Oregon General Supervising Electrician

One paper exam of 64 questions in 4 hours, open book, in two sections: 52 code questions and 12 calculations. You need 75%; exam-prep providers report that each section is scored on its own. The calculations are where most of the extra time goes: load calculations, voltage drop, conductor and overcurrent sizing, and motors.

Four years of experience as a general journeyman electrician or its equivalent (ORS 479.630). A licensed journeyman documents 8,000 hours worked as a journeyman; without a journeyman license you need 8,000 hours of journeyman-qualifying experience plus 8,000 more at journeyman level (OAR 918-282-0140). Apply to BCD with the $100 application fee.

Only from Arkansas and Utah, under reciprocity agreements. You need a current, equivalent license earned by exam with 75% or better and 1,000 hours worked under it, and you cannot have failed the Oregon exam in the past two years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.