Oregon

Contractor Pre-Licensure
Education

SYLLABUS/COURSE OUTLINE
This course was designed and developed following the criteria and objectives set forth by the
CCB and the Oregon Contractors Reference Manual 10th Edition. Following the content outline
provided, the course is divided into eleven sequential units: Contractor Laws and Regulations,
Employer Obligations and Employee Rights, Contract Law, Oregon Lien Law, Taxes,
Recordkeeping and Business Practices, Project Management, Building Codes, OR-OSHA and
Safety Issues, Environmental Laws and Practices, Building Exterior Shell Training, and Practice
Exercises. Sources are the Oregon Contractors Reference Manual 10th Edition, 2011 ORSC,
Building Envelope Guide for Houses 10th Ed., and various proprietary materials.
Chapter 1- Contractor Law and Regulations (90 minutes)

*Learning Objectives: 1) Understand the requirements for licensure in Oregon. 2) Describe

the rules, penalties and fines as they pertain to the regulations surrounding the building
industry. 3) Explain warranty requirements, maintenance schedules and consumer notices. 4)
Recognize the rules surrounding surety bonds and insurance for contractors.
1. Oregon ORS 701
a. Definitions
b. Licensing
2. Establishing a Business Entity
a. Types of Business Organization
3. Classes and Endorsements of Licensing
4. Continuing Education
5. Contractor Responsibilities
a. Bonding Requirements
b. Liability Insurance

6. Dispute Resolution
7. Contracts and Notices
8. Special Licenses and Certifications
9. Warranties

Chapter 2- Employer Obligations and Employee Rights (120 minutes)

*Learning Objectives: 1) Be familiar with workers compensation, unemployment and

prevailing wage laws. 2) Describe the important aspects of Labor Law, including the Fair Labor
Standards Act, which establishes standards for minimum wages and child labor. 3) Be able to
outline the interviewing and hiring process.
1. Hiring Employees
a. Independent Contractors
b. Classifying Employees
2. Workers Compensation Insurance
3. Employee Documentation
4. Labor Laws
a. FSLA
b. BOLI
c. Prevailing Wage
5. Employee Rights
a. Sexual Harassment
b. FMLA (OFLA)
c. Disability

Chapter 3- Contract Law (60 minutes)

*Learning Objectives: 1) Describe the contents of a basic construction contract. 2) Explain

the difference between fixed-price and cost-plus contracts. 3) Interpret and explain basic
contract terms and language.

1. Contract Elements
a. Formation
b. Performance
c. Breach
d. Remedies
2. Disputes
3. Types/Methods of Construction Contracts
4. Contract Documents

Chapter 4- Construction Lien Law (45 minutes)

*Learning Objectives: 1) Explain how lien laws protect the rights and interests of both the
builder and the consumer. 2) Define what a lien is, as well as how and when a lien should be
filed. 3) Recognize the various forms and deadlines that must be observed in order to protect
lien rights.
1. Definitions
2. Documents
a. Pre-Claim Notices
b. Post-Claim Notices
3. Order of Events
4. CCB Construction Lien Information Pamphlet

Chapter 5- Taxes, Record Keeping and Business (45 minutes)

*Learning Objectives: 1) Understand and describe the basic payroll and tax responsibilities
of an employer. 2) Identify the proper federal and state tax forms that any business must
complete. 3) Recognize the importance of recordkeeping and the need for record retention. 4)
Explain the basic concepts of accounting systems, including internal controls and financial
statements.
1. Business Startup and Taxes
2. Record Keeping

3. Accounting Systems
4. Regulatory Requirements
a. Excise taxes
b. Payroll taxes
c. Reporting
5. Bankruptcy

Chapter 6- Project Management and Scheduling (90 minutes)

*Learning Objectives: 1) Recognize the importance of developing a project schedule.

