Oregon locksmith license
Yes. Oregon requires locksmiths to be certified by the Construction Contractors Board. A business that does residential locksmith work also needs a CCB contractor license with a residential locksmith services endorsement, a $15,000 bond and liability insurance.
Last checked October 13, 2026 · 33 quoted facts from official pages
Oregon at a glance
- State license
- Yes, a statewide license
- The law
- ORS 701.475 to 701.495
- License types
- 3
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
License types
As the agency names them.
Individual
Oregon Certified Locksmith (CCB locksmith certificate)
Required for an individual to do locksmith work for compensation; the certified locksmith must also own or be employed by a CCB-licensed business (ORS 701.480(1); OAR 812-030-0240). Required even if the person holds another state's locksmith license.
Company
CCB contractor license - Residential Locksmith Services Contractor endorsement
A business may provide locksmith services only if CCB-licensed and it has an owner or employee who is a certified locksmith (ORS 701.480(2)). The residential locksmith services contractor endorsement covers locksmith services only for residential or small commercial structures (ORS 701.495(1)); a certified locksmith may instead be associated with another residential contractor license.
Manager
Responsible managing individual (residential locksmith services contractor)
Must be certified as a locksmith under ORS 701.485 (ORS 701.081(5)(c)).
Requirements
Only what the official pages state. A blank means we could not confirm it.
- Training or experience
- No training or experience hours are set in the certification rules found; the applicant must pass the CCB competency test (OAR 812-030-0010).
- Exam
- CCB online locksmith certification test, 80 questions; the applicant must answer 100 percent of the questions correctly, and incorrectly answered questions can be reviewed and answered again (OAR 812-030-0010; CCB page). The residential locksmith services contractor and its responsible managing individual are exempt from the CCB business-practices contractor test (ORS 701.495(3)).
- Background check
- Criminal history information is required; conviction of listed crimes (e.g., burglary or theft in the first or second degree) within the past seven years may disqualify an applicant (CCB page; OAR 812-030-0100/-0110).
- Insurance
- Residential locksmith services contractor: general liability insurance of not less than $100,000 (ORS 701.081(5)(b)); CCB lists $100,000 per occurrence.
- Bond
- Residential locksmith services contractor: $15,000 surety bond (ORS 701.081(5)(a)).
Fees
From the agency's fee rules. Fees change, so check before you apply.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Locksmith certificate application | $60 |
| Locksmith certification test | $60 |
| Initial two-year locksmith certificate issuance | $60 |
| Two-year locksmith certificate renewal | $60 |
| Replacement certificate and pocket card | $10 |
| CCB contractor license, two-year (new applications from July 1, 2025; renewals from July 1, 2024) | $400 |
Renewal and continuing education
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- Continuing education
- Residential locksmith services contractors are exempt from CCB continuing education (ORS 701.495(2)); the exemption does not cover any CE the board sets for certified locksmiths under ORS 701.485. No CE rule for certified locksmiths was found in OAR 812-030 (see open questions).
Working without a license
Any violation of ORS chapter 701 or a CCB rule, including working or advertising as a locksmith without certification, can bring a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per offense (ORS 701.992(1)). Violating the contractor license requirement of ORS 701.021 is a Class A misdemeanor (ORS 701.990(1); unchanged by 2026 HB 4089, which amended only subsections (2) and (3)).
What the official sources say
Each line is a short quote from the official page it links to, with the date we read it.
An individual must be certified by the CCB to do locksmith work for compensation (ORS 701.480(1), 2025 edition).
“work as a locksmith for compensation ... unless the individual is certified as a locksmith under ORS 701.485 by the Construction Contractors Board”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The certified locksmith must also own or be employed by a CCB-licensed business (ORS 701.480(1), 2025 edition).
“is an owner of, or employed by, a business that is licensed by the board.”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A business may not provide locksmith services unless CCB-licensed and it has an owner or employee who is a certified locksmith (ORS 701.480(2), 2025 edition).
“A business may not undertake, offer to undertake or submit a bid to provide locksmith services unless the business is licensed by the board”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
ORS defines a locksmith as one who services, installs, repairs, rebuilds, rekeys, repins or adjusts locks and related security hardware (ORS 701.475(3), 2025 edition).
