Oregon Contractor License Exam Guide (2026)

How Oregon licenses contractors

The CCB licenses residential and commercial contractors plus limited specialty endorsements. Applicants must complete the state-approved training, pass the PSI Business & Law exam, register for Workers' Compensation, obtain a surety bond, and maintain liability insurance.

Coast Range contractors battle salt-laden winds and seismic uplift, while eastern crews build for 120-degree heat and snow on the Wallowas. Exams and coursework emphasize moisture control, energy code, and wildfire defensible space.

Official source: Oregon Construction Contractors Board

Oregon contractor license types

Bond and insurance amounts vary by endorsement ($10k-$75k bonds, $300k-$500k liability). Commercial endorsements require higher net worth and key employee verification.

What's on the Oregon contractor exam

PSI operates centers in Portland, Eugene, Medford, Bend, and through remote proctoring.

What Oregon exam questions emphasize

• Oregon Contractor Law and Business Reference Manual
• Moisture management, rainscreens, and coastal corrosion
• Energy code (Oregon Residential Specialty Code/Commercial Energy Code)
• Workers' Compensation, lien law, and consumer protection statutes

Exam-day logistics

• Bring two IDs and the PSI approval letter
• Open-book exam allows the Oregon Contractor Reference Manual with tabs
• Scores upload to CCB within 24 hours so you can finalize bonding and insurance

Trade-specific exam guides

If you're licensing in a single trade rather than the Oregon general contractor classification, the dedicated trade hub will get you to the right code book and exam structure faster.

• General contractor exam guide — IBC/IRC, NASCLA acceptance, and Business & Law.
• Electrical contractor exam guide — NEC (NFPA 70) calculations and grounding/bonding.
• Plumbing contractor exam guide — IPC/UPC drainage sizing, venting, and backflow.
• HVAC contractor exam guide — IMC ventilation, refrigerant management, and load calcs.

Oregon code books & approved references (2026)

Always confirm the exact editions and tab rules in your candidate bulletin before exam day. Editions can change between license cycles.

• Oregon Contractor Reference Manual
• Oregon Residential Specialty Code
• Oregon Structural and Energy Codes
• ORS 701 and 87 (liens)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926

Fees & timeline for the Oregon contractor license

• $375 two-year CCB license fee
• $60 PSI exam fee
• $10k-$75k surety bond depending on endorsement
• $300k-$500k liability insurance minimums
• Workers' Compensation premiums if you have employees

Use the All States hub for budgeting; confirm current fees with CCB.

Oregon Business & Law focus

The PSI exam covers licensing law, bonds, insurance, lien rules, estimating, safety, and accounting.

• Memorize ORS 701 licensing requirements and penalties
• Understand lien timelines (75-day notice) and release procedures
• Register with the Department of Revenue and Department of Justice (for collections)
• Maintain OSHA safety plans for wet-weather work and wildfire mobilization

Practice with our national Business & Law exam hub for cross-state baseline rules.

A focused 4-week study plan for the Oregon exam

Because coast Range contractors battle salt-laden winds and seismic uplift, while eastern crews build for 120-degree heat and snow on the Wallowas, this four-week outline targets what Oregon field inspectors and your licensing board exam items actually test—not generic national prep.

1. Week 1 — Map the exam. Pull your current candidate bulletin, list every reference, and confirm the modules you have to pass. Start a one-page error log. Spend extra time on: Oregon Contractor Law and Business Reference Manual.
2. Week 2 — Code book navigation. Drill open-book lookups (or memorisation drills if your module is closed-book) until you can find any answer in under 60 seconds. Anchor practice around: Moisture management, rainscreens, and coastal corrosion.
3. Week 3 — Business & Law. The PSI exam covers licensing law, bonds, insurance, lien rules, estimating, safety, and accounting. Layer in scenario-based questions on contracts, lien notice, payroll, and insurance.
4. Week 4 — Full simulations. PSI operates centers in Portland, Eugene, Medford, Bend, and through remote proctoring. Run two full-length timed simulations. Review every miss with a one-sentence rule statement.