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South Dakota Water Well Driller — Requirements & Free Practice

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South Dakota Well Driller License

License to drill, construct, redrill, rebuild, regrout and recase wells, with authorized well types based on the license representative's qualifications and experience.

Licensing authority: department of agriculture and natural resources · Application information

Approval for additional well types under existing license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Additional type qualifications
Document at least five years of experience and qualifications for the specified wells, or submit other documentation in lieu of experience demonstrating qualifications and ability (ARSD 74:02:01:42.03).
Application fee
$200 for a resident representative and $300 for a nonresident; resident means primary residence in South Dakota and no residency claimed elsewhere within 90 days of application (SDCL 46-6-9 and official application).
Application information
Supply names and addresses, representative name, drilling methods and equipment, requested well types, statement of familiarity with the specified laws and rules, and confirmation of needed drilling equipment (ARSD 74:02:01:42–42.02).
Designated representative
Designate the individual responsible for all contracted or authorized drilling and construction; license approval and authorized well types depend on that representative’s qualifications.
Exam boundary
ARSD 74:02:01:42.06 requires qualification documentation for additional types; 42.09 requires an examination for a new well driller license. If a new representative is also added, the separate representative-change route applies.
Existing license
An existing well driller seeks authorization for well types not previously approved.
Grandfathered exception
ARSD 74:02:01:42.07 exempts an eligible continuously renewed March 31, 1983 license from 42.06; equipment must remain capable of the well types requested.
Record compliance
The chief engineer may delay issuance for missing well-construction reports (ARSD 74:02:01:43.01).
Well type authorization
Approval may cover one or more of the listed domestic, irrigation, municipal/common distribution, commercial, industrial, geothermal and monitoring/sampling well types, separately above or below the Greenhorn formation.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Timely annual renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application fee
$200 for a resident representative and $300 for a nonresident; resident means primary residence in South Dakota and no residency claimed elsewhere within 90 days of application (SDCL 46-6-9 and official application).
Application information
Supply names and addresses, representative name, drilling methods and equipment, requested well types, statement of familiarity with the specified laws and rules, and confirmation of needed drilling equipment (ARSD 74:02:01:42–42.02).
Continuing education
Each representative must complete four hours annually between January 1 and December 31; excess hours may carry into the next year, and renewal must document the activities (ARSD 74:02:01:43.11 and 42.04).
Current license
Renew an existing license for the next calendar year.
Designated representative
Designate the individual responsible for all contracted or authorized drilling and construction; license approval and authorized well types depend on that representative’s qualifications.
Record compliance
The chief engineer may delay issuance for missing well-construction reports (ARSD 74:02:01:43.01).
Renewal deadline
Application must be postmarked before February 1; the official renewal instructions require issuance before drilling in the renewal year.
Well reports
Report the number of wells and confirm complete construction, test-hole, rehabilitation and plugging reports for the preceding year or 12 months.
Well type authorization
Approval may cover one or more of the listed domestic, irrigation, municipal/common distribution, commercial, industrial, geothermal and monitoring/sampling well types, separately above or below the Greenhorn formation.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Timely annual renewal of license held on March 31, 1983
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application fee
$200 for a resident representative and $300 for a nonresident; resident means primary residence in South Dakota and no residency claimed elsewhere within 90 days of application (SDCL 46-6-9 and official application).
Application information
Supply names and addresses, representative name, drilling methods and equipment, requested well types, statement of familiarity with the specified laws and rules, and confirmation of needed drilling equipment (ARSD 74:02:01:42–42.02).
Continuing education
Each representative must complete four hours annually between January 1 and December 31; excess hours may carry into the next year, and renewal must document the activities (ARSD 74:02:01:43.11 and 42.04).
Current license
Renew an existing license for the next calendar year.
Designated representative
Designate the individual responsible for all contracted or authorized drilling and construction; license approval and authorized well types depend on that representative’s qualifications.
Grandfathered status
Licensed as of March 31, 1983 and renewed yearly by January 31; ARSD 74:02:01:42.07 exempts compliance with 42.05 and 42.06, but equipment must be capable of drilling the requested well types. Continuing education and renewal reporting still apply.
Record compliance
The chief engineer may delay issuance for missing well-construction reports (ARSD 74:02:01:43.01).
Renewal deadline
Application must be postmarked before February 1; the official renewal instructions require issuance before drilling in the renewal year.
Well reports
Report the number of wells and confirm complete construction, test-hole, rehabilitation and plugging reports for the preceding year or 12 months.
Well type authorization
Approval may cover one or more of the listed domestic, irrigation, municipal/common distribution, commercial, industrial, geothermal and monitoring/sampling well types, separately above or below the Greenhorn formation.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial issuance by examination
South Dakota Well Driller Licensing Examination
Application fee
$200 for a resident representative and $300 for a nonresident; resident means primary residence in South Dakota and no residency claimed elsewhere within 90 days of application (SDCL 46-6-9 and official application).
Application information
Supply names and addresses, representative name, drilling methods and equipment, requested well types, statement of familiarity with the specified laws and rules, and confirmation of needed drilling equipment (ARSD 74:02:01:42–42.02).
