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How to get an electrician license in Oregon

Hours, exam, fees, renewal and continuing education for Oregon, pulled from official OR sources and checked .

Quick answer
  • Licensing body: Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD), Electrical licensing
  • State journeyman license: Yes (BCD issues the General Journeyman Electrician (J) license statewide.)
  • General Journeyman Electrician (J): One of: an approved Oregon apprenticeship; official transcripts for 576 classroom hours plus 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience from outside Oregon, with at least 1,000 hours each in residential, commercial and industrial work; or 16,000 hours of on-the-job experience from outside Oregon, with at least 2,000 hours in each of those categories. You also need a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.
  • Exam: open book, via Oregon Building Codes Division (at a testing location you choose)
  • Code edition: Not confirmed. BCD sends the list of approved exam references (including the code edition) after it approves your application.

Requirements by license

General Journeyman Electrician (J)

ExperienceOne of: an approved Oregon apprenticeship; official transcripts for 576 classroom hours plus 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience from outside Oregon, with at least 1,000 hours each in residential, commercial and industrial work; or 16,000 hours of on-the-job experience from outside Oregon, with at least 2,000 hours in each of those categories. You also need a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.Source: apps.oregon.gov · as of
ExamOregon Building Codes Division (at a testing location you choose). Open book. 52 questions, 3 hours. Open book; 75% to pass. After BCD approves you it mails a Letter of Authorization with the exam location and the list of approved references; take the exam within 60 days. Wait 30 days after each failure before retaking.Source: apps.oregon.gov · as of · Exam process: oregon.gov
Fees
  • License (paid with the application): $100
Source: apps.oregon.gov · as of · Changing exam location after approval means paying the license fee again: oregon.gov
RenewalEvery 3 years. Renews every three years on October 1. BCD mails a renewal notice about 6 weeks before. $100 to renew.Source: apps.oregon.gov · as of
CE to renew24 hours per 3-year renewal
  • Oregon rule and law (ORL): 4 hours
  • Code change (CC): 8 hours
  • Code related (CR): 12 hours
Hours must come from BCD-approved courses. You have not met the requirement without the full 8 code change hours.
Source: oregon.gov · as of · Total of 24 hours also on the license page: apps.oregon.gov

General Supervising Electrician (S)

ExperienceAn Oregon journeyman license, or the qualifications for one, plus another 8,000 hours of on-the-job journeyman experience.Source: apps.oregon.gov · as of
ExamOregon Building Codes Division (at a testing location you choose). Open book. 4 hours, 2 sections: 52 code questions and 12 calculation questions. Open book; 75% to pass. After BCD approves you it mails a Letter of Authorization with the exam location and the list of approved references; take the exam within 60 days. Wait 30 days after each failure before retaking.Source: apps.oregon.gov · as of · Exam process: oregon.gov
Fees
  • License (paid with the application): $100
Source: apps.oregon.gov · as of
RenewalEvery 3 years. Renews every three years on October 1. The renewal form lists the fee, which varies by license type.Source: apps.oregon.gov · as of
CE to renew24 hours per 3-year renewal
  • Oregon rule and law (ORL): 4 hours
  • Code change (CC): 12 hours
  • Code related (CR): 8 hours
Hours must come from BCD-approved courses.
Source: oregon.gov · as of

License types in Oregon

  • General Journeyman Electrician (J)
  • General Supervising Electrician (S)
  • Limited Supervising Electrician
  • Limited Building Maintenance Electrician
  • Limited Elevator Journeyman Electrician
  • Limited Stage Electrician
  • Limited Maintenance Manufactured Structures Electrician
Source: oregon.gov · as of · J and S license pages: apps.oregon.gov · apps.oregon.gov

Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)

Oregon has reciprocity for the General Journeyman Electrician (J) license with Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, and for the General Supervising Electrician (S) license with Arkansas and Utah. You need an active equivalent or higher license from that state, earned by passing its exam with 75% or better, at least 1,000 hours worked under it, and no failed Oregon exam for that license in the past 2 years. Washington applicants must have finished an Oregon or Washington apprenticeship. The application fee is $100.Source: oregon.gov · as of · State list: oregon.gov

What we couldn't confirm yet

We only publish what we can tie to an official source. These items aren't published anywhere we could verify, so ask the office listed:

FAQ

Does Oregon have a state journeyman electrician license?

Yes. The Building Codes Division issues the General Journeyman Electrician license after an Oregon apprenticeship or qualifying out-of-state hours and an exam.

Is the Oregon journeyman electrician exam open book?

Yes. The exam has 52 questions in 3 hours, it is open book, and you need 75% to pass.

How much does an Oregon journeyman electrician license cost?

The license fee is $100, paid with the application.

How do you become a supervising electrician in Oregon?

You need an Oregon journeyman license or its qualifications plus another 8,000 hours of journeyman experience, then you pass a 4-hour exam.

Does Oregon have electrician license reciprocity?

Yes. The journeyman license has reciprocity with Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, and the supervising license with Arkansas and Utah. You need an exam-earned license from that state and at least 1,000 hours worked under it.

Already licensed? See Oregon electrician license renewal & CE requirements.

Other states

Compare every state side by side: license requirements by state · renewal & CE by state.