How to get your Oregon CCB contractor license
Oregon requires essentially every construction contractor to hold a license from the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) before advertising, bidding, or working. The path is defined: complete 16 hours of approved pre-license training, pass the open book exam with at least 70 percent, file a surety bond and liability insurance, and pay the $400 application fee for a two-year license. Endorsements split residential from commercial work, and your bond and insurance amounts follow the endorsement you choose.
Licensing authority
Oregon Construction Contractors Board: https://www.oregon.gov/ccb
When a license is required
There is no dollar threshold: anyone working for compensation in construction, including remodeling, repair, and most handyman work, must be CCB-licensed, and advertising without a license is itself a violation. A few narrow exemptions exist, so if you think one covers you, confirm it with the CCB before taking money for work.
License classes in Oregon
Residential endorsements
Cover work on residential and small commercial structures. A Residential General Contractor carries a $25,000 surety bond and at least $500,000 per occurrence in liability coverage; other residential endorsements carry smaller bonds.
Commercial endorsements
For large commercial structures, with substantially larger bond and insurance requirements than the residential side. Contractors who do both hold dual endorsements.
Specialty and limited endorsements
Narrower endorsements exist for contractors with limited scopes. The endorsement determines your bond and insurance, so match it to the work you actually sell.
What you need before you apply
- Complete 16 hours of CCB-approved pre-license training
- Pass the CCB exam, open book, with at least 70 percent
- File a surety bond for your endorsement, for example $25,000 for a Residential General Contractor
- Carry liability insurance, at least $500,000 per occurrence for a Residential General Contractor
- Designate a Responsible Managing Individual (RMI) who completed the training and exam
- Register your business with the Oregon Secretary of State
- Pay the $400 application fee for the two-year license term
- Hold separate trade licenses for electrical and plumbing work, which the CCB license does not cover
How to get licensed in Oregon
- Take the 16-hour pre-license training. Complete the approved course covering Oregon construction law, lien law, and business practices. It is available online and is the prerequisite for the exam.
- Pass the open book exam. Score 70 percent or better. The exam tests the reference manual, so knowing where things are in the book matters more than memorization.
- Choose your endorsement and buy the bond. Pick residential, commercial, or both based on your work. Buy the surety bond for that endorsement, such as $25,000 for a Residential General Contractor, and bind your liability policy.
- File the application. Submit the CCB application with your training certificate, exam result, bond, insurance certificate, business registration, and the $400 fee.
- Renew every two years. The license runs two years. Keep the bond and insurance continuously active, because a lapse suspends the license automatically, and confirm current fees with the CCB at renewal.
Reciprocity with other states
Oregon does not waive its license for out-of-state contractors: everyone completes the Oregon training, exam, bond, and insurance. Experience from other states helps you pass but earns no formal credit, and Oregon's exam covers Oregon-specific law that other state exams do not touch.
Working without a license
Working or even advertising without a CCB license draws civil penalties per violation, and repeat offenses escalate. The harsher penalty is financial: an unlicensed contractor in Oregon generally cannot file a construction lien or sue to collect payment, so an unpaid job stays unpaid, and the CCB publishes enforcement actions publicly.
Frequently asked questions
Does a handyman need a license in Oregon?
Almost always yes. Oregon requires a CCB license for construction work at any dollar amount, including repairs and small jobs, and advertising without a license is a violation on its own. The exemptions are narrow, so confirm with the CCB before working unlicensed.
How hard is the Oregon CCB exam?
It is open book with a 70 percent passing score, taken after 16 hours of required training. Most applicants who study the reference manual pass. The exam tests Oregon law and business practices, not trade skills, so experienced builders still need to study the book.
How much does an Oregon contractor license cost to get?
The application fee is $400 for a two-year license, plus the 16-hour training course, the exam fee, your surety bond premium (the bond face amount is $25,000 for a Residential General Contractor, but you pay a fraction of that annually), and liability insurance. Total out-of-pocket for most new residential contractors lands in the high hundreds to low thousands.
Can I transfer my Washington or California license to Oregon?
No. Oregon has no reciprocity for the CCB license: you take the Oregon training and exam and post Oregon bond and insurance like everyone else. Your experience makes the process easier but earns no formal waiver.
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