Electrician license
Oregon electrician license
The Oregon Building Codes Division licenses electricians and electrical contractors statewide. Its licensing exams are prepared by the Electrical and Elevator Board and given by the division. The licenses are General Journeyman Apprentice (Inside Electrician), General Journeyman Electrician (J), General Supervising Electrician (S), Limited Residential Electrician (LR) and Electrical Contractor (C). Each is below with its hours, exam, fees and official source, followed by how to apply, renewal, reciprocity and the official license lookup.
Licenses at a glance
| License | Experience | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Journeyman Apprentice (Inside Electrician) | Not set in hours | No exam | $0 |
| General Journeyman Electrician (J) | 8,000 hours | 52 questions | $100 license fee; renewal is $100 |
| General Supervising Electrician (S) | 8,000 hours | 64 questions | $100 license fee |
| Limited Residential Electrician (LR) | 4,000 hours | 52 questions | $100 license fee |
| Electrical Contractor (C) | Not set in hours | No exam | $375; renewal every three years on July 1 |
How to get each Oregon license
General Journeyman Apprentice (Inside Electrician)
Requirements. Join a registered apprenticeship through the Bureau of Labor and Industries. You must be 17 to apply and 18 to start, with a high school diploma or GED and a year of algebra with a C or better. The apprenticeship runs 8,000 hours, about four years.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $0.
Source: Oregon License Directory: Electrician, General Journeyman Apprentice (Inside).
General Journeyman Electrician (J)
Requirements. Finish an approved Oregon apprenticeship. From out of state: 576 hours of classroom training plus 8,000 hours of experience with at least 1,000 each in residential, commercial and industrial work, or 16,000 hours of experience with at least 2,000 in each. You also need a high school diploma or GED.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Oregon Building Codes Division (exam prepared by the Electrical and Elevator Board) |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | 52 questions |
| Time | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Code book | Open book. Approved references include the NEC with Oregon amendments, the NEC Handbook, ORS 479, OAR 918, and listed indexes and handbooks. Tabs, highlighting and margin code references are allowed; practice tests and class notes are not. |
| Exam fee | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Official bulletin | BCD Electrical license exam guidelines, approved materials (Rev. September 2026) |
Fees. $100 license fee; renewal is $100.
You must take the exam within 60 days of BCD's Letter of Authorization, and wait 30 days after a failed attempt before retaking.
Free practice. The journeyman electrician practice test with 2026 and 2023 NEC versions has 30 questions on code and calculations, scored by subject, with no account. It is general NEC practice, not built from the Oregon exam outline.
Sources: Oregon License Directory: General Journeyman Electrician (J) (updated 01/23/2026); Oregon License Directory: Electrician, General Journeyman Apprentice (Inside); BCD Electrical license exam guidelines (Rev. September 2026); BCD: Licensing exams.
General Supervising Electrician (S)
Requirements. Be licensed (or qualified) as an Oregon journeyman electrician and show another 8,000 hours of journeyman experience. Only a supervising electrician may direct and supervise electrical installations and sign permits.
Experience. 8,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Oregon Building Codes Division |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | 64 questions |
| Time | 240 minutes (4 hours) |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Code book | Open book, same approved references as the journeyman exam. |
| Exam fee | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Official bulletin | BCD Electrical license exam guidelines, approved materials (Rev. September 2026) |
Fees. $100 license fee.
Sources: Oregon License Directory: General Supervising Electrician (S) (updated 01/23/2026); BCD Electrical license exam guidelines (Rev. September 2026); BCD: Licensing exams.
Limited Residential Electrician (LR)
Requirements. Finish an approved Oregon apprenticeship, or bring 288 classroom hours plus 4,000 hours of residential experience from out of state, or 8,000 out-of-state residential hours. The license covers one- and two-family and multifamily dwellings up to three floors above grade, under a general supervising electrician.
Experience. 4,000 hours.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | Oregon Building Codes Division |
|---|---|
| Code edition | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Questions | 52 questions |
| Time | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Code book | Open book, same approved references as the journeyman exam. |
| Exam fee | Not confirmed: check with the board |
Fees. $100 license fee.
Limited residential electricians need 16 hours of continuing education each three-year period.
Sources: Oregon License Directory: Limited Residential Electrician (LR) (updated 02/11/2026); BCD Electrical license exam guidelines (Rev. September 2026); BCD: Licensing exams.
Electrical Contractor (C)
Requirements. A business license. Register the business name with the Secretary of State, hold an active Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license, and employ a full-time signing supervisor for the license type. Bond and insurance are as the CCB requires.
