Oregon Electrician License Requirements (2026)

The Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) Electrical Licensing Program licenses individual electricians under ORS Chapter 479 and the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code. The flagship credential is the General Journeyman Electrician (Class A), which authorizes work on all electrical installations statewide. The path to Class A requires a four-year registered apprenticeship (8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 576 hours of related classroom instruction) and passage of the Oregon General Journeyman examination. Self-employed electricians must additionally hold a General Supervising Electrician license and pair it with a CCB Electrical Specialty Contractor business license.

The Licensing Authority

Authority over this credential rests with Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD), which issues and polices it under Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 479 (electrical) and Chapter 693 (plumbing); OAR Chapter 918. BCD licenses individual electricians and plumbers, administers trade examinations through its Licensing Program, adopts the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code and Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, and certifies inspectors statewide.

Official portal: https://www.oregon.gov/bcd/
Address: 1535 Edgewater Street NW, Salem, OR 97304
Phone: (503) 378-4133

Baseline Eligibility

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No Oregon residency requirement.

Good moral character

BCD reviews applicant background. Felony convictions and prior BCD disciplinary action are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Mandatory disclosure of prior electrical licenses and disciplinary history on the BCD application.

Experience and Education Requirements

At least Four years of registered apprenticeship comprising 8,000 hours of qualifying on-the-job electrical experience plus 576 hours of related classroom instruction has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) apprenticeship completion certificate
Apprenticeship training record (DD-214 / RAPIDS) showing OJT hours
Related Training Instruction (RTI) transcripts showing 576 classroom hours
W-2 statements covering the apprenticeship period

Education substitution

Out-of-state electricians with equivalent licensure may apply for credit toward the experience requirement; BCD reviews each application individually.

The Licensing Examination

The exam, administered by Oregon BCD Electrical Licensing Program (administered through PSI test centers), breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Examination — National Electrical Code, Oregon Electrical Specialty Code, and Oregon electrical rules — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $85 examination fee paid to PSI on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new $85 fee. There is no waiting period between attempts. Each application remains valid for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

BCD does not impose a state-level general liability minimum on individual electricians. CCB Electrical Specialty Contractor business licenses follow the standard CCB liability schedule ($500,000 residential / $1M–$2M commercial).

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Oregon under ORS 656 for any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

Self-employed electricians operating as a CCB Electrical Specialty Contractor must file the standard CCB surety bond ($20,000 residential or $75,000–$200,000 commercial).

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$85
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every 3 years)	$195

License Renewal

The Oregon General Journeyman Electrician (Class A) and General Supervising Electrician must be renewed every 3 years. The fee to renew is presently $195. Oregon General Journeyman Electrician licenses renew every three years. Lapsed licenses require reinstatement and may require re-examination after extended lapses.

Continuing education: 24 hours of BCD-approved code-update continuing education each three-year renewal cycle, including a mandatory NEC update module.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Oregon Electrician License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Oregon grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Washington	Trade exam waived	Bilateral BCD–Washington L&I reciprocity for active Class 01 General Journeyman electricians.
Idaho	Trade exam waived	Bilateral BCD–Idaho Division of Building Safety reciprocity for active journeyman electricians.
Montana	Trade exam waived	Bilateral BCD–Montana State Electrical Board reciprocity for active journeyman electricians.

Oregon BCD maintains bilateral journeyman electrician reciprocity with Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Reciprocal applicants must still apply through BCD and pay the standard fees.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Electrician license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Enroll in a registered electrical apprenticeship. Register through the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) Apprenticeship and Training Division with a state-approved program sponsor.
Complete 8,000 hours of OJT. Accumulate four years of qualifying on-the-job electrical training under a licensed General Supervising Electrician.
Complete 576 hours of related classroom instruction. Finish the Related Training Instruction (RTI) component required by the apprenticeship standards.
Apply to BCD for the journeyman exam. Submit the BCD application with the apprenticeship completion certificate, RTI transcripts, and the exam fee.
Pass the General Journeyman examination at 75%. Score 75% or better on the 80-question exam covering the NEC, Oregon Electrical Specialty Code, and Oregon rules.
Receive the Class A journeyman license. BCD issues the General Journeyman Electrician license. The license must be renewed every three years with continuing education.
Optional: General Supervising Electrician + CCB business license. For self-employment, pass the General Supervising Electrician exam and file a CCB Electrical Specialty Contractor application using the supervising license as the qualifying credential.

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Oregon Electrician applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Skipping the registered apprenticeship

Oregon requires a BOLI-registered apprenticeship. Informal on-the-job experience without registration does not count toward the 8,000-hour requirement.

Missing classroom hours

The 576 classroom hours are separate from OJT. BCD will reject applications that meet the 8,000 hours but lack the RTI transcripts.

Studying the wrong NEC edition

Oregon adopts the NEC on a delayed cycle with state amendments. Confirm the Oregon-adopted edition before studying.

Confusing journeyman with supervising

A General Journeyman license alone does not authorize self-employment. Self-employed electricians need the General Supervising Electrician credential plus a CCB business license.

Letting continuing education lapse

24 hours of CE every three years is mandatory. Missing CE blocks renewal and forces a reinstatement application.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to BCD:

☐ BOLI-registered apprenticeship enrollment
☐ 8,000 hours of documented on-the-job training
☐ 576 hours of related classroom instruction
☐ BCD General Journeyman application with $100 fee
☐ PSI General Journeyman exam pass certificate at 75%+
☐ CCB Electrical Specialty Contractor application (if self-employed)
☐ Workers compensation coverage certificate (if employing workers)

Preparation Resources

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Oregon-adopted edition — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
Oregon Electrical Specialty Code — Oregon Building Codes Division. State amendments to the NEC. Required for the Oregon-specific portion.
Tom Henry Journeyman Electrician Exam Prep — Tom Henry Books. Widely used for NEC calculation problems and practice exams.

Other Oregon Trade Licenses

For a different Oregon credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

How long does it take to become a licensed electrician in Oregon?

Four years. Oregon requires a registered apprenticeship of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 576 hours of classroom instruction before sitting for the General Journeyman examination.

What is the difference between a Journeyman and Supervising Electrician?

A General Journeyman Electrician (Class A) may perform all electrical work on the job. A General Supervising Electrician may additionally supervise other electricians and serve as the qualifying credential for a CCB Electrical Specialty Contractor business license.

Does Oregon reciprocate electrician licenses?

Yes. BCD maintains bilateral journeyman electrician reciprocity agreements with Washington, Idaho, and Montana for active license holders in good standing.

Do I need a CCB license too?

Only if you operate a self-employed electrical contracting business. The BCD license authorizes you as an individual; the CCB Electrical Specialty Contractor license authorizes the business to bid and contract.

How often does the Oregon journeyman electrician license renew?

Every three years. Renewal requires 24 hours of code-update continuing education each cycle.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-30 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-29