Electrical license requirements in Oregon: Quick Reference Table
Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
License type(s) | Electrical Contractor (C, Commercial & Residential), Specialty Limited licenses (BME, E, ST, LMM) |
Regulating agencies | Construction Contractors Board (CCB); Building Codes Division (BCD) |
Experience required | Documented electrical work experience (no explicit years, form required per OAR 918‑282) |
Exam required | Yes; BCD trade exam and CCB contractor law exam (via PSI, NASCLA-based) |
Fees | CCB: $400 (initial/renewal, as of 7/1/2025), $60 exam fee; Bond: $20k–$80k (as of 1/1/2024, see CCB sources). BCD fees: verify at BCD Electrical Application |
Renewal | CCB: every 2 years; BCD: cycle not explicitly stated, CE required for most |
Continuing Education | Required for most BCD licenses (must include code-change). Exempt: BME, E, ST, LMM |
Primary official links | CCB: Licensing Overview, BCD: Electrical Licensing |
Who Needs a License in Oregon?
Anyone who wants to perform or bid electrical work for compensation in Oregon must satisfy electrical license requirements in Oregon. This includes new construction, remodels, maintenance, commercial wiring, and residential projects. Oregon law (ORS 701.021) requires that all work done on residential structures be performed by licensees with both a CCB license (with the correct residential endorsement) and a BCD electrical license.
The legal threshold for needing a license is not based on project dollar value but rather on the scope of work. Therefore, even small electrical repairs on residences or businesses require both licenses. Certain limited work is exempt by statute: for example, installing automotive ignition, work by a landlord on appliances drawing 30 amps or less, or utility-owned equipment does not require an electrical contractor license. For full details on the current exempt tasks, consult ORS 479.
Employed workers do not need an individual contractor license if they work under a licensed contractor's supervision. In contrast, subcontractors, joint ventures, or partners must ensure appropriate endorsements and that at least one licensed party appears in the business name. If in doubt about electrical license requirements in Oregon for your work, always verify with the CCB or BCD.
Electrical License Types
Electrical license requirements in Oregon include several specific license types, depending on the work you intend to perform. The primary business contractor license is the BCD Electrical Contractor (C) license, which covers both commercial and residential work when combined with the appropriate CCB endorsements. However, BCD also issues several limited licenses:
Electrical Contractor (C): Covers all standard commercial and residential electrical contracting work in Oregon. Requires both BCD and CCB licenses for business operation.
Limited Building Maintenance Electrician (BME): Permits limited maintenance work only; holders of this license are exempt from continuing education requirements.
Limited Elevator Journeyman (E): Covers work on elevator systems; CE exempt.
Limited Stage Electrician (ST): Limited to stage and similar theater-related systems; CE exempt.
Limited Maintenance Manufactured Structures Electrician (LMM): Work strictly within manufactured home parks; CE exempt.
Other endorsements may exist, but these cover most business or contracting situations. CCB residential, commercial, or specialty contractor endorsements must match the intended project scope. For example, you cannot perform commercial projects with only a residential endorsement, and vice versa. If you want to do both, you must obtain both endorsements, secure the correct bond amounts, and pay both sets of applicable fees. For a full list of classifications, prerequisites, and scopes, visit the BCD ePermitting License Types page.
How to Get Licensed in Oregon
To satisfy electrical license requirements in Oregon, electrical contractors must complete two separate application and approval processes: licensing with BCD (for electrical qualifications) and with CCB (for the business license and endorsements). Both processes must be finished before you can bid or work.
Step 1: Qualify with BCD (Electrical Contractor License)
Complete the Electrical License Application (form name: Electrical License Application) found at the BCD Electrician Licensing page. Be prepared to attach a detailed work history and sign the applicant affidavit.
Submit an Electrical Experience Verification Form for each previous employer to validate your practical experience. The state requires documentation, but it does not specify a minimum amount of years, your application must convince BCD you are qualified (see OAR 918‑282).
Mail, fax, or electronically submit these forms to BCD; processing times may vary. BCD will review your application and, if satisfactory, mail you an authorization notice allowing you to schedule the electrical trade exam.
After you receive exam authorization, schedule and sit for the BCD trade exam within the instructions provided. When you pass, BCD will mail your electrical contractor license, usually within two weeks.
Step 2: Complete CCB Contractor Licensing
Designate a Responsible Managing Individual (RMI); this is the individual who will be responsible to the CCB for compliance. The RMI must complete a 16-hour pre-license training and then pass the CCB Oregon exam (administered by PSI and based on the NASCLA curriculum). If you have passed NASCLA elsewhere, you may submit proof and take only the Oregon-specific exam.
Gather all required documents, including your bond (see below), liability insurance, workers' compensation coverage (if hiring), proof of business registration (if not a sole proprietor), and the completed CCB application with fee ($400 as of 7/1/2025).
Submit your CCB application package online for quicker service (4–6 weeks processing), or by mail (6–8 weeks processing). If submitting online, use the link found on the CCB License page.
The designated RMI will undergo a background check coordinated by CCB after application submission. Upon passing and review, you will receive your CCB contractor license and can legally perform electrical work.
Forms and Processing
The primary forms for BCD are the Electrical License Application and the Electrical Experience Verification Form. For CCB, you will use the Application for Contractor License (not numbered), RMI forms, and must submit original bond and insurance certificates. Forms and process guides are linked from the main CCB licensing page.
