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How to become a licensed electrician in Oregon. State-level licensing required. Apprenticeship: 8,000 hours. Total initial fees: $100-$200. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Electrician
Governing Authority
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Division (BCD)
Official website →Most information on this page has been verified.
85% of data points are verified against official sources. 5 fields based on preliminary research. 2 fields need verification. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
Yes
State Licensed?
Apprentice Hours
3 levels
License Levels
Total Initial Fees
CE Hours
NEC Version
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types
Notes
Oregon uses 'licensing' for individual electricians through BCD. The General Supervising Electrician (S) serves as the equivalent of a master electrician, required to act as Responsible Managing Individual (RMI) for electrical contractor businesses. Contractor businesses are licensed separately through BCD and CCB. Oregon adopts the NEC as the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (OESC) with state-specific amendments.
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Division (BCD)
Official Title
Electrical Apprentice (registered through BCD)
Experience Required
No prior experience required; must work under supervision of a licensed journeyman or supervising electrician
Exam Required
No
Additional Requirements
Official Title
General Journeyman Electrician (J)
Experience Required
8,000 hours of supervised work experience plus 576 hours of pre-licensing education in electrical theory, Oregon Electrical Code, NEC, and workplace safety
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Official Title
General Supervising Electrician (S)
Experience Required
Must hold a General Journeyman Electrician (J) license; additional supervising-level exam required. Serves as Responsible Managing Individual (RMI) for electrical contractor businesses.
Exam Required
Yes
Additional Requirements
Apprenticeship
Hours Breakdown
8,000
Total Hours
4
Years
576
Classroom
8,000
On-the-Job
DOL Registered Apprenticeship
Exam Requirements
VerifiedRequired
Journeyman Exam
Required
Master Exam
Exam Provider
PSI Services
NEC Version
2023 NEC (NFPA 70-2023), adopted as 2023 Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (OESC), effective October 1, 2023
Open Book
Yes
Journeyman Exam Details
52
Questions
180 min
Time Limit
75%
Passing Score
Master Exam Details
64
Questions
240 min
Time Limit
75%
Passing Score
Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Journeyman License Fee Application fee for General Journeyman (J) license | |
Master License Fee Application fee for General Supervising Electrician (S) license; same as journeyman application fee | |
Exam Fee Exam fee included in the $100 application fee | |
Renewal Fee Triennial renewal; replacement fee: $10 | |
Total Initial Fees Application fee $100 plus license fee $50-$100 depending on license class |
Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified3 years, on October 1. Specific renewal year depends on license type.
Renewal Period
24 hrs
CE Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$100
Triennial renewal fee
Regulatory Board
Electrician licenses must be renewed on schedule. Most states require continuing education covering NEC code updates, safety practices, and applicable state/local amendments.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
Reciprocity Type
Reciprocity for General Journeyman (J) with multiple states
Transfer Details
Oregon has reciprocity agreements for General Journeyman Electrician (J) licenses with: Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. License must have been obtained through examination and completion of required work experience. License must be current, active, and in good standing.
Additional Requirements for Transfer
Electrician license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states offer endorsement for experienced electricians, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials.
Oregon requires 576 hours of pre-licensing education for General Journeyman (J), one of the highest classroom requirements in the US. The state adopts NEC as the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (OESC) with Oregon-specific amendments. License renewals follow a fixed October 1 triennial cycle (not based on issuance date). Oregon has a 75% passing score requirement, higher than the 70% standard in most states. Several limited license categories are exempt from continuing education. Oregon has reciprocity with seven states for General Journeyman licenses.
Oregon adopts the NEC as the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (OESC) with state-specific amendments in OAR 918-305-0105 Table 1-E. The 2023 OESC took effect October 1, 2023; 2026 OESC anticipated October 1, 2026.
The General Supervising Electrician (S) license is Oregon's equivalent of a master electrician, required to serve as Responsible Managing Individual (RMI) for contractor businesses.
Oregon has an unusually high passing score requirement of 75% (vs. 70% in most states).
License renewals are on a fixed October 1 cycle, not based on issuance date. Different license types renew in different years.
Several limited license categories (BME, E, ST, LMM) are exempt from continuing education requirements.
Oregon requires 576 hours of pre-licensing education for General Journeyman, significantly more classroom time than many states.
Oregon has reciprocity with seven states: Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Contractor businesses are licensed separately through both BCD (electrical) and CCB (general contractor). Bond amounts were increased by $5,000 per HB 2922 in 2024.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Oregon.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#1 of 51
Cost
#29 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Electricians (SOC 47-2111)
Entry Level
$70,680
25th percentile
Median
$97,320
+56% vs. national avg ($62,350)Experienced
$116,140
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
9,830 employed in this state
Source: BLS OEWS – Electricians (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+7.1%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+60,000
over 10 years
Annual Openings
68,500
per year (avg.)
839,600 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Electrical Career Ladder+4% salary growth potential
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Electrician (Journeyman)
$97,320
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
You are here
Electrician (Journeyman)
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) + journeyman exam
$97,320
Master electrician license + contractor license
$100,860
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 212–224 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Oregon Building Codes Division - Electrical Program — Licensing Requirements
2–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Oregon Building Codes Division - Electrical Program — Licensing Requirements
Study guides and NEC code practice tests for the electrician licensing exam.
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Official regulatory agency — added during electrician audit
Accessed 2026-03-22
Primary source for OR electrician licensing
Accessed 2026-03-19
Complete list of license types
Accessed 2026-03-19
Renewal schedule and fees
Accessed 2026-03-19
Continuing education requirements
Accessed 2026-03-19
OESC adoption information
Accessed 2026-03-19
Reciprocity agreements
Accessed 2026-03-19
NEC/OESC adoption timeline
Accessed 2026-03-19
Official reciprocal agreement document
Accessed 2026-03-19
Oregon requires state-level licensing. An apprenticeship of 8,000 hours is required. All licensing is managed through the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Division (BCD).
Requirements vary by state and local jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.