“means a person who services, installs, repairs, rebuilds, rekeys, repins or adjusts locks, hardware peripheral to locks, safes, vaults, safe deposit boxes”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The CCB must require applicants for locksmith certification to pass a competency test (ORS 701.485(2), 2025 edition).
“shall require that an applicant for certification as a locksmith pass a test demonstrating the competency of the applicant”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A residential locksmith services contractor must carry a $15,000 surety bond (ORS 701.081(5)(a), 2025 edition).
“A residential locksmith services contractor shall: (a) Obtain a surety bond under ORS 701.068 in the amount of $15,000;”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
A residential locksmith services contractor must carry general liability insurance of at least $100,000 (ORS 701.081(5)(b), 2025 edition).
“(b) Obtain general liability insurance under ORS 701.073 in an amount of not less than $100,000;”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Its responsible managing individual must be a certified locksmith (ORS 701.081(5)(c), 2025 edition).
“(c) Have a responsible managing individual for the business who is certified as a locksmith under ORS 701.485.”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Show 25 more facts
The CCB lists the Locksmith Services endorsement: certified locksmith owner or employee, locksmith services only, $15,000 bond, $100,000 per occurrence insurance.
“Locksmith Services Prelicense training/test: Owner or employee must be a certified locksmith Scope of work: Locksmith services ONLY Bond: $15,000 Insurance: $100,000 per occurrence”
Source: oregon.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Residential locksmith services contractors are exempt from CCB continuing education (ORS 701.495(2), 2025 edition).
“the Construction Contractors Board may not impose a continuing education requirement for a residential locksmith services contractor.”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Residential locksmith services contractors and their responsible managing individuals do not take the CCB contractor business-practices test (ORS 701.495(3), 2025 edition).
“the board may not require a residential locksmith services contractor or the responsible managing individual for the business to take a test”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Key duplication at a fixed location, with no other locksmith services, is exempt (ORS 701.490(1), 2025 edition).
“A person offering key duplication services at a fixed location or ancillary to other business activities, if the person does not undertake”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Statutory fee caps for locksmith certification: $100 application, $100 testing, $300 initial two-year certificate (ORS 701.485(3)(d), 2025 edition); actual fees are set lower by rule.
“(A) $100 for application. (B) $100 for testing. (C) $300 for issuance of an initial two-year certificate.”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Locksmith certificate application and test fees are $60 each (OAR 812-030-0250(1)-(2), history CCB 3-2010, eff. 2-1-10).
“(1) The application fee for all certificates is $60. (2) The fee for the test required under OAR 812-030-0010 is $60.”
Source: secure.sos.state.or.us · checked October 13, 2026
Initial two-year certificate and two-year renewal are $60 each (OAR 812-030-0250(3)-(4)).
“(3) The fee for issuance of an initial two-year certificate is $60. (4) The fee for renewal of a two-year certificate is $60.”
Source: secure.sos.state.or.us · checked October 13, 2026
Applicants must answer 100 percent of the test questions correctly (OAR 812-030-0010(3), eff. 2-1-10).
“The applicant must correctly answer 100 percent of the questions to pass the test.”
Source: secure.sos.state.or.us · checked October 13, 2026
A locksmith certificate is effective for two years (OAR 812-030-0210(7), eff. 2-1-10).
“A certificate shall be effective for two years from the date of issue.”
Source: secure.sos.state.or.us · checked October 13, 2026
To work, a certified locksmith must own or be employed by a licensed construction contractor, such as a residential locksmith services contractor (OAR 812-030-0240(1)(a), last amended eff. 1-1-14).
“Be an owner or employee of a licensed construction contractor, including, but not limited to, a residential locksmith services contractor;”
Source: secure.sos.state.or.us · checked October 13, 2026
There is no charge for the original certificate and pocket card, and replacing them costs $10 (OAR 812-030-0223(4)-(5), eff. 5-1-11).
“(5) There is a $10 fee to replace a certificate and pocket card.”
Source: secure.sos.state.or.us · checked October 13, 2026
A certificate lapsed more than two years cannot be renewed; the person must apply for a new certificate (OAR 812-030-0230(4)).
“If the certificate lapses for more than two years, the applicant must apply for a new certificate as provided for in OAR 812-030-0200.”
