Licensing, Exams, & Continuing Education

Well Permitting, along with the New Jersey State Well Drillers and Pump Installers Examining and Advisory Board (Board), review license applications submitted by individuals looking to become New Jersey licensed well drillers and pump installers. Applicants who pass the required certification exams and meet the appropriate experience requirements will be granted a license. There are eight license types that Well Permitting and the Board administer:

  • Master Well Driller License
  • Journeyman Well Driller License
  • Journeyman (Class B) Well Driller License
  • Environmental Resource & Geotechnical (ERG) Well Driller License
  • Dewatering Well Driller License
  • Vertical Closed Loop Geothermal (VCLG) Well Driller License
  • Elevator Borehole Well Driller License
  • Pump Installer License

Please use the tabs below to find more information on responsibilities of the different license types as stipulated in the Well Construction and Maintenance; Sealing of Abandoned Wells rule, N.J.A.C. 7:9D.

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General Provisions by License Type

Master

  1. Drill, construct, install, repair, replace, modify, stimulate, disinfect, or
    disconnect a well of any category;
  2. Install, maintain, winterize, or replace well pumping equipment and
    appurtenances, storage tanks, and appurtenances and connecting lines between a well and storage tank;
  3. Perform yield and drawdown testing of wells;
  4. Supervise three or more journeyman well drillers;
  5. Certify public non-community and non-public well water systems where the mains are less than four inches in diameter;
  6. Certify that a well has been drilled, constructed, installed, repaired, replaced, modified, or stimulated in conformance with all applicable State and well drilling and pump installation standards;
  7. Qualify as a candidate to be appointed to the Board;
  8. Perform field observations to verify qualifications of applicants for all
    licenses covered by this chapter; and
  9. Seal and decommission any well in compliance with N.J.A.C.7:9D-3.

Journeyman

  1. Drill, construct, install, repair, replace, modify, stimulate, disinfect, or
    disconnect a well of any category except public community supply wells;
  2. Install, maintain, winterize, or replace well pumping equipment and
    appurtenances, storage tanks, and appurtenances and connecting lines between a well and storage tank;
  3. Perform yield and drawdown testing of wells;
  4. Seal and decommission any well except public community water supply wells in compliance with N.J.A.C. 7:9D-3; and
  5. Qualify as a candidate for appointment to the Board.

Journeyman (Class B)

  1. Drill, construct, install, repair, replace, modify, stimulate, disinfect, or
    disconnect a well of any category except public community supply wells and
    Category 3 wells;
  2. Install, maintain, winterize, or replace well pumping equipment and
    appurtenances, storage tanks, and appurtenances and connecting lines between a well and storage tank;
  3. Perform yield and drawdown testing of wells;
  4. Decommission any well, except public community water supply wells or
    Category 3 wells, in compliance with N.J.A.C. 7:9D-3; and
  5. Qualify as a candidate for appointment to the Board.

ERG

  1. Drill, construct, install, repair, replace, modify, stimulate, disinfect, or
    disconnect any Category 3 and 4 well that does not require permanent well
    pumping equipment;
  2. Decommission Category 3 and 4 wells in compliance with N.J.A.C. 7:9D-3;
    and
  3. Qualify as a candidate for appointment to the Board.

Dewatering

  1. Drill, construct, install, replace, modify, stimulate or disconnect any
    dewatering well or dewatering wellpoint which does not penetrate a confined aquifer;
  2. Decommission only Category 6 wells that have not penetrated any confining
    layers; and
  3. Qualify as a candidate for appointment to the Board.

VCLG

  1. Drill, construct, install, repair, replace, or modify any Category 5 well that
    does not require permanent well pumping equipment;
  2. Decommission Category 5 wells in compliance with N.J.A.C. 7:9D-3; and
  3. Qualify as a candidate for appointment to the Board.

Elevator

  1. Drill, construct, install, repair, replace, modify, or disconnect any Category 7
    well;
  2. Decommission any Category 7 well in compliance with N.J.A.C. 7:9D-3; and
  3. Qualify as a candidate for appointment to the Board.

Pump Installer

  1. Install, maintain, disinfect, winterize, or replace well pumping equipment and appurtenances, storage tanks, and appurtenances and connecting lines between a well and storage tank;
  2. Perform yield and drawdown testing of wells; and
  3. Qualify as a candidate for appointment to the Board.

Licensing & Exams

Using the Licensing and Exams link, prospective well drillers and pump installers or currently licensed individuals who are looking to upgrade their licenses will find additional information.

Visit this page if you are looking for more information about the following topics or documents:

  • Required certification exams
  • Experience requirements
  • Scheduling exams
  • Exam study materials
  • License application
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Continuing Education

Currently licensed well drillers and pump installers can use the Continuing Education link if they wish to find information related to continuing education requirements.

Visit this page if you are looking for more information about the following topics or documents:

  • Upcoming deadlines for continuing education points (CEPs)
  • CEP requirements for licensees
  • Instructions for looking up your CEPs
  • Course application
  • Course List
Learn More