Oregon General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Oregon’s Construction Contractors Board (CCB) licenses construction contractors. General contractors choose a residential general contractor (RGC) endorsement for residential and small-commercial work, a commercial general contractor (CGC) Level 1 or Level 2 endorsement for commercial work, or both endorsements when their work requires both. Oregon does have an exemption for work whose aggregate contract price is less than $1,000 when the work is casual, minor, or inconsequential; do not treat that narrow exception as a general small-job exemption. A business must hold the appropriate CCB endorsement before it bids or performs covered contractor work.

Regulatory Body

Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) administers the credential or scope-specific rules discussed here under ORS chapter 701; OAR chapter 812. Whether that pathway applies depends on the work scope and conditions explained below. CCB licenses construction contractors, establishes contractor endorsement requirements, and administers contractor education, bonding, insurance, and enforcement.

• Official portal: https://www.oregon.gov/ccb/Pages/CCB%20License.aspx
• Address: PO Box 14140, Salem, OR 97309-5052
• Phone: (503) 378-4621

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants must provide a Social Security Number. An Oregon CCB license is required for covered Oregon work. Register an entity or assumed business name with the Oregon Secretary of State when required and use the business’s matching legal name on the CCB application, bond, and insurance certificate.

Good moral character

The application requires disclosures and certifications. CCB may consider unpaid construction-related obligations and prior licensing history under its licensing law and rules.

Background investigation

Use the current CCB application and disclosure instructions. Do not omit required information about the business, responsible managing individual, or licensing history.

Experience and Education

There is no published year count for this credential in the cited sources. What actually controls eligibility is An RGC applicant has no published field-experience minimum. Commercial general endorsements require key employees with combined qualifying construction experience: four years for CGC Level 2 or eight years for CGC Level 1..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

• Proof that the Responsible Managing Individual (RMI) completed the required pre-license education and passed the Oregon exam
• For commercial endorsements, certification of key-employee qualifying experience
• Business-registration records when applicable
• Original CCB bond with power of attorney and certificate of liability insurance

Education substitution

For commercial key-employee experience, CCB recognizes limited credit for qualifying apprenticeships and degrees as listed in its endorsement chart. The RMI still must satisfy the applicable training and Oregon-exam requirement.

Exam Requirements

Testing provider or authority: PSI for the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. The following examination requirements cover the pathways described in this guide; follow each part's classification, waiver, and local-scope conditions. Unpublished format details do not remove an examination requirement:

• Oregon Contractor Exam — construction law, rules, and business practices — 80 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $60, paid to the examination provider.

Retake policy: An unsuccessful candidate may reschedule and pay the test fee again. Apply for the CCB license within 24 months after passing; a license lapse of more than 24 months requires training and testing again.

Insurance and Bonds

The CCB requires a $25,000 contractor license surety bond to be on file before the license will issue.

General liability

The amount depends on the endorsement. RGC: $500,000 per occurrence. CGC Level 1: $2 million aggregate. CGC Level 2: $1 million aggregate. CCB requires a current certificate, including products and completed-operations coverage, at application and throughout the license period.

Workers' compensation

Workers’ compensation coverage is required if the business has employees; CCB explains that commercial contractors must have coverage. An exempt business must accurately report its workers’ compensation status.

Additional financial requirements

CCB requires a continuous surety bond matched to the endorsement. RGC: $25,000; CGC Level 1: $80,000; CGC Level 2: $25,000. A dual-endorsement contractor must carry both the residential and commercial bonds.

Fee Schedule

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Oregon general contractor.

Renewal and Continuing Education

Renewal of the Oregon Construction Contractors Board General Contractor License comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $400. CCB requires continuous bond and insurance. Contractors who lapse more than 24 months must repeat the pre-license training and examination before applying again.

Continuing education: Unless exempt, residential contractors need three hours of CCB laws, regulations, and business practices plus five or 13 other approved hours, depending on how long the contractor has been licensed. Commercial Level 2 requires 32 key-employee hours; Level 1 requires 16 to 80 hours depending on its key-employee count.

Reciprocity

Oregon accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

CCB does not publish interstate contractor-license reciprocity. A passing NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors can waive the 16-hour Oregon pre-license training, but the applicant must still pass Oregon’s laws, rules, and business-practices exam and meet CCB licensing requirements.

