Oregon Bond, Insurance & Exam Logistics
Beyond the exam, an Oregon contractor must post a CCB surety bond, carry liability insurance, and register the business. This chapter reviews the bond amounts, the insurance minimums, and the single open-book exam format.
The CCB surety bond
Every Oregon licensee must file a surety bond with the CCB, in an amount set by endorsement. A residential general contractor posts a $25,000 bond; a residential specialty contractor posts $15,000; residential limited and locksmith endorsements are lower; commercial endorsements have their own tiered amounts. The bond backs certain CCB claims by owners and other protected parties — it is not liability insurance, and it must stay in force for the life of the license.
General liability insurance
Oregon also requires each licensee to carry general liability insurance in an amount set by endorsement. A residential general contractor generally must carry at least $500,000 in liability coverage, with other endorsements set at their own minimums. The bond and the insurance serve different purposes: the bond satisfies certain CCB claims, while liability insurance covers property damage and injury the contractor causes.
The single open-book exam and applying to license
Remember Oregon's structure: one Laws and Business Practices exam, 80 scored questions, 180 minutes, open book, 70% to pass, and no separate trade exam. The 16-hour pre-license training must be completed first (unless waived by a passed NASCLA exam). After passing, the candidate has two years to complete the license application, which includes registering the business with the Secretary of State, posting the bond, and providing proof of insurance. Retakes of the exam are unlimited.