Construction / Electrician License / Oregon
- Oregon
- Electrician License
- Supervising, Journeyman & Residential
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your Oregon Electrician License
Oregon licenses every electrician who works for pay. Here’s how the supervising, journeyman, limited residential and contractor licenses work, what experience you need and what’s on the exam.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from Oregon Building Codes Division requirements
Application fee
$100
Covers a three-year GS, GJ or LR license; no separate exam fee
Exam time
4 hrs
64 questions, open book
Time to get license
~4 yrs
8,000 hours of on-the-job experience for journeyman
Continuing ed
Required
Before each renewal; hours not stated in our source
Overview
Do you need an Oregon electrician license?
Yes. Oregon requires a license for anyone who does any electrical work for compensation. Companies that run an electrical business also need an Electrical Contractor license, plus a Construction Contractors Board license and bond.
License required when
- You do any electrical work for pay in Oregon
- You design, lay out or sign permits for electrical work, or supervise the installation of an electrical service (General Supervising Electrician)
- You install wiring on one-, two- or multi-family homes up to three floors above grade (Limited Residential at minimum)
- Your company is in the business of making electrical installations (Electrical Contractor, plus CCB license and bond)
Common exceptions
- Our source doesn’t list exemptions. Check ORS chapter 479 or ask the BCD before doing unlicensed work
- Journeymen and limited residential electricians don’t need a supervising license, but they must work under a general supervising electrician
Penalties for unlicensed work
Our source doesn’t list penalty amounts. Oregon’s Building Codes Division enforces the electrical licensing law in ORS chapter 479 and can take action against anyone working without the required license.
Your fast-track Oregon electrician license checklist
The Oregon application, one page
- Pick your license: supervising, journeyman or limited residential
- Verified classroom hours
- Verified on-the-job hours, broken down by type
- Application submitted to the BCD for pre-approval
- Exam references printed, tabbed and highlighted
- Passing score on the Oregon Electrical exam (75%)
Types
Oregon electrician license types and classifications
Oregon has three individual electrician licenses and a separate license for electrical businesses. The three individual licenses all take the same exam.
GS
Top tier
General Supervising Electrician
Designs, plans and lays out work, signs all permits, and is the only license that can control, direct or supervise the installation or alteration of an electrical service.
Exam
Oregon Electrical exam
Limit
All electrical work
GJ
Most common
General Journeyman Electrician
Makes any electrical installation under the supervision, direction and control of a general supervising electrician.
Exam
Oregon Electrical exam
Limit
Under a supervisor
LR
Residential only
Limited Residential Electrician
Installations on one-, two- and multi-family dwellings no more than three floors above grade, under a general supervising electrician.
Exam
Oregon Electrical exam
Limit
Dwellings up to 3 floors
EC
Business license
Electrical Contractor
Lets a company engage in the business of making electrical installations. The company must also be licensed and bonded by the Construction Contractors Board.
Exam
Contractor exam + 16-hr course
Limit
Business license
Requirements
Oregon electrician license requirements, class by class
Experience is verified in hours. Out-of-state experience counts if you can document it, and the 300 percent rule applies to some routes (see OAR 918-282-0180).
| Requirement | General Supervising | General Journeyman | Limited Residential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main route | Hold an Oregon journeyman license, or meet journeyman qualifications | Complete an approved Oregon apprenticeship | 288 hrs classroom + 4,000 hrs residential experience |
| Additional experience | 8,000 hrs as a journeyman | Or 576 hrs classroom + 8,000 hrs from outside Oregon | Or 8,000 hrs residential experience from outside Oregon |
| Experience breakdown | Not stated | At least 1,000 hrs each in residential, commercial and industrial | Residential only |
| Exam | Oregon Electrical exam | Oregon Electrical exam | Oregon Electrical exam |
| Passing score | 75% | 75% | 75% |
| Supervision | None required | Under a general supervising electrician | Under a general supervising electrician |
| Continuing ed | Before each renewal | Before each renewal | Before each renewal |
Steps
How to get your Oregon electrician license, step by step
- Pick your licenseBefore you start
Choose General Supervising, General Journeyman or Limited Residential based on the work you do and the hours you can document. - Document your training and experienceBefore you apply
Gather verified classroom hours and on-the-job hours. Out-of-state journeyman applicants need at least 1,000 hours each in residential, commercial and industrial work. - Submit your application to the BCDPre-approval required
Send your application with verified education and experience to the Oregon Building Codes Division. Call 503-378-4133 or see the BCD electrical page. - Get your exam dateAfter approval
Once you’re approved, the state contacts you with your exam date, time and location. - Pass the Oregon Electrical examExam day
64 questions in 240 minutes, open book, 75% to pass. Your references can be tabbed and highlighted. - Receive your licenseAfter you pass
Complete your licensing with the BCD. Contractors also take the 16-hour pre-license course and the Contractor exam, and get licensed and bonded by the CCB.
Exam
What to expect on the Oregon electrician exam
General Supervising, General Journeyman and Limited Residential applicants all sit the same Oregon Electrical exam. It’s open book, so knowing where things are in your references matters.
