According to mandates set by the Building Codes Division (BCD), every electrician in Oregon must acquire certification and licensing before working. Additionally, these professionals have to renew their licenses every 3 years after getting licensed.
You may wonder why it’s necessary to renew your license after going through all the trouble it takes to acquire it. The answer is rather straightforward. License renewal ensures all electricians are knowledgeable and competent. You should never operate with an expired license in Oregon because you’ll be exposing yourself to countless issues, from enormous fines to lawsuits and reputational damage.
That said, here’s a guide with the main steps you should take to renew your license in time:
1. Check The Renewal Deadline
An electrician license is valid for 3 years in Oregon. Luckily, you don’t have to do the actual calculations to determine if your license will require renewal soon. Your license contains an expiration date, so all you have to do is check it. If you don’t have a copy within easy access, check the expiration date in your BCD online account.
To avoid penalties and other issues, you must apply for renewal within 45 days of your electrician license’s expiry date. You can mark your calendar or set reminders as early as possible to stay within the renewal period.
2. Take CE Courses
You must complete continuing education (CE) before renewing your electrician’s license in Oregon.
The law has made this mandatory to ensure you and other electricians are familiar with current safety practices, industry standards, codes, and regulations. This should also be a top priority since it ensures you’re up-to-date with emerging technologies, tools, products, etc.
Enrol in a good Oregon Electrical License Renewal CE course early enough so that you have enough time to spare before your license expires. Don’t wait until the last minute because the unnecessary pressure can undermine your work and other facets of your life. Besides that, you should consider taking regular courses for professional development if you want to take your career to the next level.
3. Apply for License Renewal
Once you’ve completed the previous steps, gather the documents that prove you’ve completed continuing education. Then, use them to apply for license renewal either online or via mail. The easiest option is online. Visit Oregon.gov and navigate to the licensing page to start the license renewal process. If you don’t have a License Management account, you’ll have to create one before proceeding.
Please prepare to pay a $100 license renewal fee. The fee is mandatory for all types of licenses, including those for general journeymen electricians, general supervising electricians, and limited residential electricians.
4. Confirm License Renewal
In Oregon, license renewal can take up to a week. You will have to wait for the BCD to vet your application and watch out for communications about issues like missing documentation. That’s why it’s recommended to start your application process early enough.
This leaves you with enough time to rectify any issues that come up and still remain within the renewal deadline. You can always call the BCD for assistance whenever you feel stuck.
You’ll be notified via email or portal update if your license renewal application is approved. These are the most common communication methods. After approval, check that everything on your renewed license is correct, including your personal information and the next expiry date.
Continuing Education is Indispensable to Your Career
You can’t renew your electrician license without completing continuing education. If your license expires soon, enroll in RocketCert’s electrician continuing education program and cover all necessary courses.
The program is online and self-paced, so you can take your courses whenever it’s convenient, like before or after work. Plus, it’s accessible 24/7 on almost all devices, including smartphones. Visit the RocketCert official site to get started.