Source: secure.sos.state.or.us · checked October 13, 2026
When gaining entry to property, the contractor must have the certified locksmith positively identify the client and must keep a signed authorization or work order for three years, unless a standing agreement exists (OAR 812-030-0300(4)-(5)).
“(b) Obtain and retain, for three years, an authorization or work order signed by the client.”
Source: secure.sos.state.or.us · checked October 13, 2026
The CCB online test has 80 questions and costs $60.
“The testing fee is $60. The online test consists of 80 questions.”
Source: oregon.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Questions missed on the CCB test are shown again at the end so the applicant can find the answer and re-answer them.
“Questions answered incorrectly during the initial test will be displayed at the end of the 80 questions.”
Source: oregon.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Applicants for a new or renewal certificate must provide information for a CCB criminal background check on request (OAR 812-030-0110).
“an applicant for a new or renewal certificate will provide requested information to permit the board to conduct a criminal background check.”
Source: secure.sos.state.or.us · checked October 13, 2026
The Oregon certificate is required even for holders of another state's locksmith license.
“The certificate is required in Oregon even if you hold a locksmith license or certification in another state.”
Source: oregon.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Certain convictions within seven years may disqualify an applicant; the list includes burglary and theft in the first or second degree.
“Conviction of any of the following crimes in the past seven years may disqualify you for certification.”
Source: oregon.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The potentially disqualifying crimes listed in OAR 812-030-0100 include burglary and theft in the first or second degree.
“(9) Burglary in the first or second degree. (10) Theft in the first or second degree.”
Source: secure.sos.state.or.us · checked October 13, 2026
The CCB contractor license application fee is $400 for a two-year license.
“$400 fee for a two-year license.”
Source: oregon.gov · checked October 13, 2026
The two-year contractor license fee rose from $325 to $400, for renewals from July 1, 2024 and new applications from July 1, 2025.
“the two-year contractor license fee will be increased by $75 from $325 to $400.”
Source: oregon.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Effective date of the $400 fee for new contractor license applications.
“For an application for an new contractor license the new fee will apply beginning July 1, 2025”
Source: oregon.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Violating any provision of ORS chapter 701 or a CCB rule carries a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per offense (ORS 701.992(1), 2025 edition).
“a civil penalty in an amount determined by the board of not more than $5,000 for each offense.”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Violating the contractor license requirement (ORS 701.021) is a Class A misdemeanor (ORS 701.990(1), 2025 edition; subsection (1) left unchanged by 2026 HB 4089).
“Violation of ORS 701.021 is a Class A misdemeanor.”
Source: oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
2026 HB 4089 amended ORS 701.990 only to make license-number misuse a Class C felony; subsection (1) is unchanged (Enrolled HB 4089, passed Senate March 5, 2026).
“The intentional use of a contractor’s license number without the authorization of the licensed contractor is a [Class A misdemeanor] Class C felony.”
Source: olis.oregonlegislature.gov · checked October 13, 2026
Sales tax on locksmith work in Oregon
Rates, local taxes and how Oregon treats labor and repair charges: sales tax facts for Oregon.
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QuickBooks integrationScheduling and dispatch (add-on)
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Oregon locksmith license questions
Do you need a license to be a locksmith in Oregon?
Yes. Oregon requires locksmiths to be certified by the Construction Contractors Board. A business that does residential locksmith work also needs a CCB contractor license with a residential locksmith services endorsement, a $15,000 bond and liability insurance.
Who issues locksmith licenses in Oregon?
Oregon Construction Contractors Board, under ORS 701.475 to 701.495.
How much does a Oregon locksmith license cost?
Locksmith certificate application: $60. Locksmith certification test: $60. Initial two-year locksmith certificate issuance: $60. Two-year locksmith certificate renewal: $60. Fees change, so check the agency's fee page before you apply.
How often do you renew a Oregon locksmith license?
Every 2 years. 485.
What happens if you work as a locksmith without a license in Oregon?
992(1)). 990(1); unchanged by 2026 HB 4089, which amended only subsections (2) and (3)).
This guide summarizes the official pages linked next to each fact. Rules and fees change, so check with the licensing agency before you apply or take work. This is not legal advice.
Last checked October 13, 2026.
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