Designated representative
Designate the individual responsible for all contracted or authorized drilling and construction; license approval and authorized well types depend on that representative’s qualifications.
Examination
Each proposed representative must pass the state licensing examination; request it from the Water Rights Program.
Record compliance
The chief engineer may delay issuance for missing well-construction reports (ARSD 74:02:01:43.01).
Representative qualifications
Document at least five years of experience and qualifications for the specified wells, or submit other documentation in lieu of experience demonstrating qualifications and ability (ARSD 74:02:01:42.03).
Well type authorization
Approval may cover one or more of the listed domestic, irrigation, municipal/common distribution, commercial, industrial, geothermal and monitoring/sampling well types, separately above or below the Greenhorn formation.
New application after late renewal
South Dakota Well Driller Licensing Examination
Application fee
$200 for a resident representative and $300 for a nonresident; resident means primary residence in South Dakota and no residency claimed elsewhere within 90 days of application (SDCL 46-6-9 and official application).
Application information
Supply names and addresses, representative name, drilling methods and equipment, requested well types, statement of familiarity with the specified laws and rules, and confirmation of needed drilling equipment (ARSD 74:02:01:42–42.02).
Designated representative
Designate the individual responsible for all contracted or authorized drilling and construction; license approval and authorized well types depend on that representative’s qualifications.
Late renewal
A renewal postmarked after January 31 is rejected and must satisfy new-application requirements. The renewal instructions state: “Renewals postmarked after January 31 of the year for which you wish to renew will be returned, and the applicant will have to comply with the requirements for new applications.”
Record compliance
The chief engineer may delay issuance for missing well-construction reports (ARSD 74:02:01:43.01).
Representative qualifications
Document at least five years of experience and qualifications for the specified wells, or submit other documentation in lieu of experience demonstrating qualifications and ability (ARSD 74:02:01:42.03).
Well type authorization
Approval may cover one or more of the listed domestic, irrigation, municipal/common distribution, commercial, industrial, geothermal and monitoring/sampling well types, separately above or below the Greenhorn formation.
Designation of new representative for an existing license
South Dakota Well Driller Licensing Examination
Application fee
$200 for a resident representative and $300 for a nonresident; resident means primary residence in South Dakota and no residency claimed elsewhere within 90 days of application (SDCL 46-6-9 and official application).
Application information
Supply names and addresses, representative name, drilling methods and equipment, requested well types, statement of familiarity with the specified laws and rules, and confirmation of needed drilling equipment (ARSD 74:02:01:42–42.02).
Designated representative
Designate the individual responsible for all contracted or authorized drilling and construction; license approval and authorized well types depend on that representative’s qualifications.
Existing license
An existing licensed company designates a new representative.
Grandfathered exception
A qualifying license continuously renewed from March 31, 1983 is exempt from 42.06 under 42.07; the Department’s renewal instructions still direct applicants adding a representative to obtain the new-applicant exam.
Implementing exam requirement
The Department’s renewal instructions state: “If your company needs to add a new license representative, please contact the Water Rights Program for the information, forms, and exam for a new applicant.”
Record compliance
The chief engineer may delay issuance for missing well-construction reports (ARSD 74:02:01:43.01).
Representative qualifications
Document at least five years of experience and qualifications for the specified wells, or submit other documentation in lieu of experience demonstrating qualifications and ability (ARSD 74:02:01:42.03).
Well type authorization
Approval may cover one or more of the listed domestic, irrigation, municipal/common distribution, commercial, industrial, geothermal and monitoring/sampling well types, separately above or below the Greenhorn formation.
New license application after revocation
South Dakota Well Driller Licensing Examination
Application fee
$200 for a resident representative and $300 for a nonresident; resident means primary residence in South Dakota and no residency claimed elsewhere within 90 days of application (SDCL 46-6-9 and official application).
Application information
Supply names and addresses, representative name, drilling methods and equipment, requested well types, statement of familiarity with the specified laws and rules, and confirmation of needed drilling equipment (ARSD 74:02:01:42–42.02).
Designated representative
Designate the individual responsible for all contracted or authorized drilling and construction; license approval and authorized well types depend on that representative’s qualifications.
Prior revocation
After revocation, wait at least six months after its effective date before applying for a new license (SDCL 46-6-9.1).
Record compliance
The chief engineer may delay issuance for missing well-construction reports (ARSD 74:02:01:43.01).
Representative eligibility
A representative subject to suspension or revocation may not serve for any well driller during the term set by the Board (ARSD 74:02:01:43.03).
Representative qualifications
Document at least five years of experience and qualifications for the specified wells, or submit other documentation in lieu of experience demonstrating qualifications and ability (ARSD 74:02:01:42.03).
Well type authorization
Approval may cover one or more of the listed domestic, irrigation, municipal/common distribution, commercial, industrial, geothermal and monitoring/sampling well types, separately above or below the Greenhorn formation.

South Dakota Well Driller Licensing Examination

Provider
Water Rights Program, chief engineer or designee
Format
Open book written examination
Passing score
At least 70% of questions correctly answered; overall grade of 70 out of 100
Practice scope

Inferred from the examination name; the authority has not published an examination outline.

  • SDCL Chapter 46-2A — Administrative Procedure for Appropriation of Water
  • SDCL Chapter 46-5 — Appropriation of Water
  • SDCL Chapter 46-6 — Groundwater and Wells, §§ 46-6-6 through 46-6-31
  • ARSD Chapter 74:02:01 — General Rules
  • ARSD Chapter 74:02:04 — Well Construction Standards
Examination sources