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 2026-06-22

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.
Secure your surety bond. Oregon requires 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).
Line up insurance. You'll need liability insurance (No individual BCD requirement; the CCB business license requires general liability (e.g. $500,000/occurrence Residential General)), and workers' compensation coverage.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) — individual license; Construction Contractors Board (CCB) — business license — Not separately published (paid with application) application fee, plus a $100 license fee. Processing time: Allow ~2 weeks for BCD to grade the exam after testing.
Keep the license active. Renew every 3 years (renews October 1), completing 24 hours per 3-year cycle for General Journeyman/Supervising (includes Oregon rule & law and code-change hours).

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	Not separately published (paid with application)
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	Oregon has reciprocal electrical licensing agreements with certain states (see the BCD reciprocal application); states verified individually.
Processing time	Allow ~2 weeks for BCD to grade the exam after testing.

Exams

Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam	Provider: BCD-administered (PSI test sites; BCD grades exam) · Passing: Not publicly disclosed · Fee: Not separately published by BCD

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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 a Oregon electrician license cost?

Application: Not separately published (paid with application). License: $100. Renewal: $100.

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 a 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 often must a 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 2026-06-22 — 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.