Training
Paid apprenticeship, about 4 years
Work hours
8,000 on the job
License
General Journeyman (J), Oregon BCD
Exam
52 questions, open book
If you want to know how to become an electrician in Oregon, the short answer is: get into a state-registered apprenticeship, work about 8,000 paid hours over four years, then pass a 52-question open-book exam with the Oregon Building Codes Division. You earn a paycheck the entire time, and you finish with a license and no student debt.
From the dean’s desk
“A lot of the demand right now comes from the new data centers being built across the region and the push to upgrade the electric grid. Electric cars are forcing the issue too. Companies simply can’t wait any longer to upgrade, so the opportunities for electricians are going to keep coming.”
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Trades, Transportation & Apprenticeship
How to become an electrician in Oregon, step by step
1
Meet the entry requirements
Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) requires you to be at least 17 to apply and 18 to start. You need a high school diploma or GED, plus one year of high school algebra (or a college algebra course) with a C or better.
2
Get accepted into a registered apprenticeship
Apply to an inside electrician apprenticeship registered with BOLI. Union (JATC) and non-union programs both count. Openings are competitive and usually have set application windows.
3
Work 8,000 paid hours and finish your classes
The general journeyman apprenticeship is 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, about four years. You take related classroom training each year alongside work, and your wage rises as you progress.
4
Pass the journeyman exam and get licensed
When you finish, the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) approves you for the General Journeyman Electrician (J) exam: 52 questions, three hours, open book. The license fee is $100.
5
Keep it current and keep climbing
The license renews every three years on October 1 and requires 24 hours of continuing education. From there you can move up to supervising electrician, or get a contractor license through Oregon’s Construction Contractors Board (CCB) to run your own shop.
Which Oregon electrical license do you need?
Most people aim for the General Journeyman (J) license, which covers residential, commercial and industrial work. Oregon also has narrower licenses with shorter training:
- General Journeyman Electrician (J): the broadest license and the most job options.
- Limited Residential Electrician: houses and small residential buildings.
- Limited Energy Technician: low-voltage work such as controls, data, fire alarms and security systems.
From the dean’s desk
“Work toward the license that best aligns with your long-term goals and interests. Don’t pick something you’re not excited to learn about just because it may pay more.”
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Trades, Transportation & Apprenticeship
Already an electrician in another state?
Oregon gives credit for experience earned outside the state. To qualify for the J license without an Oregon apprenticeship, you need one of these:
- Transcripts showing 576 classroom hours plus 8,000 on-the-job hours, with at least 1,000 hours each in residential, commercial and industrial work.
- 16,000 on-the-job hours, with at least 2,000 hours each in residential, commercial and industrial work.
Oregon also has reciprocal licenses with some states, including Washington. Check the current reciprocity list from the Building Codes Division before you apply, since agreements change.
What electricians earn in Portland and around Oregon
Oregon electricians earned a median of $101,310 in May 2025, one of the highest state medians in the country and about $38,000 above the national median of $63,190. The Portland area pays the most.
| Area | Median pay (May 2025) | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro | $105,090 | $50.53 |
| Albany | $100,230 | $48.19 |
| Corvallis | $99,880 | $48.02 |
| Bend | $99,200 | $47.69 |
| Salem | $98,850 | $47.53 |
| Eugene–Springfield | $94,680 | $45.52 |
| Medford | $92,410 | $44.43 |
| Grants Pass | $88,140 | $42.38 |
| Oregon overall | $101,310 | $48.71 |
| United States | $63,190 | $30.38 |
Source: O*NET OnLine, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Oregon projects 12% growth in electrician jobs from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,110 openings a year. In the Portland area, apprenticeship applicants usually start with the NECA–IBEW Electrical JATC, along with the other registered programs listed by BOLI below.
Where to find an Oregon apprenticeship
BOLI lists every registered program and its application window on its inside electrician apprenticeship page. Programs are run by local committees around the state, including the NECA–IBEW Electrical JATC in Portland, the Central Electrical JATC in Tangent, the Crater Lake Electrical JATC in Central Point, and the Klamath Basin Inside Electrician JATC in Klamath Falls.
New openings are posted every week on our Oregon apprenticeship openings tracker.
How to stand out on your application
- Refresh your algebra and shop math before any aptitude test.
- Take a pre-apprenticeship or high school CTE electrical class.
- Get a job as a materials handler or helper to show you can handle the work.
- Show up on time to every step of the process. Committees notice.
From the dean’s desk
“Soft skills are really what will set you apart. Are you professional? Do you have a professional appearance? Can you communicate well and follow directions? Those are the most important things.”
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Trades, Transportation & Apprenticeship
Common questions about becoming an electrician in Oregon
How long does it take to become an electrician in Oregon?
About four years. The general journeyman apprenticeship is 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, and you take the licensing exam when you finish.
Do I need to go to college?
No. Your training happens through a paid apprenticeship. You do need a high school diploma or GED and one year of algebra with a C or better.
Can I use my Washington electrical license in Oregon?
Possibly. Oregon has reciprocal licensing with some states, including Washington, but the rules change. Check the Building Codes Division’s reciprocity page before you apply.
How much do electricians make in Portland?
The median in the Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro area was $105,090 a year in May 2025, compared with $101,310 statewide.
How much does the license cost?
The General Journeyman (J) license is $100, and so is each three-year renewal.
Sources
- Oregon License Directory: General Journeyman Electrician (J)
- Oregon License Directory: General Journeyman Electrician Apprentice (Inside)
- Oregon Building Codes Division: Reciprocal licenses
- Oregon BOLI: Inside electrician apprenticeship
- O*NET OnLine: Electrician wages and outlook in Oregon (BLS OEWS May 2025)
Related: How to Become an Electrician in Washington · HVAC Technician in Oregon · How to Pay for Trade School · All Oregon guides
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