Oregon Contractor License Exam — All Questions
422 questions
Which body licenses and regulates contractors in Oregon?
- a.The Oregon Building Codes Division
- b.Each county's building department, with no statewide board
- c.The Construction Contractors Board (CCB)✓
- d.The Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon licenses contractors through the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) under ORS Chapter 701. The CCB registers contractors, administers the exam, and resolves consumer disputes statewide. (The business entity is separately registered with the Secretary of State.)ORS Ch. 701
How is the Oregon contractor licensing examination structured?
- a.A single open-book Laws and Business Practices exam, 80 scored questions, 180 minutes, 70% to pass, with no separate trade exam✓
- b.A trade exam only, with no business or law content
- c.An oral interview before the board
- d.A closed-book business exam plus a separate closed-book trade exam
Oregon uses a single Laws and Business Practices exam — 80 scored questions, 180 minutes, open book, 70% to pass — and has no separate trade or technical examination. This is different from states that split business/law and trade testing.CCB examination structure
What training must an Oregon candidate generally complete before taking the CCB exam?
- a.A 16-hour pre-license training on Oregon contracting law and business practices✓
- b.No training of any kind is required
- c.A four-year apprenticeship
- d.A 60-hour trade course
Oregon requires a 16-hour pre-license training covering Oregon contracting law and business practices before a candidate takes the CCB exam. A candidate who has already passed the NASCLA exam may skip the training but still must take the Oregon exam.ORS Ch. 701; CCB pre-license training
A candidate has passed the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Contractor exam. How does that affect Oregon's licensing steps?
- a.It fully licenses the candidate in Oregon with no further steps
- b.It waives the Oregon exam but requires the 16-hour training
- c.It waives the 16-hour pre-license training, but the candidate must still take and pass the Oregon exam✓
- d.It has no effect at all in Oregon
In Oregon, passing the NASCLA exam lets a candidate skip the 16-hour pre-license training, but the candidate must still take and pass Oregon's single Laws and Business Practices exam. NASCLA does not by itself grant an Oregon license.CCB policy on NASCLA holders
A person wants to do a small $800 paid repair job on someone else's house in Oregon. What does ORS Chapter 701 generally require?
- a.A CCB license, because Oregon requires licensing for construction work for compensation with only limited exceptions✓
- b.A federal contractor registration
- c.Nothing, because Oregon exempts jobs under $2,500
- d.Only a county handyman permit
Oregon has essentially no dollar threshold: with limited exceptions, anyone who performs construction, repair, or improvement work on real property for compensation must hold a CCB license. Even small paid jobs generally require a license.ORS Ch. 701 (licensing threshold)
In Oregon, the owner or employee who completes the training, passes the exam, and is responsible for the business's construction work is called the:
- a.Bond underwriter
- b.Registered design professional
- c.Responsible Managing Individual (RMI)✓
- d.County competency cardholder
Each Oregon license is tied to a Responsible Managing Individual (RMI), the owner or employee who completes the pre-license training, passes the exam, and is responsible for the business's construction operations.ORS Ch. 701 (Responsible Managing Individual)
When registering with the CCB, an Oregon contracting business must select which of the following?
- a.An OSHA trade certificate in place of a CCB license
- b.A single nationwide contractor number
- c.A county-by-county competency card
- d.A residential and/or commercial endorsement that defines the scope of work✓
Oregon businesses register in the residential and/or commercial category and select an endorsement (such as residential general contractor, residential specialty contractor, or commercial general contractor) that defines the scope of work the license authorizes.CCB endorsements
After passing the Oregon CCB exam, how long does a candidate generally have to apply for the license?
- a.Six months
- b.30 days
- c.The application must be filed the same day
- d.Two years✓
A candidate who passes the Oregon exam generally has two years to complete the license application, which includes registering the business with the Secretary of State, posting the CCB bond, and providing proof of liability insurance. Retakes of the exam are unlimited.CCB application window
Before the CCB will issue a license, what must an Oregon contracting business also do?
- a.Obtain a NASCLA certificate
- b.Post a $100,000 cash deposit with the county
- c.Nothing else; the CCB handles all registration
- d.Register the business entity with the Oregon Secretary of State✓
An Oregon contracting business must be registered with the Oregon Secretary of State (for example as an LLC or corporation, or an assumed business name) before the CCB will issue the license. The CCB registration and the entity registration are separate steps.ORS Ch. 701; Secretary of State registration
A person does construction work in Oregon while not licensed with the CCB, then tries to enforce payment. Under ORS 701.131, what generally happens?
- a.The person may sue and file a lien with no restriction
- b.The owner must pay double the contract price
- c.The person generally cannot file a construction lien, sue to collect, or file a CCB claim for the work✓
- d.The person may file a lien but not sue
ORS 701.131 generally bars a contractor who was unlicensed when the work was done from filing a construction lien, suing to collect compensation, or filing a CCB claim. Being licensed before contracting is essential to preserving payment rights in Oregon.ORS 701.131
What must a licensed Oregon contractor include in its advertising?
- a.Its CCB license number, so consumers can verify registration✓
- b.A notarized copy of its bond
- c.The homeowner's Social Security number
- d.Nothing beyond a phone number
Under ORS 701.305, a licensed Oregon contractor must include its CCB license number in advertising. This lets consumers confirm the contractor is registered and helps the CCB identify unlicensed operators who advertise without a number.ORS 701.305
Under Oregon's construction lien law (ORS Chapter 87), within what time must a claimant generally file (perfect) the claim of lien?