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

General Contractor Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Oregon's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

• California General Contractor License Requirements — California Class B — General Building Contractor
• Idaho General Contractor License Requirements — Idaho Contractor Registration and Public Works Contractor License
• Nevada General Contractor License Requirements — Nevada Class A (General Engineering) or Class B (General Building) Contractor
• Washington General Contractor License Requirements — Washington Registered General Contractor

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

1. Choose the correct endorsement. Select RGC, CGC Level 1, CGC Level 2, or the residential and commercial endorsements needed for the structures and work the business will undertake.
2. Document commercial experience when applicable. Commercial general contractors certify the combined qualifying experience of key employees: four years for Level 2 or eight years for Level 1.
3. Select the RMI and complete pre-license education. The RMI—an owner or employee who manages or supervises construction activities—normally completes at least 16 hours of approved pre-license training.
4. Pass the Oregon Contractor Exam. After training, schedule PSI’s open-book Oregon exam. It has 80 multiple-choice questions, three hours, and a 70% passing score.
5. Prepare entity, bond, insurance, and workforce records. Use the business’s legal name consistently on Secretary of State filings, the CCB bond, and insurance certificate. Obtain workers’ compensation coverage when required.
6. Submit the complete CCB application and fee. Upload the passing score, bond with power of attorney, liability certificate, required entity records, and the $400 fee for a two-year license.
7. Maintain the endorsement and renewal requirements. Maintain continuous bond and insurance, obtain permits and specialty credentials as needed, and complete applicable CCB continuing education before renewal.

Application Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with CCB:

• Select the CCB endorsement or dual endorsement
• Choose an owner or employee as Responsible Managing Individual
• Complete 16 hours of approved pre-license education unless eligible for the NASCLA commercial-exam education exception
• Pass the 80-question Oregon Contractor Exam at 70%
• Document commercial key-employee experience if applying for CGC Level 1 or Level 2
• Register the entity or assumed business name when required
• File the continuous CCB bond and liability certificate in the required amount
• Report workers’ compensation status and submit the $400 application fee

Progress is saved in this browser, so you can return to this checklist while your application is in flight.

Common Filing Mistakes

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Oregon General Contractor application.

Treating the $1,000 provision as a broad exemption

The exemption is limited to work that is also casual, minor, or inconsequential; confirm licensing before bidding or performing paid construction work.

Using an outdated bond amount or CCB fee

CCB raised endorsement bond minimums effective January 1, 2024 and the two-year application/renewal fee to $400 beginning July 1, 2025.

Assuming NASCLA replaces the Oregon exam

The NASCLA commercial exam can waive pre-license education only. Oregon’s specific laws, rules, and business-practices exam still applies.

Ignoring commercial key-employee experience

CGC Level 1 and Level 2 applicants must certify the combined qualifying experience of key employees.

Letting bond or insurance lapse

CCB requires both through the license period. A lapse can lead to suspension or enforcement.

Study and Reference Materials

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

• Oregon version of NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, 2nd edition — NASCLA / Oregon CCB. CCB identifies this as the Oregon Contractor Exam reference; it may be used during the open-book exam.
• Oregon contractor licensing statutes — Oregon Legislative Assembly. Read ORS chapter 701, especially licensing, exemptions, bond, insurance, and education provisions.
• CCB endorsement chart — Oregon Construction Contractors Board. Use the current chart to select scope, experience, bond, and insurance requirements.

Other Oregon Trade Licenses

Should the General Contractor path not apply, these other Oregon trade guides from CLR may help:

• Oregon Electrician License Requirements
• Oregon Plumber License Requirements
• Oregon HVAC Technician License Requirements
• Oregon Roofing Contractor License Requirements
• Oregon Painting Contractor License Requirements
• Oregon Landscaping Contractor License Requirements
• Oregon Masonry Contractor License Requirements
• Oregon Concrete Contractor License Requirements
• Oregon Carpentry Contractor License Requirements
• Oregon Solar Installer License Requirements
• Oregon Low-Voltage Technician License Requirements
• Oregon Fire Sprinkler Contractor License Requirements
• Oregon Home Inspector License Requirements
• Oregon Pool Contractor License Requirements
• Oregon Handyman License Requirements
• Oregon Pest Control License Requirements
• Oregon Septic Contractor License Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a dollar threshold for an Oregon CCB license?

There is a narrow statutory exemption when the aggregate price of the person’s contracts on one structure or project is less than $1,000 and the work is casual, minor, or inconsequential. It is not a blanket exemption for every small construction job.

Which general-contractor endorsement is needed?

RGC covers an unlimited number of unrelated building trades on residential and small-commercial work. CGC Level 1 and Level 2 cover the same commercial general-contractor scope, but have different key-employee experience, bond, insurance, and education requirements. A business may need both a residential and commercial endorsement.

Does Oregon accept the NASCLA commercial exam?

A passing NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors can replace Oregon’s 16-hour pre-license education. It does not replace the Oregon laws, rules, and business-practices examination or the other CCB requirements.

What bond and liability insurance does a general contractor need?

For an RGC, the published minimums are a $25,000 bond and $500,000 per-occurrence liability coverage. CGC Level 1 requires an $80,000 bond and $2 million aggregate coverage; CGC Level 2 requires a $25,000 bond and $1 million aggregate coverage.

What continuing education is required at renewal?

Unless exempt, residential contractors complete three hours of CCB laws, regulations, and business practices plus 13 other approved hours when licensed under six years, or five other hours when licensed six or more years. Commercial Level 2 contractors require 32 hours by key employees; Level 1 requirements range from 16 to 80 hours based on the lowest number of key employees during the cycle.

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