Oregon Electrician License for IBEW Travelers: General Journeyman (J) Reciprocity, Exam & Work Guide (2026)

Posted on GoHereBro.com | For IBEW Travelers

Local 48 work around Portland looks good on a map, including calls that report in Vancouver, Washington. Oregon will still stop you at the hall if you show up with only a yellow ticket.

Your IBEW journeyman card is not an Oregon electrician license. ORS 479.620 says you may not make an electrical installation without a supervising or journeyman electrician license. IBEW Local 48 puts it in dispatch terms: inside wireman calls require a state electrical license at referral, except tool-support or project-manager/estimator calls.

The card you want is the Building Codes Division General Journeyman Electrician (J) license. That is what people mean by "Oregon electrician license" or "Oregon journeyman electrician license." Below is the seven-state reciprocity path, the exam path, the fees, and how the four Oregon IBEW locals GoHereBro tracks actually dispatch. Live openings sit on the map and the Hot Spots dashboard.

TL;DR

Download Form 440-2570 for Oregon's General Journeyman Electrician (J) exam path, or the reciprocal application if you already hold a J from Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming. The application is $100, nonrefundable. ORS 479.620 requires that state license. A contractor license does not cover the person on the tools.

1. Reciprocity is those seven states. Washington applicants have extra apprenticeship rules. California, Texas, and most other states sit the exam.
2. The exam is 52 questions, 3 hours, open book, 75 percent to pass. BCD mails an authorization letter. You schedule the test site yourself.
3. Travelers sign Book 2 at Local 48 Portland, Local 280 Salem, Local 659 Medford/Central Point, or Local 932 Coos Bay.
4. Many Local 48 inside calls ask for Oregon and Washington cards because the hall covers both sides of the Columbia. Read the Washington electrician license guide before you count on those jobs.

Contacts, fees, and the usual failure

Oregon Building Codes Division sits under the Department of Consumer and Business Services. Licensing is 503-373-1268. Main line 503-378-4133. Toll-free 800-442-7457. Fax 503-378-2322. Email [email protected]. Start at the electrical individual license page.

Mail the packet to DCBS Fiscal Services, P.O. Box 14610, Salem, OR 97309-0445. Do not email it. BCD says incomplete applications delay review, and fees are not refunded.

The faster path is a current J-equivalent license from a reciprocal state, earned by exam, with at least 1,000 hours under that license and no Oregon exam failure in the last two years. That application is also $100.

Everyone else uses an Oregon-approved apprenticeship, or 8,000 out-of-state hours plus 576 classroom hours, or 16,000 out-of-state hours. Residential, commercial, and industrial each have minimums. The 300 percent rule caps credit in any one category.

The J renews every three years on October 1 for $100. Continuing education is 24 hours: 4 Oregon Rule and Law, 8 code change, 12 code related.

The usual miss is driving to Local 48, signing Book 2, and expecting dispatch on a home-local ticket from a state that does not license individuals.

The J license, and the cards that do not replace it

Oregon licenses the person. For an IBEW inside wireman on commercial and industrial construction, the target is the General Journeyman Electrician (J): make any electrical installation under the supervision, direction, and control of a general supervising electrician, unless the work can be directed by a limited supervising electrician or needs no supervision. That is OAR 918-282-0170.

Other cards show up in BCD paperwork. None of them replace a J for normal inside construction.

A J still works under a general supervising electrician on most construction. That is the contractor's S, not a second card you bring from home.

Oregon electrician license reciprocity

BCD publishes the live list on its reciprocal licenses page. For General Journeyman Electrician (J):

• Arkansas
• Idaho
• Maine
• Montana
• Utah
• Washington
• Wyoming

Applicants must have qualified for the out-of-state exam through four years of electrical apprenticeship vocational education (576 classroom hours minimum) and four years / 8,000 hours under a licensed journeyman.

OAR 918-030-0045 adds the transfer rules:

• The out-of-state license is current and active, with no violations or conditions in the past three years.
• You passed that state's exam. The general rule is 75 percent or better, unless the written reciprocal agreement sets a different minimum.
• You worked at least six months / 1,000 hours under that license.
• You have not failed the Oregon exam for that license type in the past two years.