Format
Open book
Questions
64
Passing score
75%
Exam vendor
Not stated
Scoring & content
- 64 questions, 240 minutes, 75% to pass
- References include the NEC 2026 (NFPA 70) and Oregon’s amendments to it
- Print ORS chapter 479 and OAR division 918 for the exam
- Books may be tabbed and highlighted
- Contractor exam (separate): 80 questions, 180 minutes, 70% to pass
Retake policy
- Our source doesn’t state a retake policy
- Pre-approval from the state is required before you sit the exam
- A retake needs a reapplication form and fee ($100 for GS, GJ and LR), with at least 30 days between attempts
Exam references · Open book
The Oregon electrical exam (the same exam for General Supervising, General Journeyman and Limited Residential) is open book, and references can be tabbed and highlighted. Every reference below is approved for the exam; electrical contractors also take a separate contractor exam, which our sources don’t give a book list for.
| Book | Edition | Use |
|---|---|---|
| NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2026 | Allowed in exam |
| American Electricians’ Handbook | 17th edition | Allowed in exam |
| Ugly’s Electrical References | 2026 | Allowed in exam |
| Key Word Index (NEC) | 2026 | Allowed in exam |
| Oregon Amendments to the National Electrical Code | 2026 | Allowed in exam |
| Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 479 | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 918 | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| Electrical Black Book | Not stated | Allowed in exam |
| NEC Handbook | 2020 | Allowed in exam |
| Ferm’s Fast Finder Index | NEC 2017 | Allowed in exam |
Prep
Best Oregon electrician exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does an Oregon electrician license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| License application (GS, GJ or LR; three-year license) | Fixed | $100 |
| Oregon Electrical exam | Fixed | Included in application fee |
| Electrical Contractor license (BCD, contractors only) | Fixed | $375 |
| NEC 2026 and other exam references | Variable | Varies |
| 16-hour contractor pre-license course (contractors only) | Variable | Varies |
| CCB license and bond (contractors only) | Variable | Varies |
| State fees and exams | Excludes code books, contractor course and CCB costs | $100 |
Fees from BCD Forms 440-2570, 440-2574 and 440-2888 and ORS 479.840, checked October 2026. Oregon’s NEC amendments, ORS chapter 479 and OAR division 918 are free to download.
Reciprocity
Does Oregon accept out-of-state electrician licenses?
Oregon has reciprocity with two states, and only for the General Supervising Electrician license.
Arkansas — General Supervising Electrician
Reciprocity applies to the General Supervising Electrician license. Contact the BCD for the application process.
Utah — General Supervising Electrician
Reciprocity applies to the General Supervising Electrician license. Contact the BCD for the application process.
All other states — no agreement
Apply as a new applicant with documented out-of-state hours and pass the Oregon exam.
Local
Do Oregon cities and counties have their own electrician licensing rules?
Electrical licenses are issued by the state and cover all of Oregon. Check with your local building department for permits.
State handles
- Electrician licenses, applications and exams (Building Codes Division)
- Oregon amendments to the NEC
- Continuing education before renewal
- Contractor licensing and bonding (Construction Contractors Board)
City & county handle
- Electrical permits and inspections (check your local building department)
- Local business registration where required
Governance
Who regulates electricians in Oregon
Oversight responsibilities
- Issues General Supervising, General Journeyman, Limited Residential and Electrical Contractor licenses
- Reviews applications and schedules approved applicants for the exam
- Publishes Oregon’s amendments to the National Electrical Code
- Requires continuing education before each renewal
Maintenance
How to renew your Oregon electrician license and keep it active
Oregon electrician licenses run three years, and the renewal fee is the same as the original license fee. You must finish continuing education before every renewal, so check the current hours with the BCD.
Renewal cycle
3 years
CE hours
Required (hours not stated)
Renewal fee
$100 (GS, GJ, LR)
Late penalty
Not stated
Renewing your license?
See the Oregon CE guide: hours, deadline, required topics and how to renew.
FAQ
Oregon electrician license FAQs
Do I need a license to do electrical work in Oregon?
Yes. Oregon requires a license for anyone who does any electrical work for compensation.
How many hours do I need for a journeyman license?
Complete an approved Oregon apprenticeship, or document 576 classroom hours and 8,000 on-the-job hours from outside Oregon, with at least 1,000 hours each in residential, commercial and industrial work.
How do I become a General Supervising Electrician?
Hold an Oregon journeyman license, or meet its qualifications, and document an additional 8,000 hours of on-the-job journeyman experience.
Is the Oregon electrical exam open book?
Yes. It’s 64 questions in 240 minutes, you need 75% to pass, and your references can be tabbed and highlighted.
Do supervising, journeyman and residential applicants take different exams?
No. All three take the same Oregon Electrical exam. Electrical Contractors take a separate Contractor exam after a 16-hour pre-license course.
Does Oregon have electrical reciprocity?
Only for the General Supervising Electrician license, with Arkansas and Utah.
Is continuing education required?
Yes. Oregon requires continuing education before each renewal.
Sources
Official sources for the Oregon electrician license
- Oregon Building Codes Division, Electrical program
- Oregon Building Codes Division, Oregon amendments to the 2026 NEC (PDF)
- Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 479
- Oregon Administrative Rules division 918 (including OAR 918-282-0180)
- Oregon Building Codes Division, Electrical License Application (Form 440-2570)
- Oregon Building Codes Division, License Reapplication (Form 440-2574)
- Oregon Building Codes Division, Single or Combination Contractor License Application (Form 440-2888)
- ORS 479.840, electrical license fees
Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Oregon Building Codes Division.