How to get an electrician license in Oregon: the official requirements
The General Journeyman Electrician (J) license, the experience and training it takes, the exam and how to apply, from the Oregon Building Codes Division.
In Oregon, the state electrical license for individual electricians is issued by the Oregon Building Codes Division. The General Journeyman Electrician (J) license, issued by the Building Codes Division. It lets you make any electrical installation under the supervision, direction and control of a general supervising electrician. Experience and training: Complete an approved apprenticeship in Oregon. Applicants trained outside Oregon instead show official transcripts for 576 classroom hours plus 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience (at least 1,000 hours each in residential, commercial and industrial work), or 16,000 hours of on-the-job experience (at least 2,000 hours in each category). Experience is verified on Form 440-2570A for each employer. Licensing exam: Every applicant takes the state exam. Approved applicants get a letter of authorization from the Building Codes Division and schedule the exam with the test site; if you pass, the Division issues your license. How to apply: Complete the electrical license application (Form 440-2570) and send it with all required documents (including proof of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent), a passport-style photo and the fee to the Department of Consumer and Business Services.
Oregon electrician license requirements
| Requirement | Oregon |
|---|---|
| License you apply for | The General Journeyman Electrician (J) license, issued by the Building Codes Division. It lets you make any electrical installation under the supervision, direction and control of a general supervising electrician. |
| Apprentice or trainee registration | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Oregon Building Codes Division. |
| Experience and training | Complete an approved apprenticeship in Oregon. Applicants trained outside Oregon instead show official transcripts for 576 classroom hours plus 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience (at least 1,000 hours each in residential, commercial and industrial work), or 16,000 hours of on-the-job experience (at least 2,000 hours in each category). Experience is verified on Form 440-2570A for each employer. |
| Classroom hours | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Oregon Building Codes Division. |
| Licensing exam | Every applicant takes the state exam. Approved applicants get a letter of authorization from the Building Codes Division and schedule the exam with the test site; if you pass, the Division issues your license. |
| How to apply | Complete the electrical license application (Form 440-2570) and send it with all required documents (including proof of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent), a passport-style photo and the fee to the Department of Consumer and Business Services. |
| Background check | Not stated in the official source we read. Check with the Oregon Building Codes Division. |
| State fees | General journeyman (J) application: $100, non-refundable. |
| License term | Three years; the license runs in three-year license periods. |
| Continuing education | Continuing education is required in each three-year license period; the Division lists the hours for each license type on its website. |
Where the official source we read does not state something, the table says so rather than guessing. Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
How to get licensed in Oregon
- Complete an approved apprenticeship in Oregon (or the out-of-state classroom and experience equivalent).
- Have each employer sign a verification of your work experience on Form 440-2570A.
- Send the electrical license application (Form 440-2570), documents, photo and fee to DCBS.
- When you receive the letter of authorization, schedule and take the exam.
- After you pass, the Division issues your license and mails a photo ID card.
- Complete continuing education in each three-year license period to renew.
Go further
Requirements state by state.
Open →CareerHow to become an electricianThe career path, nationally.
Open →PayElectrician salary in OregonWhat electricians earn.
Open →CareerElectrician career guideThe job, skills and outlook.
Open →ResumeElectrician resumeHow to present your hours and licenses.
Open →InterviewElectrician interview questionsWhat hiring managers ask.
Open →Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Everything on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Questions people ask
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How this page is built
Each fact on this page comes from the Oregon Building Codes Division (sources named below), read on the dates shown, with the exact wording we relied on kept on file. Requirements and fees change; the Oregon Building Codes Division's current instructions govern. We re-read each state's sources every six months (next review by May 10, 2027).
- Not legal advice.
- Licensing rules can change. Verify current requirements with the issuing agency.
- Fees shown are the licensing authority's own. Fees charged by exam vendors, schools, apprenticeship programs, fingerprint vendors and application portals are not included.
- This page covers the electrical license issued by the state. Cities and counties can have their own registration, permit or license rules; ask the local building department where you will work.
- This page covers the individual license named above. Master, contractor, specialty, sign, residential, limited and out-of-state (reciprocity) licenses have their own rules.
- Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Division, Electrical License Application and Instructions (Forms 440-2570 and 440-2570I, 8/25), official source, read Nov 9, 2026.