Renewable Energy Contractor Licensing
Oregon requires that anyone installing your solar or renewable energy system holds proper trade licensing—either a full Journeyman's License or a specialized renewable energy license (like the Limited Renewable Energy License for solar electric under 25 kW or the Solar Thermal License for heating systems). When hiring a contractor, verify they have these credentials through Oregon's licensing directory to ensure quality and legal compliance.
To install solar electric systems in Oregon, your company needs an Electrical Contractor License and your technicians must hold either an Electrical Journeyman's License or a Limited Renewable Energy Technician (LRT) license; for solar thermal work, you need a Plumbing Contractor License with technicians holding either a Plumbing Journeyman's License or Solar Thermal License (STL). The LRT and STL specialty licenses require completion of apprenticeship programs through Oregon's Renewable Energy Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (RE JATC), which offers shorter pathways than full journeyman training.
Oregon's renewable energy contractor licensing system uses existing trade license frameworks (electrical and plumbing) supplemented by two specialized solar licenses—the LRT (limited to systems under 25 kW AC, requires 2-year apprenticeship) and STL (limited to non-potable solar thermal work, requires 2,000 hours of on-the-job training or approved program completion). Training is delivered through RE JATC with approval from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, channeling workforce development through apprenticeship pathways while maintaining quality standards via the Construction Contractors Board.
Program details
- Program ID
- 367
- Last updated
- 12/18/2024
Eligibility
- Sectors
- installers/contractors
- Technologies
- solar water heat solar space heat solar thermal process heat solar photovoltaics wind (all) fuel cells using non-renewable fuels hydroelectric (small) fuel cells using renewable fuels
Program summary
Oregon requires trade licenses for individuals installing solar energy equipment, and contractor licenses for the companies that do construction.
Companies with an electrical contractor license may engage in the business of making electrical installations. Similarly a plumbing contractor license allows a company to engage in the business of making plumbing installations. Companies must also meet licensing and bonding requirements of the Construction Contractors Board.
Individuals doing installations must hold a trade license. Solar electric installers must either hold an Electrical Journeyman's License or a Limited Renewable Energy License (LRT). General Journeymen can do all aspects of solar electric work, whereas the LRT license is limited to work on systems under 25 kW AC. The Journeyman's license requires four years of general on-the-job training whereas the LRT requires the completion of a two-year Oregon apprenticeship.
Solar thermal installers must either hold a Plumbing Journeyman's License or a Solar Heating and Cooling System Installer License (STL). General Journeymen can do all aspects of solar plumbing work, whereas the STL license is limited to the non-potable side of systems. The Journeyman's license requires the completion of a four-year apprenticeship program whereas the STL requires 2,000 hours of solar-specific on-the-job training prior to 2002 or completion of a division-approved training program.
Training for the solar specialty licenses (LRT and STL) are provided through the Renewable Energy Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (RE JATC) in Oregon. They offer three apprentice programs that are approved by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries: (1) Limited Renewable Energy Technician (LRT) program, (2) the Solar Thermal License (STL) program, and (3) the Combined Renewable Energy program (which combines the LRT and STL). For more information about the apprentice programs, check the Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association web site.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- license.bcd@state.or.us
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