Washington applicants have an extra gate. BCD's reciprocal page says they must have completed an apprenticeship in Oregon or Washington and passed the Washington licensing exam. The Oregon-Washington agreement (signed 13 Aug 2020) also requires the 8,000-hour / 576-hour apprenticeship path and a passing score from the state that gave the exam. A Washington 01 that did not come through that apprenticeship route is not a clean transfer. Holders of an Oregon S or Washington master 01 who meet the agreement's standing rules are treated as meeting the experience and education piece.

General Supervising Electrician (S) reciprocity is narrower. BCD's reciprocal application lists Arkansas and Utah for S. A state on the J list does not automatically transfer an S.

What does not transfer

• California General Electrician Certification
• Texas TDLR journeyman
• An IBEW/NJATC completion certificate by itself
• A municipal or county card from a state that is not on BCD's J list
• A license obtained without examination, if the agreement requires an exam

Use BCD's page. Third-party lists run long.

Reciprocal application packet

Use the Reciprocal Electrical License Application ($100, nonrefundable). Include:

1. A 2-by-2-inch passport-style photo
2. A copy of your active license from the reciprocal state, including any violations in the past three years
3. The license verification form filled out by that state's agency
4. An affidavit of at least 1,000 hours worked under that license

BCD's license directory lists 2 to 3 weeks to process a complete application. Oregon verification sent the other direction (when you use an Oregon license to get a Washington 01) currently takes 4 to 6 weeks per BCD.

Oregon electrician license exam

If you are not coming from a reciprocal state, you apply on Form 440-2570, get approved, then test.

How you qualify

From the Oregon license directory and application instructions, one of:

1. Completion of an approved apprenticeship in Oregon, or
2. Official transcripts for 576 hours of classroom training plus 8,000 hours of out-of-state on-the-job experience, with at least 1,000 hours each in residential, commercial, and industrial (300 percent rule applies), or
3. 16,000 hours of out-of-state on-the-job experience, with at least 2,000 hours each in residential, commercial, and industrial (300 percent rule applies)

The 300 percent rule: if a category requires 1,000 hours, BCD will not credit more than 3,000 hours in that category. OAR 918-030-0030(4) also limits experience credit to 2,000 hours per year. If you do not have the related training classes, OAR 918-030-0030(2) lets you submit twice the required work experience instead.

OAR 918-282-0170 lists the subject hours BCD wants to see on equivalent applications: stock room, residential, commercial, industrial, signal and control, underground, troubleshooting, fixture hanging. Total electrical work experience still has to reach 8,000 hours.

Related classroom subjects on that rule include electrical math, code introduction, AC/DC theory, wiring methods, motors and transformers, and high-voltage distribution. Passing grades are C or better in graded classes, pass in non-graded classes.

Exam facts BCD publishes

BCD does not publish a traveler-facing breakdown of how many questions are NEC versus Oregon rule. Use the approved-materials list in the authorization letter. Do not assume Washington's PSI 01 outline.

Exam-path packet

Application instructions want all of this in one packet:

• Form 440-2570, affidavit signed
• Electrical Experience Verification Form 440-2570A, one per employer. Self-verification is not accepted. Employer first, then supervisor, then a co-worker with supporting records
• Apprenticeship completion, or official classroom transcripts
• High school diploma, GED, or a college degree in place of those
• 2-inch by 2-inch passport-style photo, name on the back, do not staple
• $100 fee, check or money order to the Department of Consumer and Business Services, or the credit-card box. No cash. Secure fax for cards: 503-947-2333

Office: 1535 Edgewater Street NW, Salem, OR 97304. Hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Fees

How to get an Oregon electrician license as an IBEW journeyman

Path A: you hold a reciprocal-state J (or qualifying WA 01)

1. Confirm your state is on BCD's J list and that you earned the license by exam through an 8,000-hour / 576-hour apprenticeship.
2. If you are a Washington 01, confirm the Oregon-or-Washington apprenticeship rule before you pay the fee.
3. Collect 1,000 hours under that license, a verification letter from the other board, and a 2-by-2 photo.
4. File the reciprocal application and $100. Do not email it.
5. When the J card arrives, sign Book 2. For Local 48 Portland/Vancouver calls, you may still need a Washington 01.

