OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

Iowa Water Well Driller — Requirements & Free Practice

US-IA · License preparation

100 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required

Choose what to practice

Start with an exam below. Your examination requirements depend on your application pathway. View licensing requirements

Combined practice

Loading selected examination banks…

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.

Certified Well Contractor (Well Driller)

Certification to perform well drilling services. Pump installer certification is a separate specialty; holding both does not create a separate well-driller license identity.

Licensing authority: Iowa Department of Natural Resources · Application information

Initial certification by examination
Application
Submit the department examination application and examination fees; department determines eligibility (567 IAC 82.6(3)-(4)).
Certification Payment
Submit certification fee within 30 days of passing notification; after 30 but before 60 days the late penalty applies; after 60 days certification cannot rely on those results (567 IAC 82.7(2)).
Completion Window
Complete the required examinations within one year of approved application (567 IAC 82.6(5), (8)).
Disability Accommodation
Request accommodations 30 days before the examination with documentation; oral administration, extra time, accessibility or separate testing may be approved (567 IAC 82.6(10)).
Education Substitution
Department-approved education may replace up to half the experience, at one CEU for each 100 hours (567 IAC 82.4).
Employment
Two years of employment and 2,000 hours of work experience in Class 1 and Class 2 well construction (567 IAC 82.4).
Oral Administration
The director may approve oral administration after at least two written failures, documented reading difficulty, written communication ability, and a staff recommendation (567 IAC 82.6(9)). This is administration of the relevant examination, not an additional exam identity.
Reciprocity
The DNR certification page states: 'The DNR does not reciprocate with any other state’s well contractor certification or licensure programs, or NGWA national certification.' Applicants with those credentials must obtain Iowa certification under the ordinary requirements.
Recertification with insufficient continuing education
Continuing Education
Insufficient CEUs to renew; recertification sought within two years after expiration.
Qualification
Retake and pass the applicable examinations and pay the $1,000 certification fee (567 IAC 82.5(7)).
Recertification after termination of renewal rights
Expiration
Failure to renew within 60 days terminates renewal rights.
Qualification
Pass the appropriate examinations and submit the certification fee; do not practice on an expired certificate (567 IAC 82.7(4)(e)-(f)).
Late renewal within 60 days
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Alternative CEU
Honorable active military service, government well-contractor employment abroad, and director-approved practice outside the state satisfy alternative CEU requirements (567 IAC 82.8(6)).
Continuing Education
Well drillers, including holders of both specialties, require 1.6 CEUs/16 hours earned April 1 to March 31 of even-numbered years (567 IAC 82.8(1)). Newly certified persons after April 1 of an even-numbered year need no CEUs until the next period.
Existing Certification
Hold the applicable Iowa certification.
Hardship
The director may grant six additional months for documented hardship; request before March 31 (567 IAC 82.8(4)).
Payment
Submit renewal application and applicable renewal fee; renewal itself prescribes no examination (567 IAC 82.7(4)(a)-(c)).
Period
Certificates expire June 30 of even-numbered years and renew every two years (567 IAC 82.7(4)).
Timeliness
Apply within 60 days after expiration and pay renewal fee and late penalty; no well services may be provided on an expired certificate.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Biennial renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Alternative CEU
Honorable active military service, government well-contractor employment abroad, and director-approved practice outside the state satisfy alternative CEU requirements (567 IAC 82.8(6)).
Continuing Education
Well drillers, including holders of both specialties, require 1.6 CEUs/16 hours earned April 1 to March 31 of even-numbered years (567 IAC 82.8(1)). Newly certified persons after April 1 of an even-numbered year need no CEUs until the next period.
Existing Certification
Hold the applicable Iowa certification.
Hardship
The director may grant six additional months for documented hardship; request before March 31 (567 IAC 82.8(4)).
Payment
Submit renewal application and applicable renewal fee; renewal itself prescribes no examination (567 IAC 82.7(4)(a)-(c)).
Period
Certificates expire June 30 of even-numbered years and renew every two years (567 IAC 82.7(4)).
Timeliness
Submit renewal application and fee before certificate expiration.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Recertification after certificate revocation
Permanent Revocation
A revocation may be permanent without chance of recertification or for a specified period (567 IAC 82.10(2)(a)); the two-year application provision does not override a permanent sanction.
Qualification
Pass the examination and certify in the same manner as other applicants; department determines applicable fees (567 IAC 82.11).
Waiting Period
Application may be allowed two years after revocation.
Conversion from provisional to full certification
Prior Certification
Hold provisional well-driller certification and already have passed the currently offered relevant examinations; the rule does not prescribe a second sitting solely for conversion.
Qualification
Submit an application showing all full certification requirements are met and appropriate fees; the department issues full certification after the one-year provisional period and fee receipt (567 IAC 82.3(3)).

