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Idaho Water Well Driller — Requirements & Free Practice

US-ID · License preparation

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Idaho Well Driller’s License

Individual license to drill wells and supervise operators. The director may impose conditions or limitations on the same license.

Licensing authority: Idaho Department of Water Resources · Application information

Transfer employment to another Idaho well drilling company
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
New Supervision
The new company and principal driller supply and sign their information; the principal driller certifies compliance with Idaho rules.
Prior Credential
An already licensed driller or permitted operator transfers from one Idaho well-drilling company to another.
Transfer Documents
Complete Form 238-1B and return the prior company’s driller or operator card; IDWR issues a new card and mails it to the new company.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2023-03-30.

Initial issuance with conditions or limitations
Idaho Well Driller Licensing Examination
Application
Submit a complete signed Form 238-9A with experience documentation and the $200 fee at least 20 days before the exam to the testing regional office. The form requires the employing principal driller’s signature.
Bond
After passing, provide a satisfactory company bond covering the driller or an individual bond when drilling independently; Idaho Code § 42-238(7) sets the director-determined amount between $5,000 and $20,000.
Classroom Credit
The director may credit successful related classroom study for up to 12 months of experience.
Compliance History
Adequate experience and acceptable compliance history are determined by the director; up to three confirming references may be requested.
Director Limitations
Rule 033.04 authorizes specific conditions or limitations based on experience and compliance history; this remains the same individual license or operator permit, and the examination requirement is retained.
Drilling Experience
Submit evidence of at least 24 months of drilling experience; 12 months must fall within the five years immediately preceding application. One month equals 160 hours of qualifying work. Applicable monitoring, geothermal or other cased-well experience may be credited.
Oral Examination
Rule 034.02 permits verbal testing for cause acceptable to the director, requested with at least 15 days to schedule; additional verbal testing may be required because of compliance history. This is a delivery accommodation or additional testing of the licensing examination, not a separate named examination.
New application after expiration or inactivity of more than three years
Idaho Well Driller Licensing Examination
Application
Submit a complete signed Form 238-9A with experience documentation and the $200 fee at least 20 days before the exam to the testing regional office. The form requires the employing principal driller’s signature.
Bond
After passing, provide a satisfactory company bond covering the driller or an individual bond when drilling independently; Idaho Code § 42-238(7) sets the director-determined amount between $5,000 and $20,000.
Classroom Credit
The director may credit successful related classroom study for up to 12 months of experience.
Compliance History
Adequate experience and acceptable compliance history are determined by the director; up to three confirming references may be requested.
Drilling Experience
Submit evidence of at least 24 months of drilling experience; 12 months must fall within the five years immediately preceding application. One month equals 160 hours of qualifying work. Applicable monitoring, geothermal or other cased-well experience may be credited.
Exam Waiver
The director may waive the examination requirement for an applicant previously licensed or permitted in Idaho; the current examination remains a leaf under this contract.
Inactive Period
The license or permit has expired or otherwise not been effective for more than three years; submit a new application under the licensing rules.
Oral Examination
Rule 034.02 permits verbal testing for cause acceptable to the director, requested with at least 15 days to schedule; additional verbal testing may be required because of compliance history. This is a delivery accommodation or additional testing of the licensing examination, not a separate named examination.
Renewal after expiration or inactivity of no more than three years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Accrued Education
Verify earned continuing-education credits for the entire period since the license or permit was last issued.
Application
Submit a complete principal-driller-signed renewal application and statutory fee, with a new bond or continuation certificate covering personnel, no later than March 15 for uninterrupted authorization.
Compliance
Submit required reports, permit applications, fees and agreed civil penalties; comply with repair or decommissioning orders and applicable law. The director may deny renewal or impose conditions based on compliance history.
Continuing Education
Provide the required approved continuing-education credits and records for the preceding licensing period; requirements may not exceed 20 hours per licensing period. Keep records for three years. Rule 070.05 allows the director to waive all or part for qualifying military service, disability, illness or other extenuating circumstances.
Inactive Period
The credential has expired or otherwise not been effective for no more than three years.
Licensing Period
Licenses and permits expire March 31 of the second year; renewal is effective April 1 for the next two-year period.
Prior Credential
Hold the relevant Idaho license or permit and apply for renewal of that authorization.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2023-03-30.

Initial issuance by examination
Idaho Well Driller Licensing Examination
Application
Submit a complete signed Form 238-9A with experience documentation and the $200 fee at least 20 days before the exam to the testing regional office. The form requires the employing principal driller’s signature.
Bond
After passing, provide a satisfactory company bond covering the driller or an individual bond when drilling independently; Idaho Code § 42-238(7) sets the director-determined amount between $5,000 and $20,000.
Classroom Credit
The director may credit successful related classroom study for up to 12 months of experience.
Compliance History
Adequate experience and acceptable compliance history are determined by the director; up to three confirming references may be requested.
Drilling Experience
Submit evidence of at least 24 months of drilling experience; 12 months must fall within the five years immediately preceding application. One month equals 160 hours of qualifying work. Applicable monitoring, geothermal or other cased-well experience may be credited.
Oral Examination
Rule 034.02 permits verbal testing for cause acceptable to the director, requested with at least 15 days to schedule; additional verbal testing may be required because of compliance history. This is a delivery accommodation or additional testing of the licensing examination, not a separate named examination.
Renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit a complete principal-driller-signed renewal application and statutory fee, with a new bond or continuation certificate covering personnel, no later than March 15 for uninterrupted authorization.
Compliance
Submit required reports, permit applications, fees and agreed civil penalties; comply with repair or decommissioning orders and applicable law. The director may deny renewal or impose conditions based on compliance history.
Continuing Education
Provide the required approved continuing-education credits and records for the preceding licensing period; requirements may not exceed 20 hours per licensing period. Keep records for three years. Rule 070.05 allows the director to waive all or part for qualifying military service, disability, illness or other extenuating circumstances.
Licensing Period
Licenses and permits expire March 31 of the second year; renewal is effective April 1 for the next two-year period.
Prior Credential
Hold the relevant Idaho license or permit and apply for renewal of that authorization.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2023-03-30.

Restore a license made void by loss of bond
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Bond Lapse
The existing license became void because its bond was canceled, expired or otherwise became ineffective during its term.
Replacement Bond
Provide an adequate replacement bond to restore the existing authorization. If inactivity exceeds three years, the new-application route under Rule 036.04 applies instead.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2023-03-30.

Idaho Well Driller Licensing Examination

Provider
Idaho Department of Water Resources
Format
Written examination; an authorized verbal examination may satisfy all or part of the written requirements.
Passing score
70% or higher
Practice scope

The authority has not published an examination outline; the practice questions follow the scope of the existing question bank.

  • Idaho Water Laws, Licensing, Permits, and Professional Duties
    • Licensure scope, qualifications, and examination
    • Supervision and licensed-driller duties
    • Drilling permits, records, bonding, renewal, and enforcement
  • Drilling Tools, Equipment, and Methods
    • Drilling tools, casing-handling tools, and their use
    • Equipment capability, drilling fluids, and borehole control
  • Underground Geology, Groundwater Hydrology, and Special Problems
    • Geologic formations, aquifers, and groundwater conditions
    • Waste, contamination, artesian conditions, and corrective decisions
  • Water-Well Casing and Construction Standards
    • Casing types, specifications, joints, and installation
    • Screens, perforations, liners, and filter packs
    • Annular seals, seal materials, and placement
    • Well completion, development, testing, disinfection, and sanitary protection
  • Well Modification and Decommissioning
    • Modification, repair, authorization, and decommissioning methods
Examination sources