OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

Montana Water Well Driller — Requirements & Free Practice

US-MT · 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

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.

Water Well Driller's License

Individual license for a driller employed by a licensed water well contractor.

Licensing authority: Montana Board of Water Well Contractors · Application information

Inactive license protection during federal military activation
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Activation
Reserve-component member ordered to federal active duty for at least 90 consecutive days.
Protections
During the submitted active-duty orders fees and CE cannot be required; the license cannot lapse, be suspended or revoked for those failures.
Request
Report activation with the federal orders and request inactive status.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

License restoration after federal active duty
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board review
The Board considers military duties, licensing requirements and length of active duty. The statute provides full restoration, retention with conditions, or suspension/revocation. Unspecified Board conditions remain applicant conditions.
Discharge documents
Submit a copy of discharge documents.
Hearing
If conditioned, suspended or revoked, request a hearing within 90 days; the Board must conduct it within 30 days of the request.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Annual active renewal, including late renewal before revocation
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Bond
WWC/MWC provide a current $25,000 bond subject to statutory exceptions; WWD has no separate bond.
Continuing education
Four hours of Board-approved training before July renewal; the dated ARM 36.21.413A(5) exempts new licensees until their second renewal year.
Existing license
Hold the existing license; the license year runs July 1 through June 30.
Late renewal
Unrenewed licenses are suspended July 1; a $150 late fee is due July 10; nonrenewal causes revocation August 1. Activated reservist protections are recorded separately.
Renewal submission
Submit the renewal form, required fee, proof of required CE and current bond where applicable.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Replacement driller license after change of responsible contractor
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Employment
Continue employment by a licensed water well contractor.
Notifications
The departing contractor notifies the Board within five days; the driller reports the new contractor within five days of new employment; new hirings are reported by the contractor within ten days.
Replacement license
ARM 36.21.406(2) provides a new license bearing the driller and contractor information upon a change of contractor, for a fee.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reapplication after disciplinary revocation
Montana water well driller’s examination
Application
Submit the complete signed application, appropriate fee, employment history, prior licenses and verification letters; furnish at least three professional water-well-industry references familiar with the work and disclose license revocations, bond forfeitures and disciplinary proceedings.
Bond
The Board application and ARM 36.21.411 do not require a separate bond for a driller.
Employment
Be employed by a Montana-licensed water well contractor and provide that contractor's letter confirming employment and responsibility for the work.
Examination timing
Schedule the approved examination by appointment. MCA 37-43-305(5) bars a further application for three months after failure.
Experience
Complete at least one year of apprenticeship under a licensed contractor or driller, or equivalent education, experience, or both as determined by the Board; document the apprenticeship. The dated ARM 36.21.412 describes 12 months of full-time drilling employment in the preceding three years or approved vocational training.
Knowledge
Familiar knowledge of Montana groundwater laws and sanitary standards; knowledge of water-well construction, drilling tools and their uses, and geology in relation to construction.
Prior revocation
MCA 37-43-313(1)(e) allows revocation specifying that the licensee may not reapply for three years. Following that bar the applicant must meet the statutory license qualifications and disclose the prior revocation.
Renewal in inactive status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Existing license
Select inactive status for the existing license on the annual renewal form.
Inactive requirements
The renewal form specifies a $250 inactive-status fee and says bond and CE credits are not required. Ordinary later reactivation is not specified in the obtained materials.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure by examination
Montana water well driller’s examination
Application
Submit the complete signed application, appropriate fee, employment history, prior licenses and verification letters; furnish at least three professional water-well-industry references familiar with the work and disclose license revocations, bond forfeitures and disciplinary proceedings.
Bond
The Board application and ARM 36.21.411 do not require a separate bond for a driller.
Employment
Be employed by a Montana-licensed water well contractor and provide that contractor's letter confirming employment and responsibility for the work.
Examination timing
Schedule the approved examination by appointment. MCA 37-43-305(5) bars a further application for three months after failure.