2) Determine project costs, company overhead, and profit. 3) Outline the roles and duties of
key management team members. 4) Describe the steps involved in closing out a project.
1. Methods of Estimating
a. Quantity Take-off
b. Lump Sum
c. Unit Price
2. Estimate Planning
a. Project Documents
b. Site Visits
c. Common Errors
3. Bidding
4. Developing a Budget
5. Project Scheduling
a. Critical Path
b. Calendar
c. Bar/Gantt Charts
6. Supervision and Monitoring
a. Quality Control
b. Daily Reports
c. Cost Control
7. Project Closeout

Chapter 7- Building Codes (60 minutes)

*Learning Objectives: 1) Recognize where to find building codes and code books that apply
to specific trades. 2) Understand the process of permitting and inspections. 3) Identify the
penalties for failure to obtain a permit, or working without a license.
1. Oregon Building Code Division
2. Codes Used in Oregon
3. Permitting and Inspections
4. Oregon Residential Specialty Codes Chapters 1-3

Chapter 8- OR-OSHA and Safety Issues (180 minutes)

*Learning Objectives: 1) Define required record keeping, posting and safety standards an
employer must observe. 2) Learn the responsibilities of both the employer and the employee in
observing established safety practices. 3) Recognize the need for advanced safety standards
when asbestos or lead is present at the work place.
1. Oregon OSHA
a. Services and Resources
2. Statutes and Rules: OAR 437 Division 1 and 3
3. Safety Programs
4. General Rules
5. PPE
6. Fall Protection
7. Ladders and Stairs
8. Scaffolds
9. Excavation
10. Electrical Hazards

11. Materials Handling

12. Tool Safety
13. Violations
14. Asbestos and Lead

Chapter 9- Environmental Laws and Practices (50 minutes)

*Learning Objectives: 1) Understand environmental regulations that govern construction

activities for protecting water, air and land quality. 2) Identify and understand the
responsibilities of contractors related to the environment. 3) Recognize the regulations that
govern management and disposal of solid, hazardous, and special waste. 4) Distinguish
between conventional and green building practices and techniques.
1. Oregon DEQ
a. Enforcement
b. Special Permitting
2. Water Quality Regulations
a. Water Resources Department
b. Contractor Responsibilities
c. Best Practices
3. Air Quality Regulations
a. Burning
b. Asbestos
c. Emissions and Noise
4. Land Quality Regulations
a. Hazardous/Non-hazardous Waste
b. Disposal
5. Oregon RRP Program
6. Green Building

Chapter 10- Building Exterior Shell Training (180 minutes)

*Learning Objectives: 1) Understand the contractor's responsibility in constructing

weather-resistant building exterior shell. 2) Identify the primary components of the building
exterior shell. 3) Recognize key best practices for the construction of a weather-resistant
building exterior shell.
1. Building Envelope System
a. System Failures
b. Contractor Responsibilities
c. Claims
2. Foundations
a. Moisture Intrusion
3. Wall Construction
a. Vapor Diffusion
b. Decay Resistance
c. House Wrap
d. Siding
4. Roof Construction
a. Skylights
b. Valleys
c. Sheathing and Roofing Materials
5. Windows and Doors
a. Installation-Proper flashing
6. Ventilation
a. Under-floor Space
b. Attic Ventilation
7. Best Practices
8. Consumer Remedies
a. Disputes

Chapter 11- Practice Questions (90 minutes)

*Learning Objectives: 1) Reinforce and remediate student retention of materials. 2) Enable

learners to assess their progress, and to identify areas of review.

This course is approved for three credit hours in CCB Residential Continuing
Education: Building Codes.
The Builders License Training Institute is responsible for the content of this course.
Students have six months to complete the course.
To have access to our online courses students must have access to a high-speed internet
connection.
Course instructors will be available by email or telephone between 9am and 5pm Eastern
Standard Time. They will assist you with questions regarding course content.
If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-727-7104 or send an email
to info@licensetobuild.com. Email responses will usually be returned promptly, but
guaranteed within one business day.
Student policies and procedures are always available by going to
www.licensetobuild.com and scrolling to the bottom of the page (See Privacy and Refund
Policy).

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