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Water Well Contractor Licensure

The Department of Water Resources licenses:

  • Water Well Contractors
  • Water Well Pump And Pitless Unit Installers
  • Monitoring Well Contractors
  • Geothermal System Drillers

Licenses require annual renewal.

Search the Certified Well Drillers Database for North Dakota licensed contractors.

License Application

To obtain a license, applicants must meet minimum qualifications and pass an exam. A complete application must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the test date and include all of the following:

Exams are offered in February, May, August, and November.

Minimum Qualifications

Water Well Contractor

  • Minimum one year apprenticeship or experience in water well drilling and construction under the direct supervision of a licensed water well contractor; or
  • Complete a career and technical education program of at least one year in water well construction.

Water Well Pump And Pitless Unit Installer

  • Minimum one year apprenticeship or experience in water well pump and pitless unit installation under the direct supervision of a licensed water well pump and pitless unit installer; or
  • Complete a career and technical education program of at least one year in water well pump and pitless unit installation.

Monitoring Well Contractor

  • Minimum one year apprenticeship or experience in monitoring well construction under the direct supervision of a licensed water well contractor or licensed monitoring well contractor; or
  • Complete a program of at least one year in water well construction; or
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering or geology from an approved school.

Geothermal System Driller

  • Minimum one year apprenticeship under the direct supervision of a licensed geothermal system driller; or
  • Complete a minimum of 2,040 installation hours of experience in geothermal system drilling working under the direct supervision of a licensed geothermal system driller; or
  • Complete a one-year career and technical education program relating to geothermal system drilling.

Inactive License Status

Contractors may renew their license as “inactive”. Inactive status contractors may not operate as a licensed contractor. However, they may reactivate their license without re-taking the test.

Application & Renewal Forms

Geothermal, Monitoring Well, and Water Well Contractors Application And Renewal Form (SFN 61149) (PDF)

Pump And Pitless Unit Installer Application And Renewal Form (SFN 60271) (PDF)

Continuing Education Requirements

Continuing education hours are required to maintain licensure. Courses must be approved by the Department.

  • Water Well, Montoring Well, and Geothermal Contractors: six hours every two years
  • Pump and Pitless Unit Installers: two hours every two years

Well Driller’s Reports

Complete and accurate well driller’s reports must be submitted DWR within 30 days after completion or abandonment of a well.

Well Driller's Report (SFN 60273) (PDF)

Search Well Driller's Reports Forms Database or on Mapservices (interactive map).

Information

For more information, contact the Water Appropriation Division at (701) 328-2754 or e-mail.