Experience
Complete at least one year of apprenticeship under a licensed contractor or driller, or equivalent education, experience, or both as determined by the Board; document the apprenticeship. The dated ARM 36.21.412 describes 12 months of full-time drilling employment in the preceding three years or approved vocational training.
Knowledge
Familiar knowledge of Montana groundwater laws and sanitary standards; knowledge of water-well construction, drilling tools and their uses, and geology in relation to construction.
Reinstatement after nonrenewal revocation without negligence or laches
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board determination
MCA 37-43-307(2) permits reinstatement when an injustice occurred and the licensee was not guilty of negligence or laches; fault-based reapplication is a separate route.
Board instruction
The lower-ranked 2026 renewal notice, without discussing the statutory injustice exception, states: If your license is revoked on August 1, reinstatement will require submission of a new application along with successful completion of the required examination.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reapplication after nonrenewal revocation attributable to the licensee
Montana water well driller’s examination
Application
Submit the complete signed application, appropriate fee, employment history, prior licenses and verification letters; furnish at least three professional water-well-industry references familiar with the work and disclose license revocations, bond forfeitures and disciplinary proceedings.
Bond
The Board application and ARM 36.21.411 do not require a separate bond for a driller.
Employment
Be employed by a Montana-licensed water well contractor and provide that contractor's letter confirming employment and responsibility for the work.
Examination timing
Schedule the approved examination by appointment. MCA 37-43-305(5) bars a further application for three months after failure.
Experience
Complete at least one year of apprenticeship under a licensed contractor or driller, or equivalent education, experience, or both as determined by the Board; document the apprenticeship. The dated ARM 36.21.412 describes 12 months of full-time drilling employment in the preceding three years or approved vocational training.
Knowledge
Familiar knowledge of Montana groundwater laws and sanitary standards; knowledge of water-well construction, drilling tools and their uses, and geology in relation to construction.
Prior revocation
The license was revoked for nonrenewal through the licensee's own fault. MCA 37-43-307(2) requires a new application under 37-43-303; the 2026 renewal notice requires successful examination completion.
Licensure by reciprocity
Montana water well driller’s examination
Application
Submit the complete signed application, appropriate fee, employment history, prior licenses and verification letters; furnish at least three professional water-well-industry references familiar with the work and disclose license revocations, bond forfeitures and disciplinary proceedings.
Board application
The current Board application states: Out-of-state applicants must fulfill the same requirements as in-state applicants. The attached form for verification of out-of- state licensure must be completed, signed, and returned by the water well licensing official in any state where you have held a previous water well driller’s or contractor’s license.
Board waiver
MCA 37-43-308 allows apprenticeship and examination waivers when the other state's standards equal or exceed Montana's. The discretion is an applicant condition. The dated ARM 36.21.410(7) states: (7) Applicants for licensure by reciprocity will be required to pass the examination with a score of 80 percent.
Bond
The Board application and ARM 36.21.411 do not require a separate bond for a driller.
Employment
Be employed by a Montana-licensed water well contractor and provide that contractor's letter confirming employment and responsibility for the work.
Examination timing
Schedule the approved examination by appointment. MCA 37-43-305(5) bars a further application for three months after failure.
Experience
Complete at least one year of apprenticeship under a licensed contractor or driller, or equivalent education, experience, or both as determined by the Board; document the apprenticeship. The dated ARM 36.21.412 describes 12 months of full-time drilling employment in the preceding three years or approved vocational training.
Knowledge
Familiar knowledge of Montana groundwater laws and sanitary standards; knowledge of water-well construction, drilling tools and their uses, and geology in relation to construction.
Other jurisdiction license
Hold an out-of-state license entitling the applicant to drill water or monitoring wells; obtain the prior licensing official's completed verification.
Possible law examination
MCA 37-43-308 permits an examination based on Montana statutes and rules but does not identify a separate currently offered examination. This discretionary examination slot is a condition; the Board application identifies the examination for this license.

Montana water well driller’s examination

Provider
Montana Board of Water Well Contractors / DNRC
Format
Primarily multiple choice and true and false, with a few short answer questions
Exam questions
135
Passing score
80 percent
Examination outline
  • Montana laws and rules
  • General hydrogeology
  • Geology
  • Drilling practices for cable tool and rotary rigs
    • Cable tool rigs
    • Rotary rigs
Examination sources