Oregon Electrician License: Requirements, Exam & How to Apply (2026)

Oregon is one of the more active construction markets in the Pacific Northwest, with strong demand for licensed electricians in the Portland metro, Salem, Eugene, and Bend. The state takes electrical licensing seriously — you cannot legally perform electrical work in Oregon without a license issued by the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD), part of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS).

This guide walks you through every step of getting licensed as an Oregon journeyman electrician in 2026: license types, apprenticeship requirements, the PSI exam, fees, renewal, and reciprocity. All requirements are drawn from official BCD sources at oregon.gov/bcd.

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Overview: Oregon's Electrical Licensing System

Oregon's electrical licensing is administered exclusively by the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD). There is no county-by-county patchwork — a BCD license is valid statewide, whether you're working in Portland, Medford, or Pendleton.

Oregon requires licensure at multiple tiers, from apprentice registration through journeyman and supervising electrician designations up to the electrical contractor license. The Oregon Electrical Specialty Code, which is based on NEC 2023, governs the technical standards for all electrical work in the state.

Electrical work performed without a valid BCD license — or supervised by someone without one — is a violation of Oregon law and can result in fines, stop-work orders, and civil liability.

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Types of Oregon Electrician Licenses

Oregon BCD issues several distinct electrical license categories. Understanding which one you need is the first step.

Apprentice Electrician

An apprentice registration is required before you can begin accumulating OJT hours toward journeyman licensure. Apprentices must be enrolled in or supervised through a state-registered apprenticeship program. This registration keeps you legal while you're working your way toward full journeyman status.

General Journeyman Electrician

The General Journeyman Electrician license is the core credential for working electricians in Oregon. It authorizes you to install, alter, repair, and maintain electrical systems in residential, commercial, and industrial settings — under the supervision structure set by Oregon law.

This is the license most electricians are working toward. It requires 8,000 hours of OJT plus related instruction, and passage of the PSI licensing exam.

General Supervising Electrician

A General Supervising Electrician holds a higher-tier license that authorizes direct supervision of apprentices and journeymen on a job site. This is typically the license required for a lead or foreman-level electrician at an electrical contractor. Requirements include additional experience beyond the journeyman level and passage of a supervising electrician exam.

Limited Energy Electrician (Type A and Type B)

Oregon also issues Limited Energy Electrician licenses for lower-voltage systems — alarm systems, data/communications cabling, audio/video, and similar low-voltage work. These break into:

• Type A — Broader scope, covering commercial and industrial limited energy work
• Type B — Narrower scope, focused on residential limited energy systems

These are separate license tracks from the General Journeyman path and have their own experience and exam requirements.

Electrical Contractor

The Electrical Contractor license is issued to businesses — not individuals — and is required to legally contract for electrical work in Oregon. An electrical contractor must have at least one licensed General Supervising Electrician on staff. Individual electricians working for a contractor do not need a contractor license themselves.

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Experience Requirements

To qualify for the General Journeyman Electrician exam, you must complete:

• 8,000 hours of on-the-job training (OJT) in a state-registered apprenticeship program — equivalent to approximately four years of full-time work
• Related technical instruction (RTI) — classroom or online training covering electrical theory, code, and safety, completed alongside your OJT hours

Oregon requires apprenticeship to be conducted through a state-registered program, such as those administered by IBEW/NECA joint apprenticeship training committees (JATCs), the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), or other BCD-approved apprenticeship sponsors.

Self-reported OJT alone — without a registered program — does not satisfy Oregon's apprenticeship requirement for the General Journeyman license.

Once your apprenticeship sponsor certifies your completion of the required hours and instruction, you're eligible to apply to BCD for your exam authorization.

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The Oregon Electrician Exam

Exam Vendor: PSI

Oregon uses PSI Exams as its testing vendor. Once BCD approves your application, you schedule your exam directly through PSI at psiexams.com. PSI has testing centers throughout Oregon, including locations in Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Medford.

Code Edition: NEC 2023 (Oregon Electrical Specialty Code)

The Oregon electrician exam is based on the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code, which adopts NEC 2023 as its technical base with Oregon-specific amendments. Make sure you're studying from the correct edition — NEC 2020 is no longer the basis for Oregon's code.

For a breakdown of what changed between NEC 2020 and NEC 2023, see our NEC 2023 vs. 2020 changes guide.

Open-Book Format

The Oregon General Journeyman exam is open-book. You may bring your copy of the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (NEC 2023-based) into the exam room. This is a significant advantage — but do not mistake "open-book" for "easy."

The exam is timed. You will not have time to read articles from scratch or hunt for answers you don't already have a feel for. The candidates who pass are those who know the code well enough to find and confirm answers quickly, not those who plan to read through it during the exam.

Passing Score

You must score 75% or higher to pass the Oregon electrician licensing exam.

Exam Fee

The exam fee is approximately ~$80 (verify at oregon.gov/bcd) and is paid to PSI at the time of scheduling.

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Application Process

Here is the step-by-step path to getting your Oregon General Journeyman Electrician license:

Step 1 — Enroll in a registered apprenticeship program. Contact an IBEW/NECA JATC, IEC chapter, or other BCD-registered apprenticeship sponsor in your area. You must be enrolled before you begin logging OJT hours.

Step 2 — Complete 8,000 hours of OJT and required instruction. Work through your apprenticeship program, completing OJT hours and related technical instruction. Your program sponsor tracks and certifies your hours.

Step 3 — Obtain apprenticeship completion certification. When you've completed all required OJT and RTI, your apprenticeship sponsor certifies your completion. Keep this documentation — BCD will require it with your application.

