- No CCB license needed for casual, minor work under $1,000 on one project if you do not advertise.
- None stated for residential endorsements. Commercial Level 2 needs 4 years and Level 1 needs 8 years of construction experience among key employees.
- Plan for a business and law exam.
- Residential specialty $20,000. Residential general $25,000. Commercial specialty Level 2 $25,000, Level 1 $55,000.
- CCB license every two years. Residential contractors need 8 hours of continuing education per two year period: 3 hours on laws, regulations and business practices, and 5 hours of approved courses on topics like business practices, building codes or safety. The Restricted Energy Contractor license renews every three years on July 1.
Do you need a state license in Oregon?
Oregon licenses HVAC work at the state level through the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB). Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
No CCB license needed for casual, minor work under $1,000 on one project if you do not advertise.
CCB licensed contractors can buy state mechanical minor labels, usable statewide, for common jobs such as replacing heating or cooling equipment or adding a mini split in a one or two family home.
Oregon license types for HVAC work
Oregon splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential Specialty Contractor | One or two unrelated trades on homes and small commercial jobs |
| Residential General Contractor | Any number of trades on homes and small commercial jobs |
| Commercial Specialty Contractor Level 1 or 2 | One or two trades on commercial jobs of any size |
| Restricted Energy Contractor (Building Codes Division) | Limited to HVAC activities. Needs an active CCB license and a full time signing supervisor |
Steps to get licensed in Oregon
- Take the 16 hour pre-license course and pass the Oregon contractor exam.
- Pick your endorsement, usually residential specialty for a small HVAC shop.
- Register your business with the Oregon Secretary of State.
- Buy the surety bond and general liability policy for your endorsement, naming the CCB as certificate holder.
- Apply online with the CCB and pay the $400 fee.
- If you also want the Building Codes Division Restricted Energy Contractor license, apply with your CCB number and name a full time signing supervisor.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. None stated for residential endorsements. Commercial Level 2 needs 4 years and Level 1 needs 8 years of construction experience among key employees.
The license to apply for. CCB contractor license (residential or commercial specialty endorsement).
Oregon HVAC exams
Trade exam. No trade exam for the CCB license, only the Oregon contractor exam on business and law. The Building Codes Division lists no exam for the Restricted Energy Contractor license.
Business and law exam. Yes. 16 hours of pre-license training and the Oregon contractor exam (80 questions, 70 percent to pass, open book), given through PSI.
Separate from any state license, the EPA requires Section 608 certification for anyone who works on equipment with refrigerant. It is federal and applies in every state.
What it costs in Oregon
The board lists 4 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| CCB application (from 7/1/2025) | $400 |
| CCB renewal (every two years) | $400 |
| Oregon contractor exam (paid to PSI) | $60 |
| Restricted Energy Contractor license (BCD, three years) | $375 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability depends on endorsement: residential specialty $300,000 per occurrence, residential general $500,000 per occurrence, commercial specialty Level 2 $500,000 per occurrence, Level 1 $1 million aggregate. Workers comp if you have non exempt employees.
Bond. Residential specialty $20,000. Residential general $25,000. Commercial specialty Level 2 $25,000, Level 1 $55,000.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. CCB license every two years. Residential contractors need 8 hours of continuing education per two year period: 3 hours on laws, regulations and business practices, and 5 hours of approved courses on topics like business practices, building codes or safety. The Restricted Energy Contractor license renews every three years on July 1.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Oregon
- The Restricted Energy Contractor license from the Building Codes Division requires an active CCB license and a full time signing supervisor.
- Minor labels cannot be used when the fuel type changes.
- EPA Section 608 certification is a separate federal requirement for refrigerant work.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for HVAC repair near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how HVAC companies run on Koira.