Overview
Oregon has one of the most detailed and rigorous electrical apprentice hour tracking systems in the United States. Administered by the Building Codes Division (BCD) under the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 576 hours of classroom instruction to qualify for a General Journeyman Electrician license. What sets Oregon apart is its requirement that apprentices gain experience across eight distinct work categories, each with both a minimum hour requirement and a maximum credit cap.
Oregon's category system is built around the "300% rule" — the maximum credit you can earn in any category is exactly three times (300%) the minimum required hours for that category. For example, Residential Wiring has a 1,000-hour minimum and a 3,000-hour maximum credit cap. Stock Room has a 100-hour minimum and a 300-hour cap. This consistent 3:1 ratio applies to all eight categories. The sum of all category minimums equals 4,000 hours, meaning you must earn at least that many hours in specific required areas, with the remaining 4,000 distributed across categories up to their individual caps.
This structure ensures that every licensed journeyman electrician in Oregon has genuinely broad experience. You cannot complete your apprenticeship doing only one or two types of work — every category must be addressed. The BCD enforces these requirements strictly, and applications that do not meet every category minimum will be returned. Oregon also requires paper submissions; the BCD does not accept electronic applications for apprenticeship certification.
Hour Categories & Requirements
Oregon requires 8,000 hours across 8 categories. Plus 576 hours of classroom instruction.
Stock Room
Material handling, inventory management, organizing electrical supplies, loading job trailers, and managing tool cribs. The smallest category with a 100-hour minimum and 300-hour cap. While it may seem minor, these hours are required and teach material identification and job organization skills.
Residential Wiring
Electrical installation in single-family homes, duplexes, and multi-family residential buildings. Covers Romex/NM cable, residential panels, lighting circuits, GFCI/AFCI protection, service entrance installations, and residential code compliance. One of the three largest categories with a 1,000-hour minimum.
Commercial Wiring
Installation of electrical systems in commercial buildings including offices, retail spaces, restaurants, hospitals, and public facilities. Includes conduit bending, wire pulling, panel installation, and commercial branch circuit wiring. Requires 1,000 hours minimum with a 3,000-hour cap.
Industrial Wiring
Electrical work in manufacturing plants, warehouses, and industrial facilities. Covers motor controls, three-phase power distribution, variable frequency drives, programmable logic controllers, and heavy equipment connections. The 1,000-hour minimum ensures meaningful industrial experience.
Signal & Control Systems
Installation of low-voltage signal, control, and communication systems. Includes fire alarm, security and access control, building automation, telecommunications, and nurse call systems. Requires 500 hours minimum with a 1,500-hour cap.
Underground Systems
Trenching, conduit installation, and wire pulling for underground electrical distribution. Covers duct banks, manholes, hand holes, direct-burial cable, and underground raceway systems. Minimum 100 hours required with a 300-hour cap.
Troubleshooting
Diagnosing and repairing electrical system faults using meters, testing equipment, schematics, and systematic troubleshooting methods. Applies across all types of electrical systems — residential, commercial, and industrial. Requires 250 hours minimum.
Finishing
Final connections and trim-out work including switches, receptacles, light fixtures, cover plates, breaker labeling, and final testing. The smallest cap at 150 hours. While finishing is often a brief phase, the 50-hour minimum ensures apprentices experience this critical final stage of electrical construction.
Application Process
- 1
Enroll in an Oregon BCD-approved electrical apprenticeship program. Register with the Apprenticeship and Training Division of the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI).
- 2
Complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training across all eight required categories. Track your hours by category from day one — you must meet the minimum requirement in every category.
- 3
Complete 576 hours of approved classroom instruction through your apprenticeship program. Classroom curriculum covers the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code, NEC, electrical theory, safety, and blueprint reading.
- 4
Verify that you have met the minimum hour requirement in each of the eight categories. Check your totals against the category minimums: Stock Room (100), Residential (1,000), Commercial (1,000), Industrial (1,000), Signal & Control (500), Underground (100), Troubleshooting (250), Finishing (50).
- 5
Obtain the experience verification forms from the Oregon Building Codes Division. These forms must be completed on paper — BCD does not accept electronic submissions.
- 6
Have your supervising journeyman electrician(s) sign the verification forms. Each period of work under a different supervisor requires separate verification.
- 7
Submit the completed paper forms along with your classroom completion certificates to the Building Codes Division.
- 8
Once BCD verifies your hours and classroom completion, you will receive authorization to take the General Journeyman Electrician examination.
- 9
Pass the exam and pay the license fee ($100). Your license is valid for three years.
Important Rules & Gotchas
Every category has a minimum: Unlike most states, Oregon requires hours in ALL eight categories. Missing even one category minimum means your application will be returned. Check your distribution regularly.