Path B: no reciprocal license (California, Texas, New York, Illinois, most of the country)

1. Call 503-373-1268 and ask how they want your hours documented. Bring an IBEW apprenticeship completion certificate; it is evidence, not a license.
2. Have each employer complete Form 440-2570A. Do not write your own hours.
3. Mail Form 440-2570, photo, diploma or GED, transcripts or the 16,000-hour package, and $100.
4. Wait for the authorization letter (directory: 2 to 3 weeks if the file is complete).
5. Schedule and pass the 52-question exam at 75 percent.
6. Wait up to two weeks for results and the photo ID card.
7. Then sign Book 2.

Oregon does not publish a Washington-style electrical trainee card for out-of-state JWs. Until you hold a J, you are not authorized to make installations, so finish the paperwork before you relocate.

Oregon IBEW locals

GoHereBro tracks 300 IBEW locals. Four of them sit in Oregon. Scale figures below are the live local-page numbers unless a hall wage sheet is cited.

Local 48, Portland

• Hall: 15937 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230
• Member services: 503-256-4848 (Portland), 360-892-0171 (Vancouver)
• Dispatch: 503-251-8689, [email protected]
• Job hotlines: 503-251-9134 (Oregon), 360-892-0171 x301 (Washington)
• Hours: Dispatch 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Doors open 8:30 a.m. for sign-ins until 9:00 a.m. Dispatch starts about 9:05 a.m.
• Scale: Local 48's 2026 commercial-industrial JW sheet lists $65.50 per hour gross, $33.24 employer fringes, $2.95 dues, $95.79 package.
• License at the window: The dispatcher's report says you will prove the required license or skill before a referral is issued. Inside wireman calls need a state electrical license except tool support or PM/estimator calls. Current calls on that board often list Oregon and Washington licenses together.
• Re-sign: All books, re-sign in less than one year after the last signing (material handlers: six months).
• Site: ibew48.com

Local 280, Salem

• Scale on GoHereBro: $57.65 per hour
• Recent hall notes on our local page pointed travelers at hotline 800-947-3280, 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., and told them to verify dues before calling. Confirm hours with the hall before you drive.
• Local page: /local/280

Local 659, Medford / Central Point

• Hall: 4480 Rogue Valley Hwy, Suite 3, Central Point, OR 97502
• Phone: 541-664-0800. The hall asks travelers to call the dispatcher between 1 and 5 p.m. before traveling in.
• Inside hotline: 541-664-0802, option 8
• Email: [email protected]
• Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m.
• Signing: In-person book signing is required. The hall's 2026 member packet also requires an annual in-person re-sign and a monthly re-sign during the week that contains the second Wednesday.
• Bring: current dues receipt, letter of introduction from your home local, photo ID, and any trade certs they list (First Aid/CPR, CDL, and so on).
• Scale on GoHereBro: $47.04 per hour
• Site: ibew659.org

Local 932, Coos Bay

Coast local. Our snapshot on 20 Sep 2026 showed no open calls and no posted scale. Call the hall before you relocate for 932 work. Local page: /local/932

Most Oregon halls want a travel letter, current dues receipt, government photo ID, Oregon J (and Washington 01 if the call lists it), OSHA 10/30, drug card where posted, and a termination slip when re-signing.

Oregon vs Washington

Travelers mix these two systems up. Both states require an individual credential and use 8,000-hour apprenticeships plus exams. The cards are not interchangeable.

An Oregon J does not authorize Washington work. Reciprocate first. The walkthrough is in the Washington electrician license guide.

