Oregon General Journeyman Electrician
Practice the Oregon General Journeyman Electrician exam — 52 questions on the 2026 NEC, in the same format and time limit, with every answer explained and cited.
One exam, 52 questions
You need 75% (39 of 52). Oregon publishes no outline for its electrician exams, so these area counts are our own blueprint: the NEC’s chapter structure, plus questions on Oregon’s Table 1-E amendments and licensing law, which are on BCD’s approved reference list.
General Journeyman (J) exam
52 scored · 180 min- Branch Circuits, Feeders, Services and Overcurrent Protection10
- Wiring Methods and Materials8
- Equipment for General Use, Motors and Transformers8
- Grounding and Bonding6
- Special Occupancies, Equipment and Conditions6
- Oregon Amendments and Licensing Law6
- General Requirements and Definitions5
- Limited Energy and Communications Systems3
About the Oregon General Journeyman Electrician
Granted by Oregon Building Codes Division — Electrical and Elevator Board
Oregon Building Codes Division General Journeyman Electrician (J) exam: 52 open-book questions in 3 hours, 75% to pass. Questions follow the 2026 Oregon Electrical Specialty Code: the 2026 NEC with Oregon's Table 1-E amendments.
Eligibility Requirements
At least 8,000 hours of electrical work experience, through a board-approved apprenticeship or equivalent experience with minimum hours in set work categories, plus related-training classes passed with a C or better (OAR 918-282-0170).
On the 2026 NEC, as Oregon amends it
Oregon’s 2026 Electrical Specialty Code is the 2026 NEC with the changes in Table 1-E, in force since October 1, 2026. The Building Codes Division planned to move its exam bank to the 2026 code by then, including the supervisor test. Where Oregon changes a rule, our questions follow the Oregon rule, not the national text. Some of the differences:
| Topic | 2026 NEC (national) | Oregon (2026 OESC) |
|---|---|---|
| Dwelling GFCI receptacles covered210.8(A) | Receptacles 125 through 250 volts | 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles only |
| Dwelling basements (GFCI)210.8(A)(6) | All basements | Unfinished portions not intended as habitable rooms |
| Dwelling kitchens (GFCI)210.8(A)(7) | All kitchen receptacles | Receptacles serving the countertop surfaces |
| Areas with sinks and food or beverage preparation (GFCI)210.8(A)(8) | GFCI required | Not adopted in Oregon |
| AFCI where nuisance tripping occurs210.12 | No exception | Exception for a separate circuit to optional, dedicated receptacle outlets |
| Surge protection on feeders and services215.18, 230.67 | Required | Not adopted until October 1, 2027 |
| Emergency disconnect, outside feeders to dwellings225.41 | Required | Not adopted in Oregon |
| Existing metal water pipe at a service upgrade250.52(B) | No added condition | Usable as an electrode only if verified suitable, and bonded to the new system |
What's Included
Every plan gets the same full-access study library.
Scheduling & Fees
Where to take it
- Administered by
- Oregon Building Codes Division
- Phone
- 503-373-1268
- Scheduling window
- BCD mails a Letter of Authorization naming your proctor site; you schedule with that site and must test within 60 days of the letter.
- Reschedule policy
- You schedule directly with the proctor site named in your letter. Moving to a different site means paying the fee again for a new letter.
- Retake policy
- You need 75%. You may reapply at any time after a failed exam, but the retest must be at least 30 days after the failed one (OAR 918-030-0060). No limit on attempts is published.
Fees
- Application fee, including the exam (nonrefundable)
- $100
Keeping Your Certification Active
Renewal requirements
- Cycle
- Every three years
- Continuing education
- 24 hours — 24 hours of approved continuing education each three-year cycle, including code-change hours (8 for journeymen, 12 for supervisors) and a 4-hour Oregon rule and law course required under BCD’s rules (OAR 918-030-0120). New licensees need less in their first, shorter cycle.
Reciprocity
Oregon reciprocates general journeyman licenses with Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. You need a current license earned by exam, four years of apprenticeship schooling and 8,000 hours, and 1,000 hours worked under the license; Washington applicants must have completed an apprenticeship in Oregon or Washington. A failed Oregon exam in the past two years bars reciprocity.
Sources: Oregon BCD: taking an exam · Oregon BCD: electrical license exam guidelines (approved materials, rev. September 2026) · Oregon BCD: reciprocal licenses · ORS chapter 479 (Electrical Safety Law) · OAR 918-030 and 918-282 (licensing, examinations, continuing education)
Frequently asked questions
How is the Oregon General Journeyman exam structured?+
One paper exam of 52 questions in 3 hours, open book, and you need 75%. BCD does not publish how many questions come from each area. Expect code look-ups across the NEC, plus Oregon’s amendments and licensing rules.
What do I need before I can sit the exam?+
At least 8,000 hours of electrical work experience, through a board-approved apprenticeship or equivalent experience with minimum hours in set work categories, plus related-training classes passed with a C or better (OAR 918-282-0170). Apply to BCD with the $100 application fee.
Does Oregon accept a journeyman license from another state?+
Yes, from Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, under reciprocity agreements. You need a current license earned by exam, four years of apprenticeship schooling and 8,000 hours, and 1,000 hours worked under that license. Washington applicants must have completed an apprenticeship in Oregon or Washington.
Which code edition is the exam on?+
The 2026 Oregon Electrical Specialty Code: the 2026 NEC with Oregon’s Table 1-E amendments, in force since October 1, 2026. The electrical program chief told the Board in September 2026 that the exam bank would be ready to switch to the 2026 material by October 1, including the supervisor test. BCD’s candidate documents do not print an edition year, so check your Letter of Authorization.
Is it open book? What can I bring?+
Yes. BCD’s approved list includes 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, the Briganti indexes and a silent, non-programmable calculator. Tabs, highlighting and short margin notes are allowed; practice tests, class notes and worked calculations are not.
Who gives the exam?+
The Electrical and Elevator Board writes it and the Building Codes Division gives it. It is not a PSI exam. After BCD approves your application it mails a Letter of Authorization naming a proctor site, often a community college; you call that site to schedule, and you must test within 60 days. The exam is on paper, and results come by mail in about two weeks.
What score do I need, and can I retake it?+
You need 75% (OAR 918-030-0020). If you fail, you may reapply at any time, but the retest must be at least 30 days after the failed exam (OAR 918-030-0060). No limit on attempts is published. A failed exam also keeps you from reciprocating into Oregon for two years.
Does Oregon publish a content outline?+
No. BCD publishes no blueprint, item counts or percentages for any electrical exam. The topic weights in our practice exams are our own, built from the NEC’s chapter structure and Oregon’s amendments and licensing law.
How often do I renew?+
Every three years. Journeyman and supervising electricians need 24 hours of approved continuing education each cycle, including code-change hours (8 for journeymen, 12 for supervisors) and a 4-hour Oregon rule and law course required under BCD’s rules (OAR 918-030-0120). New licensees need less in their first, shorter cycle.
Ready to pass your exam?
Practice the full exam on the current code, with every calculation worked out.
Start Studying Today →