Contractor licensing by state
How to Get a Contractor License in Oregon
Oregon requires a state license for every trade we track. The main contractor license is the Construction Contractors Board, which costs $400 to start and needs the Oregon contractor exam. Of the 10 trades we could rate, plumbing is the easiest to get licensed for and landscape irrigation the hardest.
The Oregon contractor license
| License | Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license, residential or commercial endorsement |
|---|---|
| Covers | Foundation repair, general contracting, roofing, plumbing, electrical work, HVAC work, concrete flatwork, drainage and detention work, and demolition |
| Fee | $400 per two year license (application fee from July 1, 2025) |
| Exam | Oregon contractor exam (80 questions, 70 percent to pass); 16 hours of pre-license training first. Given by CCB approved test provider. Exam fee $60. |
| Insurance | Residential General Contractor $500,000 per occurrence; Residential Specialty Contractor $300,000 per occurrence. Source |
| Bond | $25,000. Source |
| Background check | Required |
| Continuing education | Residential contractors complete continuing education to renew; first and second renewals need 16 hours (13 from other providers and 3 from CCB). |
| Renewal | Every two years with continuing education. |
How to apply
- Name a Responsible Managing Individual (RMI).
- The RMI completes 16 hours of approved pre-license training and passes the Oregon exam ($60).
- Buy the CCB bond and liability insurance for the endorsement.
- Apply to the CCB ($400 for two years); the RMI completes a background check after applying.
Some CCB and Secretary of State pages still list older bond amounts ($20,000 for Residential General); the CCB license page lists $25,000. Passing the NASCLA commercial general building exam replaces the 16 hours of training but not the Oregon exam. Landscaping and irrigation are licensed separately by the Landscape Contractors Board. Plumbing and electrical businesses need a Building Codes Division license in addition to the CCB license.
State license requirements for each trade in Oregon
| Foundation repair | CCB license with a Residential General Contractor endorsement, or Residential Sp | $400 | Oregon contractor exam | None listed | Moderate · 45 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General contracting | CCB license, Residential General Contractor endorsement | $400 | Oregon contractor exam | None listed | Moderate · 45 |
| Roofing | CCB license, Residential Specialty Contractor | $400 | Oregon contractor exam | None listed | Moderate · 45 |
| Plumbing | Plumbing Business | $150 | Oregon contractor exam | None listed | Moderate · 40 |
| Electrical | Electrical Contractor | $375 | General supervising electrician exam | None listed | Moderate · 44 |
| HVAC | CCB license | $400 | Oregon contractor exam | None listed | Moderate or harder · 45+ |
| Irrigation | Landscape contracting business license plus an individual landscape construction | $660 | Laws, Rules and Business Practices | None listed | Moderate · 46 |
| Concrete flatwork | CCB license, Residential Specialty or General endorsement | $400 | Oregon contractor exam | None listed | Moderate · 45 |
| Drainage and detention | CCB license | $400 | Oregon contractor exam | None listed | Moderate or harder · 45+ |
| Demolition | CCB license | $400 | Oregon contractor exam | None listed | Moderate · 45 |
Tap a column to sort. Difficulty covers the state license only. Checked October 18, 2026.
Trades ranked from easiest to hardest in Oregon
- Plumbing, moderate (40)
- Electrical, moderate (44)
- Concrete flatwork, moderate (45)
- Demolition, moderate (45)
- Drainage and detention, moderate or harder (45+)
- Foundation repair, moderate (45)
- General contracting, moderate (45)
- HVAC, moderate or harder (45+)
- Roofing, moderate (45)
- Irrigation, moderate (46)
Details for each trade
Foundation repair
| License | CCB license with a Residential General Contractor endorsement, or Residential Specialty Contractor if the business does one or two unrelated trades |
|---|---|
| Board | Oregon Construction Contractors Board |
Oregon has no separate foundation category. The CCB endorsement depends on the range of work. Permits and engineering requirements come from the local building department.
The city or county building department issues the permit and decides whether engineered drawings are needed.
- Get the CCB license with the right residential endorsement.
- Pull the local building permit.
Difficulty 45, moderate (exams 15, fees 9, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against CCB license; CCB endorsement chart.
