The Oregon Construction Contractors Board recently conducted a survey regarding contractor continuing education (CE). Contractors that are licensed in Oregon must complete CE units for every license renewal period. Based upon feedback from the survey responses, the CCB approved a course of action to amend to the CE requirements. According to the CCB, this requires a combination of legislation and rule changes. 

Contractor CE

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Legislation has been introduced to the 2017 legislature. If successful, the CCB will be able to offer courses free of charge, thereby eliminating the current rate of $45 for three hours. CE providers will no longer have to pay provider fees and this will result in the participation of more providers. Contractors will be given more choices regarding which courses to take. Contractor license fees may need to be increased to make up for lost revenue from the CE program, however the 2017-19 budget is being worked on to determine if a fee increase will be necessary or not.

In the meantime, rule changes have taken effect as of July 1, 2016. In the new rules, CE exemptions have been expanded for contractors who have plumbing, electrical, master builder, home inspector, landscape contractor, or architect and engineer licenses.

Exemptions from continuing education
As of July 1, these residential and commercial contractors are now exempt from continuing education:

  • Architects (if an owner or officer is a licensed architect)
  • Developers Blueprint-Hammer-Hard-Hat-vertical_000009864093XSmall-219x300
  • Engineers (if an owner or officer is a licensed engineer)
  • Electricians (if an owner, officer or employee is a licensed electrician)
  • Plumbers (if an owner, officer or employee is a licensed plumber)
  • Boiler contractors
  • Elevator contractors
  • Renewable energy contractor
  • Pump installation contractors
  • Limited sign contractors
  • Landscape contractors who are construction contractors
  • Home inspectors (must still complete continuing education for the home inspector certification but no longer for the (CCB license)
  • Master builders (if actively licensed as such through the Building Codes Division)

Pre-license education
These two changes affect the pre-licensure program:

  • The timeline for applying for a CCB license has changed: Applicants must apply for their license within two years of the date that they pass the exam. Previously, contractors had two years from the date they completed training to apply for a CCB license.
  • An optional path to contractor licensure is now offered: The CCB now accepts the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) contractor exam. Applicants still must pass the Oregon pre-licensure exam, but are not required to take the 16-hour pre-licensure training.

Home inspectors

The CCB grants hour-for-hour continuing education credit for home inspectors who host “ride alongs” for home inspector applicants. The CCB website has the form that must be signed by both the hosting home inspector and the home inspector-in-training.

Questions

For any questions regarding CCB continuing education, please email ccbeducation@state.or.us or call 503-934-2227. The CCB continuing education website is located at: http://www.oregon.gov/CCB/education/Pages/continuing-ed.aspx