Oregon Construction Contractors (CCB) Practice Test

Which individual is NOT required to have a contractor's license?

1. An owner who hires a licensed contractor

2. A registered architect

3. A licensed landscape contractor building a deck

4. A person managing a construction site

The correct answer is: An owner who hires a licensed contractor

The individual who is not required to have a contractor's license is an owner who hires a licensed contractor. In this context, the owner is engaging a licensed professional to undertake construction work, and as such, they are not performing the work themselves nor managing the project in such a way that would require a contractor's license. In Oregon and many other jurisdictions, the responsibility of licensing falls primarily on those who perform the construction work. Therefore, individuals like architects and specialized licensed contractors are required to have appropriate licenses due to their professional roles and responsibilities in the construction process. Owners who simply contract with these licensed professionals do not need to have a contractor's license themselves, as they are not directly involved in the hands-on construction or management of the project. This distinction clarifies that while various roles within the construction industry do require licensing for legal operation, simply hiring a licensed contractor does not place the onus of that licensing requirement on the property owner.