300% rule caps every category: The maximum credit in each category is exactly 3x the minimum. Once you hit a cap, additional hours in that category do not count toward your 8,000-hour total. For example, after 3,000 hours of residential work, further residential hours are wasted from a licensing perspective.
Paper-only submissions: Oregon BCD does not accept electronic forms or digital signatures. Plan ahead for paper documentation and original signatures.
Category minimums add up to 4,000: The sum of all category minimums (100+1000+1000+1000+500+100+250+50) equals exactly 4,000 hours. This means at least half your apprenticeship must be in specific required categories — you cannot fill up on just one or two types of work.
Finishing category has the tightest cap at 150 hours: While finishing work is important, it is capped at only 150 hours. Do not over-report hours in this category — hours beyond 150 are lost.
Industrial, commercial, and residential minimums are each 1,000 hours: These three major categories require substantial experience. If your employer specializes in only one area, you will need to seek assignments or employers that provide exposure to the other two.
Supervisor changes require separate verification forms: If you work under multiple journeymen, each must verify their supervisory period separately.
Classroom & Education Requirements
Oregon requires 576 hours of approved classroom instruction, typically completed through your apprenticeship program over the course of 4-5 years.
Classroom instruction must cover the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (which adopts the NEC with Oregon-specific amendments), electrical theory and calculations, AC/DC circuits, blueprint and schematic reading, electrical safety practices, and Oregon state electrical regulations and laws.
Most apprentices complete classroom hours through evening and weekend classes organized by their JATC or apprenticeship program. If you are in an employer-sponsored program, verify that your education provider is approved by the BCD.
The Oregon Electrical Specialty Code contains amendments to the NEC that are specific to Oregon. The journeyman exam tests on Oregon code, not just the national NEC, so classroom instruction covering Oregon-specific provisions is essential.
License Renewal & Continuing Education
Oregon General Journeyman Electrician licenses are valid for three years (triennial renewal). The renewal fee is $100.
You must complete 24 hours of approved continuing education (CE) during each three-year renewal cycle.
CE courses must be from providers approved by the Oregon Building Codes Division. Topics must include the Oregon Electrical Specialty Code, NEC updates, and electrical safety.
Oregon does not accept online CE courses unless they are specifically approved by BCD. Verify that your CE provider and course format are approved before enrolling.
If your license expires without renewal, you must stop performing electrical work. Reinstatement may require completing outstanding CE hours, paying late fees, and potentially re-examining.
Tips for Tracking Your Hours
Track by category from day one. Oregon's eight-category system with minimums in every category makes proactive tracking essential. Do not wait until the end of your apprenticeship to sort hours — by then it may be too late to fill gaps.
Monitor the 300% rule caps actively. WireHours shows when you are approaching a category cap so you can redirect your efforts to categories where hours still count.
Seek diverse work assignments. With 1,000-hour minimums in residential, commercial, and industrial, you need substantial exposure in all three. Talk to your employer or hall about rotating assignments.
Do not neglect small categories. Stock Room (100 hrs), Underground (100 hrs), and Finishing (50 hrs) have low minimums but they are still required. Missing any one of them will delay your application.
Complete troubleshooting hours intentionally. The 250-hour minimum in troubleshooting requires actively seeking diagnostic work, not just new installation. Ask to shadow experienced journeymen on service calls.
Use WireHours to see all eight category progress bars simultaneously. The app is designed for exactly this kind of multi-category tracking with both minimums and caps — you can see at a glance where you stand in every category.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hour categories does Oregon have for electrical apprentices?
Oregon has eight categories, all of which are required: Stock Room, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Signal & Control, Underground, Troubleshooting, and Finishing. Every category has both a minimum hour requirement and a maximum credit cap.
What is the Oregon 300% rule for electrical apprentice hours?
The 300% rule means the maximum credit you can earn in any category is exactly 3 times the minimum required hours. For example, Residential has a 1,000-hour minimum and a 3,000-hour cap. Stock Room has a 100-hour minimum and a 300-hour cap. This ratio applies consistently to all eight categories.
Can I submit my Oregon electrical apprentice hours electronically?
No. Oregon BCD requires paper submissions with original signatures. Electronic forms, digital signatures, and online submissions are not accepted for apprenticeship certification.
What are the minimum hours per category in Oregon?
Stock Room: 100, Residential: 1,000, Commercial: 1,000, Industrial: 1,000, Signal & Control: 500, Underground: 100, Troubleshooting: 250, Finishing: 50. The minimums add up to 4,000 of the 8,000 total hours required.
Built for Oregon's Requirements
WireHours tracks your hours against Oregon's exact categories, credit caps, and rules. See your progress in real time and never miss a requirement.
Start Tracking Free