Oregon Electrician License Requirements

Official classification: General Journeyman Electrician (J) — issued by BCD; a separate CCB Electrical Contractor license is required to operate a contracting business · Issued by the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) — individual license; Construction Contractors Board (CCB) — business license.

⚡ ElectricianOR ✔ Verified 2026-10-01

In Oregon, electricians must hold the General Journeyman Electrician (J) — issued by BCD; a separate CCB Electrical Contractor license is required to operate a contracting business, issued by the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) — individual license; Construction Contractors Board (CCB) — business license, and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed electrician in Oregon

Follow these steps to earn your General Journeyman Electrician (J) — issued by BCD; a separate CCB Electrical Contractor license is required to operate a contracting business. Every figure is verified against the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) — individual license; Construction Contractors Board (CCB) — business license; full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. General Journeyman (J): completion of an approved Oregon apprenticeship; OR 576 hours classroom training plus 8,000 hours OJT obtained outside Oregon with min. 1,000 hours each in residential, commercial, and industrial; OR 16,000 hours OJT (min. 2,000 hours each category). General Supervising (S): be a licensed Oregon journeyman plus an additional 8,000 hours journeyman experience.
Pass the Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam exam. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: No individual BCD requirement; the CCB business license requires general liability (e.g. $500,000/occurrence Residential General). Workers' compensation: Required (via the CCB business license) if you have employees.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) — individual license; Construction Contractors Board (CCB) — business license — $100 for the 3-year general journeyman license, paid with the application (ORS 479.840; form 440-2570) application fee, plus a $100 license fee. Processing time: Allow ~2 weeks for BCD to grade the exam after testing.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Every 3 years (renews October 1). Continuing education: 24 hours per 3-year cycle for General Journeyman/Supervising (includes Oregon rule & law and code-change hours).

For the general path in every state, see the Electrician guide →

Oregon electrician license lookup

To confirm an electrician is properly licensed in Oregon — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official ordcbs.mylicense.com database →

License types

General Journeyman Electrician (J) — Make any electrical installation under the supervision of a general supervising electrician
General Supervising Electrician (S) — Design, plan, lay out work and sign permits; the only individual authorized to direct/supervise electrical installations
Limited Residential Electrician (LR) — Electrical installations on one- and two-family or multifamily dwellings not exceeding three floors above grade, under supervision

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	General Journeyman (J): completion of an approved Oregon apprenticeship; OR 576 hours classroom training plus 8,000 hours OJT obtained outside Oregon with min. 1,000 hours each in residential, commercial, and industrial; OR 16,000 hours OJT (min. 2,000 hours each category). General Supervising (S): be a licensed Oregon journeyman plus an additional 8,000 hours journeyman experience.
Application fee	$100 for the 3-year general journeyman license, paid with the application (ORS 479.840; form 440-2570)
License fee	$100
Renewal fee	$100
Renewal period	Every 3 years (renews October 1)
Continuing education	24 hours per 3-year cycle for General Journeyman/Supervising (includes Oregon rule & law and code-change hours)
Bond required	No individual BCD bond. To contract, the CCB business license requires a surety bond (e.g. $25,000 for Residential General; $20,000 Residential Specialty).
Liability insurance	No individual BCD requirement; the CCB business license requires general liability (e.g. $500,000/occurrence Residential General)
Property damage	—
Workers' comp	Required (via the CCB business license) if you have employees
Background check	Not required for the individual BCD electrician license.
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	General Journeyman (J): Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, for applicants who qualified through four years of apprenticeship education (576 classroom hours) and 8,000 hours under a journeyman; Washington applicants must have completed an Oregon or Washington apprenticeship; General Supervising (S): Arkansas and Utah · compare all states
Processing time	Allow ~2 weeks for BCD to grade the exam after testing.

What an Oregon electrician license costs

Application fee	$100 for the 3-year general journeyman license, paid with the application (ORS 479.840; form 440-2570).
License fee	$100.
Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam	Not separately published by BCD.
Surety bond	No individual BCD bond. To contract, the CCB business license requires a surety bond (e.g. $25,000 for Residential General; $20,000 Residential Specialty).
Renewal fee	$100.
Renewal period	Every 3 years (renews October 1).

Exams

Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam	Provider: BCD-administered at designated testing centers (mostly Oregon community colleges); BCD grades the exam · Passing: 75% or better · Fee: Not separately published by BCD

Renewing an Oregon electrician license

The General Journeyman Electrician (J) — issued by BCD; a separate CCB Electrical Contractor license is required to operate a contracting business renews on a fixed cycle set by the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) — individual license; Construction Contractors Board (CCB) — business license. Finish the continuing-education requirement before you file — boards generally will not process a renewal without it. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Every 3 years (renews October 1)
Renewal fee	$100
Continuing education	24 hours per 3-year cycle for General Journeyman/Supervising (includes Oregon rule & law and code-change hours)
Where to renew	Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) — individual license; Construction Contractors Board (CCB) — business license

Local / municipal notes

The individual electrician license (BCD) and the business CCB license are separate credentials — both are needed to operate an electrical contracting business.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Oregon electrician license cost?

Application: $100 for the 3-year general journeyman license, paid with the application (ORS 479.840; form 440-2570). License: $100. Renewal: $100.

How do I look up a electrician license in Oregon?

Search the official license database at ordcbs.mylicense.com. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do electricians in Oregon need a surety bond?

No individual BCD bond. To contract, the CCB business license requires a surety bond (e.g. $25,000 for Residential General; $20,000 Residential Specialty).

What experience is required for an Oregon electrician license?

General Journeyman (J): completion of an approved Oregon apprenticeship; OR 576 hours classroom training plus 8,000 hours OJT obtained outside Oregon with min. 1,000 hours each in residential, commercial, and industrial; OR 16,000 hours OJT (min. 2,000 hours each category). General Supervising (S): be a licensed Oregon journeyman plus an additional 8,000 hours journeyman experience.

Is insurance required for electricians in Oregon?

Liability: No individual BCD requirement; the CCB business license requires general liability (e.g. $500,000/occurrence Residential General). Workers' compensation: Required (via the CCB business license) if you have employees.

How long does it take to get an Oregon electrician license?

Processing time: Allow ~2 weeks for BCD to grade the exam after testing.

Is a background check required for electricians in Oregon?

Background check: Not required for the individual BCD electrician license.

How often must an Oregon electrician license be renewed?

Every 3 years (renews October 1). Continuing education: 24 hours per 3-year cycle for General Journeyman/Supervising (includes Oregon rule & law and code-change hours).

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-10-01 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) — individual license; Construction Contractors Board (CCB) — business license before applying. This is not legal advice.