Provisionally Certified Well Contractor (Well Driller)

One-year provisional well-driller certification for shortages of certified personnel, with reduced experience and an employing certified contractor jointly liable.

Licensing authority: Iowa Department of Natural Resources · Application information

Initial provisional well driller certification
Application
Submit the department examination application and examination fees; department determines eligibility (567 IAC 82.6(3)-(4)).
Certification Payment
Submit certification fee within 30 days of passing notification; after 30 but before 60 days the late penalty applies; after 60 days certification cannot rely on those results (567 IAC 82.7(2)).
Completion Window
Complete the required examinations within one year of approved application (567 IAC 82.6(5), (8)).
Cosigner
An employing certified contractor must cosign and is jointly liable for violations (Iowa Code 455B.190A(2)(e)(3)).
Disability Accommodation
Request accommodations 30 days before the examination with documentation; oral administration, extra time, accessibility or separate testing may be approved (567 IAC 82.6(10)).
Duration
Provisional certificate lasts one year; conversion requires application showing full requirements and appropriate fees (567 IAC 82.3(3)).
Education Substitution
Department-approved education may replace up to half the experience, at one CEU for each 100 hours (567 IAC 82.4).
Employment
At least one year of directly supervised well-services experience and half the full employment/experience requirement: one year and 1,000 hours for well drilling.
Inspection
DNR's Provisional Certification page requires a fully certified contractor at the same company to inspect and sign off work performed independently.
Oral Administration
The director may approve oral administration after at least two written failures, documented reading difficulty, written communication ability, and a staff recommendation (567 IAC 82.6(9)). This is administration of the relevant examination, not an additional exam identity.
Reciprocity
The DNR certification page states: 'The DNR does not reciprocate with any other state’s well contractor certification or licensure programs, or NGWA national certification.' Applicants with those credentials must obtain Iowa certification under the ordinary requirements.
Shortage
Provisional certification is available in instances of shortages of certified personnel (Iowa Code 455B.190A(2)(e)).

Iowa General Fundamentals Examination - Well Drilling and Pump Installation Contractors

Practice scope

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

  • Regulatory Foundation and Certification
    • Iowa groundwater law and regulated well-service scope
    • Certification classes, examination requirements, and authorized work
  • Site Authorization, Protection, and Records
    • Permits, responsible authorities, and preconstruction coordination
    • Well siting, separation distances, and contamination protection
    • Well records, drill-cutting samples, and reporting
  • Public Health and Contractor Accountability
    • Disinfection, sampling, and water-quality protection
    • Contractor obligations, hazardous conditions, and discipline
Examination sources

Iowa Specialty Examination - Well Drillers

Practice scope

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

  • Well Design and Borehole Construction
    • Well types, aquifers, and geologic design
    • Drilled-well casing depths and annular-space requirements
  • Materials and Annular Sealing
    • Casing, liner, and construction-material standards
    • Grout materials, guides, and placement methods
  • Well Completion and Performance
    • Wellheads, caps, vents, and surface protection
    • Development, water-level access, and test pumping
  • Existing Wells and End-of-Life Work
    • Well reconstruction, liners, and rehabilitation
    • Abandoned-well materials and plugging procedures
  • Public Wells and Environmental Controls
    • Public water-supply well siting and construction
    • Drilling water, fluids, cuttings, and disposal
Examination sources