Oregon Plumber Licensing FAQs

Answers to frequently asked questions about Oregon’s plumber licensing and continuing education

How to Get an Oregon Journeyman Plumber License

  1. Meet one of the minimum experience requirements:
    1. Have completed an approved 4 year apprenticeship program OR
    2. Have completed 576 hours of classroom training AND 3,850 hours of commercial and 3,850 hours of residential on-the-job experience as an apprentice or out-of-state journeyman
  2. Submit an application for licensure
  3. Wait for Letter of Authorization to sit the exam
  4. Take and pass your exam
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Oregon Plumber Renewal Requirements

Renewal Deadline: Licenses expire every three years. Expiration dates are found on your license card

Continuing Education: Journeyman are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education every three years. 4 hours must be on Oregon rule and law, 4 hours on code changes, and 16 hours on code related topics.

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Getting Licensed

Who needs to be licensed for plumbing in Oregon?

  • Journeyman Plumber
  • Water-Treatment Installer
  • Residential Water-Heater Installer
  • Solar Heating and Cooling Installer

Does Oregon have reciprocal licensing with other states?

The division will accept a reciprocal license only from a reciprocating state in which the applicant has tested.

Oregon currently has reciprocal licensing agreements for Journeyman Plumbers with Idaho and Montana.

What fees are associated with becoming a plumber in Oregon?

Journeyman

  • Application: $100
  • Renewal: $180

Renewing a License

When do I need to renew my Oregon plumbing license?

Licenses expire every three years. Expiration dates are found on your license card.

How do I renew my plumbing license in Oregon?

All division-issued licenses are eligible for online renewal within 45 days of the expiration date.

Renewal notices are mailed to the licensee’s address on file 45 days prior to expiration.

Do I need continuing education to renew my plumbing license in Oregon?

Yes, Journeyman are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education every three years. 4 hours must be on Oregon rule and law, 4 hours on code changes, and 16 hours on code related topics.

My Oregon plumbing license has expired — how do I get it reinstated?

If you don’t renew your license by the expiration date, your license will fall into the “expired-renewable” status. You are not eligible to work under your license until all the renewal requirements are met, including continuing education.

How do I get my journeyman plumbing license in Oregon?

  1. Meet one of the minimum experience requirements:
    1. Have completed an approved 4 year apprenticeship program OR
    2. Have completed 576 hours of classroom training AND 3,850 hours of commercial and 3,850 hours of residential on-the-job experience as an apprentice or out-of-state journeyman
  2. Submit an application for licensure
  3. Wait for Letter of Authorization to sit the exam
  4. Take and pass your exam

What fees are associated with becoming a journeyman plumber in Oregon?

  • Application: $100
  • Renewal: $180

What can I expect from the Oregon journeyman plumbing exam?

After submitting your license application, you will receive a Letter of Authorization. You have 60 days to take your examination from the date of the Letter of Authorization.

The Oregon journeyman plumbing exam is a 64 question open book exam with a 4 hour time limit. You must score 75% or better to pass.

Topics may include but are not limited to:

  • Understanding of engineering and architectural drawings and plans sufficient to prepare a bill of materials and lay out a plumbing system
  • Ability to compute areas of regular plan figures, volumes of regular solids, slopes, offsets, clearances, and weights of piping
  • Selection and use of tools, materials and techniques commonly used in the plumbing trade
  • The Plumbing Specialty Code, administrative rules relating to plumbing and plumbers and general scientific principles covering hydraulics
  • A general knowledge of construction job safety and occupational safety standards
  • A basic understanding of disabled access provisions of the Oregon Structural Specialty Code related to plumbing

What does your journeyman plumber exam prep cover?

  • Administration
  • Definitions
  • General Regulations
  • Plumbing Math
  • Fixtures, Faucets and Fixture Fittings
  • Water Heaters
  • Water Supply & Distribution
  • Sanitary Drainage
  • Indirect and Special Waste
  • Vents
  • Traps, Interceptors and Separators
  • Storm Drainage
  • Appendices
  • Hands-On Practical Application

Where can I take the Oregon journeyman plumber exam?

  • Bend
  • Eugene
  • Hermiston
  • Klamath Falls
  • Lincoln City
  • Ontario
  • Pendleton
  • Roseburg
  • Salem
  • White City

How do I know if I passed the Oregon journeyman plumber exam?

Do not contact the testing location for examination results. The examination location forwards the exam to the Building Codes Division for grading. Please allow two weeks to receive your results. Examination results are not given over the telephone. Applicants who pass the exam will receive the license in the mail along with the results.

What happens if I fail my exam?

Applicants who fail the exam will receive the results in the mail along with a strength/weakness report and a license reapplication form to test again. All applicants must wait 30 days after each failure before retaking an exam.

What continuing education is required to renew my Oregon journeyman plumber license?

Journeyman are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education every three years.

The breakdown for content is as follows:

  • 4 hours on Oregon rule and law
  • 4 hours on code changes
  • 16 hours on code related topics

Who submits my Oregon plumbing continuing education course completions to the state?

We submit your course completion and provide a printable certificate immediately after course completion.

Are your continuing education courses approved for credit in the state of Oregon?

Yes, our courses are approved in Oregon for plumbing continuing education.

Oregon Building Codes Division
1535 Edgewater Street NW
Salem, OR 97304
(503) 373-1268
license.bcd@oregon.gov
https://www.oregon.gov/bcd/licensing/Pages/plumbing-apply.aspx

Exams are scheduled through the BCD.

Once I order the course, how long before I can start?

You may begin immediately! Simply click the Login button in the upper right-hand corner on your desktop or in the upper-right menu on mobile. Once you’ve entered your login and password, you will be taken to your courses. Follow the instructions and enjoy!

Once I start an online course, will I be able to start and stop at any time?

Our courses are available online 24/7 and you are able to log in and log out at any time during the course. If you are going to be away from your computer for more than 10-15 minutes, simply log out. When you log back in, you will be able to re-enter the lesson you were last in.

How long do your continuing education courses take to complete?

Continuing education requirements vary by state. Each course lists a minimum number of credit hours required to complete the course.

How long do your exam prep courses take to complete?

This question really depends on your learning style and comfort level with the topics we cover. There is no set time for completing exam prep courses — you get to go at your own pace! Many plumbers like to re-watch materials, some like to just re-take the practice tests. Our recommendation is for you to go through the course as many times as you need to be comfortable with the material and any applicable reference books. The more familiar you are with the materials, the better you will do on your exam!

How long do I have the courses?

We allow up to 6 months for you to complete the courses. During the six months you have unlimited, 24/7 access. If you need additional time, please contact our offices to arrange an extension (please note: a fee may apply).

Are there tests in the courses?

This varies depending on whether the course is continuing education or exam prep.

There are no quizzes for continuing education courses in Michigan. All other states with continuing education require quizzes to check completion progress.

In exam prep courses there will be a short quiz at the end of each lesson and there is also a longer practice test at the end of each course. These quizzes and tests will help you practice taking an exam and identify areas you may wish to study more.

If I fail a practice test, do I have to take it again?

Practice tests are just that: for practice. You will have the opportunity to retake the practice tests until you do pass. The practice tests are there to help you get used to the process of using your reference materials and finding the correct answers during an exam. If you don’t pass on the first try, take the time to note what sections of the material you need to review.

Once I complete a course, can I still go back and review the lessons and quizzes?

You are able to review the lessons and quizzes at any time during the six months you’ll have access to the courses.