Application Requirements
Meeting electrical license requirements in Oregon involves satisfying strict documentation, insurance, bonding, and experience standards. Both BCD and CCB have their unique requirements.
Experience and Age
CCB requires all licensees and RMIs to be 18 years or older. The BCD does not list a specific age, but as a practical matter, you must show adequate documented work experience on their verification forms. There is no minimum number of years, but you must demonstrate sufficient experience for the license class you are seeking. Citizenship status is not specified on current BCD or CCB sources; a signed affidavit is included with most applications.
Bond and Insurance Requirements
Electrical contractors in Oregon must secure a surety bond; specific amounts depend on the CCB endorsement type. As of January 1, 2024, the required bonds are: Residential Specialty Contractor $20,000, Residential General Contractor $25,000, Commercial General Contractor Level 1 $80,000, and Commercial Specialty Level 1 $55,000. Full bond details and all endorsement-specific requirements can be found on the CCB bonding page.
Insurance minimums are as follows: For residential general contractors, $500,000 per occurrence of liability insurance; for residential specialty, $300,000; for limited contractors, $100,000. For commercial general contractors (Level 1), you must carry $2,000,000 aggregate, and for commercial specialty (Level 1), $1,000,000 aggregate. Workers' compensation is required only if you employ others. If you have no employees, you must file a workers' comp exemption form.
Background Check
The Responsible Managing Individual must pass a CCB background check that is completed after you submit your CCB license application. There is currently no mention of fingerprinting on any BCD or CCB licensing page. No federal licenses, such as EPA Section 608, are required for typical Oregon electrical contractors, but verify any special federal requirements for your project at BCD Electrical Application.
Exams
Electrical license requirements in Oregon mandate two examinations: the BCD trade exam and the CCB pre-license exam. Both must be passed before you can legally do business as an electrical contractor in Oregon.
BCD Electrical Trade Exam
After your Electrical License Application is approved by BCD (and they have reviewed your documented experience), you will receive written authorization to schedule the BCD electrical trade exam. The exam is specific to the license type you are seeking. However, current official sources do not provide details about format (open or closed book), the number of questions, test duration, or the passing score. For up-to-date exam structure, you should verify requirements at the BCD Electrical Licensing page.
CCB Contractor Business and Law Exam
The CCB exam covers Oregon contracting laws, rules, and business practices, and is administered by PSI using the NASCLA Contractors Guide. To sit for the exam, applicants must complete 16 hours of CCB-approved pre-license training. If you have passed the NASCLA exam in the past for another state, you may submit that transcript and only have to pass the Oregon-specific portion. The fee for the CCB exam is $60 (paid directly to PSI as of June 2026). Detailed content outlines are found on the CCB License Exam page. Format, question count, and retake rules are not published on the CCB or PSI site; verify specifics before scheduling.
Fees
Electrical license requirements in Oregon include several substantial fees. Fee amounts are specific, and all state a source date as required.
Fee Type | Amount (as of date) | Source |
|---|---|---|
CCB Exam (Contractor Business/Law) | $60 | as of June 2026, CCB License Exam page |
CCB Initial Application | $400 (7/1/2025 and after), $325 (before 6/30/2025) | as of June 2026, CCB License page |
CCB License Renewal (2-year) | $400 | as of June 2026, CCB License page |
CCB Endorsement Change | $20 | as of June 2026, CCB License page |
CCB Inactivation/Reactivation | $20 each | as of June 2026, CCB License page |
Bonds (Residential Specialty) | $20,000 | as of 1/1/2024, CCB bond chart |
Bonds (Residential General) | $25,000 | as of 1/1/2024, CCB bond chart |
Bonds (Commercial Gen L1) | $80,000 | as of 1/1/2024, CCB bond chart |
Bonds (Commercial Spec L1) | $55,000 | as of 1/1/2024, CCB bond chart |
BCD Application, Exam, Renewal | Not published; verify at BCD Electrical Licensing |
Renewal and Continuing Education
Electrical license requirements in Oregon demand continuing education for most electrical contractors, as well as regular license renewals.
CCB License Renewal
The CCB license must be renewed every two years. The renewal fee is $400 as of June 2026. The CCB does not currently publish late penalty fee amounts. If you allow your CCB license to lapse more than 24 months, you must retake the CCB pre-license training and the Oregon exam before reactivating your license.
BCD Electrical License and Continuing Education
Most BCD electrical license classifications require continuing education. A portion of CE hours must be on code changes. Licensees holding the following BCD electrical licenses are exempt from CE: Limited Building Maintenance Electrician (BME), Limited Elevator Journeyman (E), Limited Stage Electrician (ST), and Limited Maintenance Manufactured Structures Electrician (LMM). For current CE requirements, approved provider lists, and code-course mandates, see the BCD Electrical Continuing Education page.
If you let your electrical license lapse (specifically, your CCB license lapses more than 24 months), state rules require you to complete the full pre-license training and take the exam again as if you were a new applicant.
Reciprocity
Electrical license requirements in Oregon make limited allowances for reciprocity. BCD recognizes reciprocal licensing only for specific electrical trades: the General Supervising Electrician and the General Journeyman Electrician. This is not the contractor license but the individual electrician licensing track, and the details change over time.
No formal reciprocity exists for the BCD Electrical Contractor (C) license or for CCB contractor licensure. If you are licensed in another state, you must submit a new application, provide all required documentation, and pass the required Oregon exams for contractor licensing. For details on reciprocal agreements relating to electrician licenses, review the latest information at the BCD Reciprocity page.
