Electrician Classes in Oregon (Top Schools)

Job Outlook

More and more people are moving to Portland and many older buildings receive new residents, though new ones are also being constructed.

The demand for skilled workers is on the rise, and the State of Oregon Employment Department foresees that by 2024, electricians will have 16%more jobs available.

As an electrician in the State of Oregon, expect to be paid $47,759 per year, though the salary can reach $54,421 annually.

These salaries are at about the same level as the national ones, where the median one is $47,951 per year, and the highest $54,640 per year.

Becoming an Electrician

There are more stages to becoming an electrician in Oregon:

• Complete your apprenticeship
• Pass the journeyman examination
• Become a supervising electrician
• Become an independent electrical contractor

What you should know is that in Oregon, you get a non-contracting license from Building Codes Division while for the contracting license you have to go to the Construction Contractors Board.

Apprenticeship

In Oregon, the apprenticeship period lasts for at least 4 years.

However, you can get different types of licenses for the electrical trade and each of them has different requirements when it comes to experience.

Electrical specialties in Oregon:

• Limited Energy Tech (A, B)
• Limited Residential Electrician
• Inside Electrician
• Limited Renewable Energy Electrician

In any case, to be eligible to take the journeyman exam, you’ll have to complete one of the following:

• Enroll in and complete an approved apprenticeship program; OR
• Complete 576 hours of classroom and lab education, along with verified 8,000 hours of work experience, outside of Oregon, accumulated as follows:
  • 1,000-3,000 hours residential
  • 1,000-3,000 hours commercial
  • 1,000-3,000 hours industrial
• OR 16,000 hours of work experience outside of Oregon, as follows:
  • 2,000-6,000 hours residential
  • 2,000-6,000 hours commercial
  • 2,000-6,000 hours industrial

Remember that the apprenticeship period incorporates both classroom education and hands-on work experience.

Pass the Journeyman Exam

Once the first stage is done, you can become a General Journeyman (J) license, but have to work under an electrical contractor or supervising electrician.

However, if your apprenticeship was focused more on a specific aspect of the trade, you might want to get one of the following certifications:

• Limited journeyman manufacturing plant (PJ)
• Limited energy technician Class A (LEA)
• Limited energy technician Class B (LEB)
• Limited maintenance electrician (LME)
• Limited residential electrician (LR)
• Limited journeyman sign electrician (SIG)
• Limited journeyman stage electrician (ST)
• Limited building maintenance electrician (BME)
• Limited renewable energy technician (LRT)
• Ltd. maintenance manufactured structures (LMM)

These licenses limit you to perform the work for which they’re issued, while the General Journeyman doesn’t have these limitations.

You’ll first have to fill in an application and you’ll receive instructions on how to prepare for the license you want to obtain.

The exam is open-book and to pass, you have to score at least 75%.

The license must be renewed every 3 years, and the Building Codes Division will send you a reminder with at least 30 days before the deadline.

Become a Supervising Electrician

You can become a general supervising electrician after 4 years working as a journeyman and only if you pass the exam.

This position comes with the responsibility of pulling permits from the city for the electrical contractor you work for.

You first fill out the application, then you’ll receive instructions on how to proceed.

You renew your license every 3 years, though you’ll have to continue your education by making sure you’re up to date with the changes to the Code.

Don’t worry about forgetting when you’re supposed to renew the license: the Building Codes Division will remind you about it at least 30 days before the due date.

Become an Independent Electrical Contractor

If you have this license, you can run your own business and hire other electricians.

The license is issued by the Construction Contractor’s Board (CCB), and their website has detailed instructions on how to obtain it.

Steps:

• Decide the types of buildings you’ll be working on, as they will determine your type of license, according to this chart 
• Complete your pre-exam training and take the exam.
• File for your business name.
• Submit the bond to the CCB after you consult this page to see your bond and get the right applications.
• Submit proof of your general liability insurance and worker’s compensation.
• Fill out:
  • the residential contractor application,
  • the commercial contractor application, or the dual contractor application, based on the type of buildings you’ll be working on.

Your license must ve renewed every 2 years, and you can use this online form for the purpose.

Electrician Schools by City

• Portland