If you’re searching for a rewarding and practical career path in Oregon, consider stepping into the world of plumbing.
Despite often operating behind the scenes, the work of plumbers is fundamental to the smooth operation of our daily lives.
Plumbing serves as the cornerstone of modern infrastructure, guaranteeing a reliable supply of clean water and the efficient disposal of wastewater.
Suppose contributing to this essential aspect of community well-being resonates with you.
In that case, this article is here to guide you on the journey of becoming a plumber in the Beaver State.
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How to Become a Plumber in Oregon – Step by Step
To begin your plumbing career in Oregon, you need to complete a 4-year training period.
Your training will require both formal education and commercial and residential on-the-job training.
You can gain your training experience by:
- enrolling in a Board approved apprenticeship program
- working directly under the supervision of an already licensed professional, who will also be your mentor
- enroll in a vocational school/college/trade-specific program
You might need to combine two of these options to complete both your schooling and on-the-job experience requirements.
The state issues only one plumbing license and that is the Journeyman Plumber License.
Journeyman Plumber License
To apply for the Journeyman Plumber License you need to meet the following criteria:
- have completed a 4-year apprenticeship program approved by the Board
- have completed a combination of 576 hours of formal education, and have at least 3,850 hours of both commercial and residential on-the-job experience
- be a licensed journeyman plumber in a different state
After meeting the requirements you will submit an application form and pay the $100 application fee.
When the Board approves your application you will receive a letter of Authorisation.
From the date of the Letter of Authorization, you have 60 days to take your journeyman plumbing exam.
Journeyman Plumbing Exam
The journeyman plumbing exam is an open-book exam that consists of 64 questions and has a 4-hour time limit.
The exam covers topics including:
- Understanding of engineering and architectural drawings and plans sufficient to prepare a bill of materials and lay out a plumbing system
- Ability to compute areas of regular plan figures, volumes of regular solids, slopes, offsets, clearances, and weights of piping
- Selection and use of tools, materials, and techniques commonly used in the plumbing trade
- The Plumbing Specialty Code, administrative rules relating to plumbing and plumbers, and general scientific principles covering hydraulics
- A general knowledge of construction job safety and occupational safety standards
- A basic understanding of disabled access provisions of the Oregon Structural Specialty Code related to plumbing
You need a score of 75% or higher to pass the exam.
You will receive your results approximately 2 weeks after taking the exam, the exams are graded by the Building Codes Division.
If you have passed the exam you will receive your results in the mail with your license.
If you fail the exam, you will also receive your results in the mail with an evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses, and a reapplication form to retake the exam.
You must wait for 30 days before retaking the exam.
Plumbing Schools in Oregon
Oregon has great training options for its aspiring plumbers to get the theoretical knowledge and experience they need.
UA Local 290 Plumbers & Steamfitters Training Center
UA Local 290 Plumbers & Steamfitters Training Center offers both apprenticeship programs and journeyman training classes for their
applicants. 
Within this apprenticeship program, you will have both classroom education and on-the-job training.
Apprentices make money as they learn; typically, they start out making 40% of what a journeyman makes.
Those who have finished their training and obtained an industry certification are known as journeymen.
As apprentices gain experience in increasingly difficult duties, their salary improves.
Upon becoming a journeyman, individuals enhance their prospects of securing a lucrative position in the field and have the opportunity to advance to supervisory roles or launch their businesses.
Apprentices can take state tests through the Building Codes Division after completing 10 terms or semesters (equivalent to 8,000 training hours and 1,080 classroom hours) and passing the UA STAR exam.
The apprentice is promoted to journeyman rank after all licenses have been secured and validated.
To apply for this program you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a High School Diploma or the GED equivalent
- Must have completed one full year of high school algebra, integrated math 2, or equivalent post-high school Algebra 1, course(s) with a grade of ‘C’ or better
Their latest application openings are posted on Application Openings.
To learn more about the program and to apply visit their website.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| UA Local 290 Plumbers & Steamfitters Training Center | 2161 S 1st St, Redmond, OR 97756, United States |
Salary
Plumbers in Oregon are paid fairly for the hard work they put into maintaining the community’s plumbing systems running smoothly.
Annual wages currently vary between $47879 and $81217.
The current annual average wage in the state is $64484.
Portland and Beaverton are tied for the highest annual wage in the state at $66819.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Portland | $66,819 |
| Beaverton | $66,819 |
| Gresham | $66,734 |
| Hillsboro | $66,606 |
| Salem | $63,347 |
| Eugene | $63,124 |
| Springfield | $62,984 |
| Corvallis | $62,606 |
| Medford | $62,547 |
| Bend | $62,413 |
Regional Salary in Oregon
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | 120 | $76,440 | $36.75 | $92,030 | $51,960 |
| Bend-Redmond, OR | 260 | $74,140 | $35.65 | $95,820 | $51,240 |
| Corvallis, OR | 40 | $74,380 | $35.76 | $104,680 | $50,720 |
| Eugene, OR | 350 | $72,690 | $34.95 | $103,340 | $45,860 |
| Medford, OR | 170 | $76,570 | $36.81 | $111,290 | $47,060 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,800 | $88,400 | $42.5 | $130,430 | $48,950 |
| Salem, OR | 380 | $76,250 | $36.66 | $95,200 | $48,450 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I take the Journeyman Plumber exam in Oregon?
In Oregon, the Journeyman Plumber exam is being taken in the following cities:
- Bend
- Eugene
- Hermiston
- Klamath Falls
- Lincoln City
- Ontario
- Pendleton
- Roseburg
- Salem
- White City
When should I renew my Oregon plumbing license?
Plumbing licenses in Oregon expire every 3 years.
Your exact expiration date will be written on your license, so you should renew it up to that date.
How much does it cost to renew my plumbing license in Oregon?
The Journeyman Plumbing License renewal fee in Oregon is $180.
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