Common traveler mistakes

• Treating the IBEW card as the Oregon license.
• Trusting a reciprocity blog that is longer than BCD's seven-state J list.
• Signing Local 48 Book 2 for a Portland/Vancouver call that lists both licenses, then discovering the Washington 01 is still in process.
• Emailing the application. BCD says not to.
• Self-verifying hours. The form will not take it.
• Showing up at Local 659 without calling 541-664-0800 first, or missing the in-person annual signing.
• Counting on a trainee workaround. Oregon has not published a Washington-style trainee card for out-of-state JWs.

FAQ

Does Oregon have a journeyman electrician license?

Yes. Oregon BCD issues a General Journeyman Electrician (J) license. That is the statewide journeyman credential for inside construction.

How do I get an Oregon electrician license as an IBEW journeyman?

If you hold a qualifying license from Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming, use the $100 reciprocal application. Washington 01 holders also have to meet the Oregon-or-Washington apprenticeship rule. Everyone else documents hours on Form 440-2570, passes the 52-question exam at 75 percent, and waits for the photo ID card.

How much does an Oregon electrician license cost?

BCD charges $100 to apply, exam path or reciprocal. Renewal is $100 every three years. A duplicate card is $10. Test sites may charge their own seating fee; that amount is not on the J directory page.

Does Oregon reciprocate electrician licenses from other states?

For the J license: Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The license has to be current, earned by exam, and backed by 1,000 hours under that card. S reciprocity is a shorter list (Arkansas and Utah on the reciprocal form). California and Texas do not transfer.

Do I need an Oregon electrician license to work IBEW in Portland?

Yes, for inside wireman calls. Local 48 requires proof of the state electrical license when you pick up the referral. Calls that report in Washington also commonly require the L&I 01.

Does Oregon accept California electrician certification?

No. California is not on BCD's reciprocal J list. California cert holders use the out-of-state hour and exam path.

Can I work in Oregon while my application is pending?

Not as a journeyman installer. ORS 479.620 prohibits making electrical installations without a supervising or journeyman license. Oregon has not published a trainee-card substitute for out-of-state JWs.

How long does it take?

BCD lists 2 to 3 weeks to process a complete application. Reciprocal files that only need verification can land in that window. Exam-path applicants then add scheduling, the test, and up to two weeks for mailed results. Budget extra time if your hours need a lot of employer forms.

What score do I need on the Oregon electrician exam?

75 percent. That is the passing score BCD lists for licensing exams.

Which NEC edition does Oregon test?

BCD's J directory page does not name the code cycle. The authorization letter lists approved books. Use that list. Oregon also maintains an Electrical Specialty Code; do not assume Washington's 2023 NEC PSI outline.

How often do I renew, and what CE is required?

The J license renews every three years on October 1 for $100. CE is 24 hours: 4 Oregon Rule and Law, 8 code change, 12 code related. Credits have to be in BCD's system before you renew. If the license expires, you cannot work on it until renewal and CE are finished.

What is the 300 percent rule?

BCD will not credit more than three times the minimum hours in a single work category. A 1,000-hour residential minimum means 3,000 hours is the most that category can contribute.

Do I need both Oregon and Washington licenses for Local 48?

For calls that stay on the Oregon side, the J is the license Local 48 enforces. For Portland/Vancouver metro calls the hall has been posting, both cards are often listed. Get the Oregon J first, then the Washington 01 if the jobs you want cross the river.

Official sources

• BCD electrical individual license
• BCD reciprocal licenses
• BCD license exams
• BCD electrical continuing education
• Oregon license directory, General Journeyman (J)
• Form 440-2570, Electrical License Application
• Form 440-2570i, application instructions
• Form 4794e, Reciprocal Electrical License Application
• ORS 479.620
• OAR 918-282-0170
• OAR 918-030-0045
• Oregon-Washington reciprocal agreement
• Local 48 dispatcher's report
• Local 48 2026 wages
• Local 659 dispatch

Live Oregon openings: map, Hot Spots, Local 48, Local 280, Local 659, Local 932.

Facts in this article were checked against live BCD, ORS/OAR, and hall pages on 20 Sep 2026. Fees, exam materials, reciprocal lists, and dispatch rules change. Confirm with BCD at 503-373-1268 and with the hall before you travel.