- a.Within 10 days after the contract is signed
- b.Within 30 days after starting work
- c.Within one year after completion
- d.Within 75 days after the claimant ceases to provide labor or materials, or after completion, whichever is earlier✓
Oregon requires a lien claimant to file the claim of lien within 75 days after the claimant ceases to provide labor, rent, or materials, or within 75 days after completion of construction, whichever is earlier (ORS Chapter 87). Missing this short window defeats the lien.ORS Ch. 87 (construction liens)
After recording a construction lien in Oregon, within what time must the claimant begin a suit to foreclose the lien?
- a.Within 120 days✓
- b.Within 30 days
- c.There is no deadline
- d.Within five years
Oregon requires the claimant to begin a suit to foreclose the construction lien within 120 days after the lien is recorded (ORS 87.055). If no foreclosure suit is filed in time, the lien expires.ORS 87.055 (lien foreclosure)
For residential work in Oregon, when is a written contract generally required?
- a.Only when the homeowner requests one in writing
- b.Never; oral agreements are always sufficient
- c.Only for jobs over $500,000
- d.When the contract price exceeds the statutory threshold (generally $2,000)✓
Oregon generally requires a written contract for residential construction work when the price exceeds the statutory threshold (generally $2,000). The contractor must also provide the CCB's consumer notices on qualifying jobs. These disclosures protect homeowners.ORS Ch. 701 (residential written contract)
On many Oregon residential projects, what document must a contractor or supplier deliver to preserve construction-lien rights?
- a.A county competency card
- b.A Notice of Right to a Lien✓
- c.A federal tax lien waiver
- d.An OSHA safety plan
On many residential projects, Oregon requires delivery of a Notice of Right to a Lien to preserve lien rights, and owners must receive the CCB's Information Notice to Owner About Construction Liens on larger jobs. Failing to give required notices can defeat the lien.ORS Ch. 87 (Notice of Right to a Lien)
What role does the Oregon CCB play when a homeowner and a licensed contractor have a payment or workmanship dispute?
- a.It issues building permits for the disputed work
- b.None; disputes may only go to federal court
- c.It represents the contractor against the homeowner
- d.It provides a dispute-resolution process for claims involving licensed contractors✓
The CCB offers a dispute-resolution process for construction complaints involving licensed contractors, backed by the contractor's bond. Being licensed is what allows a contractor to use — and be subject to — that process, another reason licensure matters.ORS Ch. 701 (CCB dispute resolution)
Why does holding a current CCB license matter to an Oregon contractor's ability to be paid?
- a.It has no effect on payment rights
- b.Because an unlicensed contractor generally cannot lien, sue, or file a CCB claim, licensure is a precondition to enforcing payment✓
- c.It merely speeds permit approval
- d.It only lowers the contractor's tax rate
Because ORS 701.131 bars an unlicensed contractor from filing a lien, suing to collect, or filing a CCB claim, being licensed before contracting is a precondition to enforcing payment in Oregon. Licensure protects the contractor's collection tools.ORS 701.131 (effect of licensure on collection)
What surety bond does an Oregon residential general contractor generally file with the CCB?
- a.No bond is required
- b.A $1,000 bond
- c.A $250,000 bond
- d.A $25,000 CCB bond✓
A residential general contractor generally files a $25,000 surety bond with the CCB (a residential specialty contractor posts $15,000, and other endorsements have their own amounts). The bond backs certain CCB claims and must stay in force for the life of the license.ORS 701.068 (CCB surety bond)
In addition to a bond, what insurance does an Oregon residential general contractor generally have to carry?
- a.Only workers' compensation, even with no employees
- b.No insurance is required
- c.Flood insurance on every project
- d.General liability insurance, generally at least $500,000✓
Oregon 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. The bond and liability insurance serve different purposes — the bond backs CCB claims, while insurance covers damage or injury the contractor causes.ORS Ch. 701 (liability insurance)
Which statement about the Oregon CCB exam is correct?
- a.It is waived for anyone with any out-of-state license
- b.It is closed book and includes a separate trade section
- c.It is a single open-book exam of 80 scored questions over 180 minutes, requiring 70% to pass✓
- d.It is a 40-question, 60-minute closed-book test
The Oregon exam is a single open-book Laws and Business Practices test of 80 scored questions over 180 minutes, with a 70% passing score and no separate trade exam. Retakes are unlimited.CCB exam format
Which sequence correctly reflects Oregon's path to a CCB license for a typical new applicant?
- a.Only pass the NASCLA exam; nothing else is required
- b.Post bond first, then take a trade exam, then get insurance
- c.Complete the 16-hour pre-license training, pass the exam, register the business with the Secretary of State, post the CCB bond, and provide proof of liability insurance✓
- d.Apply to the county, then wait five years
A typical Oregon applicant completes the 16-hour pre-license training, passes the single CCB exam, registers the business with the Secretary of State, posts the CCB surety bond, and provides proof of general liability insurance. (A NASCLA-exam holder may skip the training but still takes the exam.)CCB licensing sequence
How does Oregon treat retakes of the CCB exam, and the license renewal cycle?
- a.Only one retake is allowed, ever, and the license never renews
- b.Retakes require a five-year wait, and licenses renew annually
- c.Retakes are unlimited, and the CCB license is renewed every two years✓
- d.The exam may never be retaken after a failure
Oregon allows unlimited retakes of the CCB exam, and the CCB license is renewed on a two-year cycle. Keeping the bond and liability insurance in force is a condition of maintaining the license.ORS Ch. 701; CCB renewal