increase."

Hawaii's online service enabled the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division to reduce mailing and printing costs during the renewal cycle that ended on April 30 by sending paper forms only to licensees who called to request them.

"This most recent renewal cycle was remarkable," said Mark Recktenwald, Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. "It is very clear that licensees prefer the simplicity, savings, and convenience of our online renewal process."

According to eHawaiiGov general manager Dan Morrison, no other state offering voluntary online renewals has seen such a high adoption rate for multiple license types.

Another group of licensed professionals are currently eligible to renew their licenses online at www.eHawaii.gov, including:

--Motor vehicle consumer consultants and salespersons

--Osteopaths

--Elevator mechanics

--Massage establishments

--Massage therapists

--Nursing home administrators

--Pest control field representatives and operators

--Plumbers

--Psychologists

--Veterinarians

--Dispensing opticians

All online renewals will be accepted until midnight on June 30, except for dispensing opticians, who have until midnight July 1 to file online. After that date, late renewals will only be accepted by mail or in person at the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division's office in Honolulu.

Online professional license renewals are part of the state's campaign to improve efficiency by implementing electronic government services. eHawaiiGov currently offers more than 30 online services that residents, businesses, and visitors may use to conduct business with state government via the Internet.

About eHawaiiGov

eHawaiiGov is the state of Hawaii's official Internet portal (www.eHawaii.gov) and provider of electronic government solutions for the state. It is managed by Hawaii Information Consortium LLC, a Honolulu-based subsidiary of eGovernment firm NIC (Nasdaq:EGOV).

About NIC

NIC manages more eGovernment services than any provider in the world. The company helps government communicate more effectively with citizens and businesses by putting essential services online. NIC provides eGovernment solutions for 2,200 state and local agencies that serve more than 55 million people in the United States. Additional information is available at www.nicusa.com.