Oregon Contractor Licensing & the Single CCB Exam
Oregon licenses contractors through the Construction Contractors Board using a single business-and-law exam and no separate trade test. This chapter covers the CCB, ORS Chapter 701, the 16-hour pre-license training, the Responsible Managing Individual, and the endorsements.
The Construction Contractors Board and ORS Chapter 701
Contractors in Oregon are licensed by the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) under ORS Chapter 701. The CCB registers contractors, administers the exam, resolves consumer disputes, and enforces the licensing law statewide. A key feature of Oregon is that there is essentially no dollar threshold: with limited exceptions, anyone who works for compensation in construction, repair, or improvement of real property must hold a CCB license.
One exam, plus the 16-hour pre-license training
Oregon uses a single Laws and Business Practices examination — 80 scored questions, 180 minutes, open book, 70% to pass — and has NO separate trade or technical exam. Before testing, a candidate must complete a 16-hour pre-license training on Oregon contracting law and business practices. A candidate who has already passed the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor exam may skip the 16-hour training, but still must take and pass the Oregon exam. The exam is offered in English and Spanish, and retakes are unlimited.
The Responsible Managing Individual and endorsements
Each Oregon license is tied to a Responsible Managing Individual (RMI) — the owner or employee who completes the training, passes the exam, and is responsible for the business's construction work. Businesses register in the residential and/or commercial category and select an endorsement (for example residential general contractor, residential specialty contractor, commercial general contractor) that defines scope. The business entity must also be registered with the Oregon Secretary of State before the CCB license is issued, and a candidate who passes the exam has two years to apply for the license.