Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam Day: What to Expect
Test-day logistics for the Oregon General Journeyman exam: the Letter of Authorization, proctor sites, the approved books and calculator, pacing a 52-question paper exam, results by mail and retakes.
Contents
Oregon General Journeyman Electrician Exam Day: What to Expect
Oregon's electrician exams are not given by a national testing company. The Building Codes Division (BCD) gives them on paper at local proctor sites: 52 questions in 3 hours, open book, with 75% to pass.
Your Letter of Authorization
Once BCD approves your application, it mails a Letter of Authorization. It names your proctor site and its contact details, and BCD says it comes with the list of approved materials. You call the site to schedule, and you must test within 60 days of the letter. Changing to a different site means paying again for a new letter, so pick the site you want when you apply.
Where you test
BCD's application lists proctor sites in Bend, Eugene, Hermiston, Klamath Falls, Ontario, Pendleton, Portland, Roseburg, Salem and White City. Most testing happens at community colleges.
What to bring
- Your code books and references from BCD's approved list: the NEC with Oregon amendments, the NEC Handbook, ORS chapter 479, OAR division 918, the American Electricians' Handbook, Ugly's Electrical References, the Electrical Black Book, Ferm's Fast Finder, Tom Henry's Key Word Index and the Briganti indexes.
- A silent, non-printing, non-programmable calculator.
- Pencils. The exam is a paper test packet.
Tabs, highlighting and short margin notes that cross-reference a code section or a state amendment are fine. Practice tests, class notes, worked calculations and extra pages taped or stapled into a book are not allowed.
Pacing
Three hours for 52 questions is about 3½ minutes a question. Answer the quick look-ups first, mark anything that needs several tables, and come back to it. Check Oregon's Table 1-E changes before you trust the national text on GFCI, AFCI, surge protection and service rules.
Results and retakes
The proctor sends your exam to BCD for grading, and your result comes by mail in about two weeks. If you fail, you get a report of your strong and weak areas. You may reapply at any time, but the retest must be at least 30 days after the failed exam. No limit on attempts is published.
Practice first
Our Oregon General Journeyman practice test is built on the 2026 NEC as Oregon amends it. For the content, see what is on the Journeyman exam.
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