Step 4 — Submit your application to BCD. Apply online at oregon.gov/bcd/licensing. Submit your apprenticeship completion documentation and pay the license application fee (~$50, verify at oregon.gov/bcd).

Step 5 — Receive exam authorization from BCD. After BCD reviews and approves your application, you'll receive authorization to schedule your exam with PSI.

Step 6 — Schedule and take the PSI exam. Schedule your exam at psiexams.com and pay the exam fee (~$80). Bring your Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (NEC 2023) and a valid photo ID to the test center. Pass at 75% or higher.

Step 7 — License issued. After passing, BCD processes your results and issues your General Journeyman Electrician license. You're now authorized to work as a licensed journeyman electrician throughout Oregon.

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Fees

All fees should be verified directly at oregon.gov/bcd before submitting your application, as fee schedules are subject to change.

Oregon fees are generally lower than many other states, but the hours and apprenticeship requirements are substantial. Budget for the cost of your code book (Oregon Electrical Specialty Code / NEC 2023) if you don't already have one, as you'll need it for the exam.

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License Renewal

Oregon electrician licenses renew annually. You must renew your license before the expiration date to remain in active status and legally perform electrical work.

Continuing Education: 16 Hours Per Year

General Journeyman and General Supervising Electricians must complete 16 hours of continuing education (CE) per renewal year. CE coursework must cover approved topics — typically electrical code updates, safety, and trade-related subjects. BCD maintains a list of approved CE providers at oregon.gov/bcd.

Failing to complete CE before renewal can result in a lapsed license. A lapsed license cannot be used to legally work or pull permits — reinstatement procedures and fees apply if you let your license expire.

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Reciprocity

Oregon has limited reciprocity and endorsement arrangements with select states. Reciprocity eligibility is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, comparing the training hours, exam standards, and experience requirements of your home state against Oregon's requirements.

If you hold a journeyman electrician license from another state and want to work in Oregon, contact BCD directly at oregon.gov/bcd to determine whether your license may qualify for endorsement and what documentation you'll need to provide.

Oregon does not have blanket reciprocity with all states — do not assume your out-of-state license transfers automatically. Working without a valid Oregon license while waiting for endorsement processing is a violation of state law.

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Start Studying

The Oregon General Journeyman exam is open-book — but open-book does not mean low-effort. The candidates who pass are those who understand the NEC well enough to move through it efficiently under time pressure.

That means knowing which articles cover what, understanding the logic behind key code requirements, and getting comfortable with the question formats before you sit down at a PSI terminal.

Key NEC 2023 areas that consistently appear on journeyman-level exams:

• Article 210 — Branch circuits: ratings, required outlets, AFCI/GFCI requirements
• Article 230 — Services: clearances, sizing, disconnecting means
• Article 240 — Overcurrent protection: sizing rules, exceptions
• Article 250 — Grounding and bonding: one of the highest-yield areas on any NEC exam
• Article 310 — Conductors: ampacity tables, correction factors, adjustment factors
• Article 314 — Boxes and fittings: box fill calculations
• Article 430 — Motors: the most formula-intensive section

For a deep dive on passing strategies, see our how to pass the electrician exam guide.

GetLicenseReady has 1,600+ NEC 2023-aligned practice questions in exam mode — timed, 100 questions per session, designed to mirror the pressure of a proctored licensing exam. The first 25 questions are free with no account required. See our Oregon electrician exam prep page for state-specific details on the PSI exam format, recommended study timeline, and top-missed question categories for Oregon test-takers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who issues Oregon electrician licenses?

Oregon electrician licenses are issued by the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD), which is part of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS). You apply, pay fees, and renew through BCD's online portal at oregon.gov/bcd/licensing.

How many hours of apprenticeship are required for an Oregon General Journeyman license?

Oregon requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training (OJT) as part of a state-registered apprenticeship program — typically a 4-year program. You must complete this OJT alongside required classroom and related technical instruction hours before you're eligible to sit for the journeyman exam.

Is the Oregon electrician exam open-book?

Yes. The Oregon electrician exam is administered by PSI and is open-book. You may bring your copy of the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (which is based on NEC 2023) into the exam. Knowing how to navigate the code efficiently is essential — you won't have time to look up every answer from scratch.

What is the passing score on the Oregon electrician exam?

You must score at least 75% to pass the Oregon electrician licensing exam administered by PSI.

How often do I need to renew my Oregon electrician license, and what are the CE requirements?

Oregon electrician licenses renew annually. General Journeyman and General Supervising Electricians must complete 16 hours of continuing education (CE) per renewal year. CE must be in approved topics related to electrical codes, safety, or related subjects.

Does Oregon have reciprocity with other states?

Oregon has limited reciprocity and endorsement arrangements with select states. Eligibility is based on equivalent training, exam, and experience standards. Contact BCD directly at oregon.gov/bcd to verify whether your home state qualifies and what documentation you'll need to submit.

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All requirements, fees, and procedures in this guide are drawn from the Oregon Building Codes Division (oregon.gov/bcd) and verified as of April 2026. Oregon licensing requirements are subject to change — always confirm at oregon.gov/bcd/licensing before submitting any application.

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Related guides:

• Oregon electrician exam prep: PSI format, top topics, practice questions
• How to pass the electrician exam: 6 NEC articles that cover 60%
• NEC 2023 vs. 2020: what changed and what to study
• What's actually on the electrician license test?
• Journeyman vs. master electrician: what's the difference?