Becoming a contractor in the state of Oregon involves a significant amount of training, education, and experience. To be a residential or commercial construction contractor in Oregon, you must be licensed and you must meet all of the continuing education requirements. These involve not only knowing state business laws and construction codes, but being aware of national construction standards as well.
Once you become certified as an Oregon contractor, your administrative obligations have only begun. There are regular renewals required that, in many cases, require hours of classroom work and testing.
If you want to be a licensed contractor in Oregon, you are going to have to work hard.
The Basics
To become a contractor in the state of Oregon, you must be at least 18 years of age. You also need to complete no less 16 documented hours of training on Oregon construction law and appropriate business practices. Once you complete those courses from a certified educational organization, you must take a test to complete your first step of becoming a business owner or Responsible Managing Individual (RMI) in the Oregon contracting industry. An Oregon contracting company cannot operate without at least one RMI on staff.
The Details
If an RMI does not apply for their contractor license within 24 months of passing the test, then their results become void and they must take the test over again. Any RMI who allows their license to expire for more than 24 months must also go through the entire process all over again. An RMI residential contractor license is valid for two years. The state or Oregon will alert the RMI when their deadline for renewal approaches.
Renewing Your RMI License
Every two years, an RMI must take three hours of courses dealing in Oregon contracting laws and building regulations. They must also take five hours of courses that deal in:
- Safety Certification
- Bidding Process
- Estimating
- Accounting
- Marketing
- Customer Service
New RMI’s who have been licensed for less than six years will need to take an additional eight hours of courses in:
- More hours in the previously mentioned subjects
- Industry specific information (siding, roofing, masonry, etc.)
- A combination of classes approved by the state
It takes a diverse set of skills to be a licensed contractor in Oregon.
Exemptions
Contractors who go through the process of being licensed for commercial work in Oregon do not need to go through the continuing education requirements to renew their license. Other fields that are also exempt from the continuing education requirements for renewal include:
- Architects
- Developers
- Engineers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Alternative Energy Suppliers
- Boiler Contractors
- Elevator Contractors
- Landscapers
- Sign Installers
- Pump Installers
- Home Inspection Professionals
- Licensed Master Builders
Becoming a certified contractor in Oregon and meeting the continuing education requirements for renewal can be a complicated process. You can start a course with PDH Contractors to make the whole process a lot easier. With PDH Contractors you will find all of the certified educational materials you will need to pass your Oregon contractor tests and make sure you renew your licenses on time as well. PDH Contractors also has all of the updated information you need about the local and national construction industries to help you run your business and compete at a very high level.