General contracting (residential remodels, additions and home improvement)
| License | CCB license, Residential General Contractor endorsement |
|---|---|
| Board | Oregon Construction Contractors Board |
$25,000 bond and $500,000 per occurrence insurance.
Permits come from the city or county building department.
- Complete training and the exam.
- Post the bond and insurance and apply to the CCB.
Difficulty 45, moderate (exams 15, fees 9, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against CCB license.
Roofing
| License | CCB license, Residential Specialty Contractor (or Residential General) endorsement |
|---|---|
| Board | Oregon Construction Contractors Board |
The CCB lists roofing as work that requires a license. No separate roofing exam.
Reroof permit rules are set by the local building department.
- Get the CCB license with a residential specialty endorsement.
- Check local permit rules.
Difficulty 45, moderate (exams 15, fees 9, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against CCB license.
Plumbing
| License | Plumbing Business (PB) license from BCD, plus a CCB license |
|---|---|
| Board | Oregon Building Codes Division and Construction Contractors Board |
| Fee | $150 (plumbing business license (as listed in BCD's combination license instructions)) |
| Insurance | As required by the CCB endorsement. |
| Bond | As required by the CCB endorsement. |
The individual plumbers need BCD plumbing licenses; their exam and experience rules were not checked here. The $150 figure was read from a BCD form whose fee table did not extract cleanly; confirm with BCD.
Plumbing permits come from the local building department or BCD where it is the permitting agency.
- Get the CCB license.
- Employ licensed plumbers.
- Apply to BCD for the Plumbing Business license.
Difficulty 40, moderate (exams 15, fees 4, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against BCD, combination license instructions.
Electrical
| License | Electrical Contractor (C) license from BCD, with a full time signing supervisor, plus a CCB license |
|---|---|
| Board | Oregon Building Codes Division and Construction Contractors Board |
| Fee | $375 (electrical contractor license; a general supervising electrician license is $100) |
| Exam | General supervising electrician exam (for the signing supervisor). |
| Insurance | As required by the CCB. |
| Bond | As required by the CCB. |
| Continuing education | The business license is exempt from continuing education; individual electricians are not. |
The electrical contractor business license itself has no exam; the signing supervisor must hold a supervising electrician license.
Electrical permits come from the local building department or BCD.
- Get the CCB license.
- Employ a full time signing supervisor.
- Apply to BCD for the electrical contractor license ($375).
Difficulty 44, moderate (exams 15, fees 8, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against BCD, electrical license application; Oregon license directory, electrical contractor.
HVAC
| License | CCB license; electrical reconnection of HVAC equipment needs a BCD Limited Maintenance Specialty Contractor HVAC/R (LHR) license |
|---|---|
| Board | Oregon Construction Contractors Board and Building Codes Division |
HVAC installers need a CCB license. Electrical connections to HVAC and refrigeration equipment fall under BCD's LHR license. Mechanical permits are issued locally.
Mechanical permits come from the local building department.
- Get the CCB license.
- Add the BCD LHR license if you connect HVAC equipment electrically.
Difficulty 45+, moderate or harder (exams 15, fees 9, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against BCD license clarification.
Irrigation
| License | Landscape contracting business license plus an individual landscape construction professional license covering irrigation (Irrigation Plus Backflow) |
|---|---|
| Board | Oregon Landscape Contractors Board |
| Fee | $660 (business license ($285 application plus $375 license); the individual Irrigation Plus Backflow license is $200 a year) |
| Exam | Laws, Rules and Business Practices; Irrigation; Backflow. Given by PSI. |
| Insurance | Business liability of at least $500,000 with the LCB as certificate holder; workers' compensation if you have employees. |
| Bond | $20,000 Landscape Contractors Board bond from January 1, 2026 ($15,000 for probationary businesses). |
Oregon requires two licenses for landscaping work, one for the individual and one for the business. A 75 percent score is needed on each exam section.
Ask the local building department and water supplier about permits and backflow testing for irrigation systems.
- Pass the LCB exams for laws and rules, irrigation and backflow.
- Get the individual license.
- Post the $20,000 bond and $500,000 insurance and license the business ($660).
Difficulty 46, moderate (exams 15, business and law exam 5, fees 13, bond 8, insurance 5).