Exam. No exam for this license.
Fees. $375; renewal every three years on July 1.
Source: Oregon License Directory: Electrical Contractor (C) (updated 02/11/2026).
How to apply
Mail or fax the Electrical License Application with the work history, signed affidavit, one experience verification form per employer, proof of diploma or GED, a photo and the fee. Once approved, BCD mails a Letter of Authorization and you schedule the exam with the testing location you chose. Apply on the official site.
Source: BCD: Electrical individual license.
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every three years, on October 1. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | 24 hours of continuing education each three-year period for general journeyman and supervising electricians, part of it in code change courses. Limited residential electricians need 16 hours. |
Sources: Oregon License Directory: General Journeyman Electrician (J) (updated 01/23/2026); BCD: Electrical continuing education.
Reciprocity with other states
General Journeyman (J) by reciprocity with Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington and Wyoming; General Supervising (S) with Arkansas and Utah. You must have qualified through a 576-classroom-hour, 8,000-hour apprenticeship, passed that state's exam with 75% or better, and worked at least 1,000 hours under that license. No Oregon exam is required.
Sources: BCD: Reciprocal licenses; Oregon License Directory: Reciprocal General Journeyman (J).
Look up an Oregon electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official BCD License Holder Search.
Good to know
Washington applicants for Oregon reciprocity must have completed an apprenticeship in Oregon or Washington and passed Washington's licensing exam.
Source: BCD: Reciprocal licenses.
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Oregon?
The Oregon Building Codes Division licenses electricians and electrical contractors statewide. Its licensing exams are prepared by the Electrical and Elevator Board and given by the division.
How do I get a journeyman electrician license in Oregon?
General Journeyman Electrician (J): Finish an approved Oregon apprenticeship. From out of state: 576 hours of classroom training plus 8,000 hours of experience with at least 1,000 each in residential, commercial and industrial work, or 16,000 hours of experience with at least 2,000 in each. You also need a high school diploma or GED. Mail or fax the Electrical License Application with the work history, signed affidavit, one experience verification form per employer, proof of diploma or GED, a photo and the fee. Once approved, BCD mails a Letter of Authorization and you schedule the exam with the testing location you chose.
How many hours do you need to become a journeyman electrician in Oregon?
8,000 hours for the General Journeyman Electrician (J).
How many questions are on the Oregon journeyman electrician exam?
52 questions in 180 minutes (3 hours), and the passing score is 75%.
Does Oregon accept electrician licenses from other states?
General Journeyman (J) by reciprocity with Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington and Wyoming; General Supervising (S) with Arkansas and Utah. You must have qualified through a 576-classroom-hour, 8,000-hour apprenticeship, passed that state's exam with 75% or better, and worked at least 1,000 hours under that license. No Oregon exam is required.
How often does a Oregon electrician license renew?
Every three years, on October 1. Continuing education: 24 hours of continuing education each three-year period for general journeyman and supervising electricians, part of it in code change courses. Limited residential electricians need 16 hours.
How do I look up an electrician license in Oregon?
Use the official BCD License Holder Search at https://www4.cbs.state.or.us/exs/all/mylicsearch/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.show_search_name&group_id=30
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Oregon's own licensing board, statute or rule, or the testing company the board names. Where a fact could not be confirmed from one of them, the page says to check with the board. Rules and fees change: confirm with the board before you apply.
- Oregon License Directory: General Journeyman Electrician (J) (updated 01/23/2026), opened November 11, 2026
- Oregon License Directory: General Supervising Electrician (S) (updated 01/23/2026), opened November 11, 2026
- BCD Electrical license exam guidelines (Rev. September 2026), opened November 11, 2026
- BCD: Licensing exams, opened November 11, 2026
- Oregon License Directory: Electrician, General Journeyman Apprentice (Inside), opened November 11, 2026
- Oregon License Directory: Limited Residential Electrician (LR) (updated 02/11/2026), opened November 11, 2026
- Oregon License Directory: Electrical Contractor (C) (updated 02/11/2026), opened November 11, 2026
- BCD: Electrical individual license, opened November 11, 2026
- BCD: Electrical continuing education, opened November 11, 2026
- BCD: Reciprocal licenses, opened November 11, 2026
- Oregon License Directory: Reciprocal General Journeyman (J), opened November 11, 2026
- DCBS BCD License Holder Search, opened November 11, 2026
Electrician license requirements in every state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Last verified November 11, 2026.