Checked October 18, 2026 against LCB, apply for a license; LCB, business application; LCB, exam; LCB, insurance and bond requirements.
Concrete flatwork (driveways, sidewalks and work in the public right-of-way)
| License | CCB license, Residential Specialty or General endorsement |
|---|---|
| Board | Oregon Construction Contractors Board |
The CCB lists concrete as work that requires a license. Ask the city about right of way permits.
Ask the city or road owner what permit work at the street needs.
- Get the CCB license.
- Ask the city about a right of way permit.
Difficulty 45, moderate (exams 15, fees 9, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against CCB license.
Drainage and detention (grading, drainage, stormwater and detention ponds)
| License | CCB license (endorsement by scope of work) |
|---|---|
| Board | Oregon Construction Contractors Board |
Grading and excavation contractors need a CCB license. Landscape drainage done as part of landscaping falls under the Landscape Contractors Board. Stormwater permit rules are not covered here.
Grading permits come from the city or county.
- Get the CCB license.
- Check local grading and stormwater rules.
Difficulty 45+, moderate or harder (exams 15, fees 9, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against CCB license.
Demolition
| License | CCB license; DEQ licensed asbestos abatement contractor for any asbestos removal |
|---|---|
| Board | Oregon Construction Contractors Board; Oregon DEQ asbestos program |
A residential building built before January 1, 2004 needs an asbestos survey by an accredited inspector before demolition, and the owner occupant exemption does not apply to demolition. Friable asbestos must be removed by a DEQ licensed abatement contractor first. The survey report stays on site during demolition.
The local demolition permit follows the DEQ asbestos survey for any home built before 2004.
- Get the CCB license.
- Order an asbestos survey by an accredited inspector for buildings built before 2004.
- Have a DEQ licensed contractor remove any friable asbestos.
- Pull the local demolition permit.
Difficulty 45, moderate (exams 15, fees 9, bond 8, insurance 5, background check 4, continuing education 4).
Checked October 18, 2026 against Oregon DEQ, asbestos survey resources; Oregon DEQ, asbestos information for homeowners.
Exams for a Oregon license
| Oregon Construction Contractor (CCB) | PSI, for the Construction Contractors Board | $60 | $60 again; unlimited retests | Open book | 80 scored, plus 5 to 8 unscored | 180 minutes, plus 20 for unscored items | 70% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon Landscape Construction Professional, Laws, Rules and Business Practices section | PSI, for the Landscape Contractors Board | $125 for the exam at PSI registration | $125 at PSI registration | 100 minutes | |||
| Oregon Landscape Construction Professional, Irrigation section | PSI, for the Landscape Contractors Board | $125 for the exam at PSI registration | $125 at PSI registration | 200 minutes | |||
| Oregon Landscape Construction Professional, Backflow section | PSI, for the Landscape Contractors Board | $125 for the exam at PSI registration | $125 at PSI registration | 100 minutes |
Tap a column to sort. Each exam name opens the provider's bulletin or exam page. A blank cell is a fact not confirmed from the provider, and the linked bulletin has the full rules.
- The 16 hour pre-license training comes first.
- A passed section stays valid for 24 months. The bulletin's fee table lists $75 for the first section and $10 for each more section taken the same day; PSI's registration charges $125.
- A passed section stays valid for 24 months. The bulletin's fee table lists $75 for the first section and $10 for each more section taken the same day; PSI's registration charges $125.
- A passed section stays valid for 24 months. The bulletin's fee table lists $75 for the first section and $10 for each more section taken the same day; PSI's registration charges $125.
Checked October 18, 2026 against PSI Oregon Construction Contractors Board Candidate Information Bulletin; PSI Oregon Landscape Contractors Board Candidate Information Bulletin; PSI Oregon landscape exam registration (fee and times).
Official sources
- Oregon Construction Contractors Board, CCB license
- CCB endorsement chart
- Oregon Landscape Contractors Board, apply for a license
- Oregon Building Codes Division, electrical license application
- Oregon DEQ, asbestos survey resources
Licensing pages for nearby states cover California, Nevada, and Washington.
Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice. Confirm with the licensing board before you apply or bid.