Licensing & Exams for New Jersey

Well Drillers & Pump Installers

Use the information below to find information regarding required certification exams and experience requirements, by license type. If you are an out-of-state license applicant, you must pass the required certification exams and demonstrate the equivalent years of experience in any other state.

If you have any questions about these requirements, email wdpilicensing@njdepwptest.net and a member of our staff will answer your questions.

Required Certification Exams

All license applicants must demonstrate that they have obtained a passing grade on certification exams which are administered by the National Ground Water Association. New Jersey Regulatory Exam Modules must be taken no more than two years prior to submitting a License Application. Please use this chart to see what exams are required for the license which you intend to apply.

Master

If licensed as a Journeyman well driller on or after January 2, 2018:

  • General Drilling;
  • Augering and Monitoring;
  • Two of the following:
    • Cable Tool,
    • Air Rotary
    • Mud Rotary, or
    • Reverse Rotary;
  • Water Systems General;
  • Water Systems Less than 100 GPM
  • Water Systems Greater than 100 GPM
  • NJ Regulations for Masters

If licensed as a Journeyman well driller before January 2, 2018:

  • One of the following:
    • Cable Tool,
    • Air Rotary,
    • Mud Rotary, or
    • Reverse Rotary
  • Water Systems Greater than 100 GPM
  • NJ Regulations for Masters

Journeyman

  • General Drilling;
  • Augering and Monitoring
  • One of the following:
    • Cable Tool,
    • Air Rotary,
    • Mud Rotary, or
    • Reverse Rotary
  • Water Systems General;
  • One of the following:
    • Water Systems Less than 100 GPM
    • Water Systems Greater than 100 GPM
  • NJ Regulations for Journeyman

Journeyman (Class B)

  • General Drilling;
  • One of the following:
    • Cable Tool,
    • Air Rotary,
    • Mud Rotary, or
    • Reverse Rotary
  • Water Systems General;
  • One of the following:
    • Water Systems Less than 100 GPM
    • Water Systems Greater than 100 GPM
  • NJ Regulations for Journeyman (Class B)

ERG

  • General Drilling;
  • Augering and Monitoring;
  • NJ Regulations for ERG drilling

Dewatering

  • General Drilling;
  • NJ Regulations & Technical for Dewatering exam

VCLG

  • General Drilling;
  • Vertical Closed Loop Drilling;
  • One of the following:
    • Cable Tool,
    • Air Rotary,
    • Mud Rotary, or
    • Reverse Rotary
  • NJ Regulations for VCLG drilling

Elevator

  • General Drilling;
  • NJ Regulations for Elevator boreholes

Pump Installer

  • Water Systems General;
  • One of the following:
    • Water Systems Less than 100 GPM
    • Water Systems Greater than 100 GPM
  • NJ Regulations for Pump Installer

Experience Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate that they have met the experience requirements by conducting activities in compliance with N.J.A.C. 7:9D. Use the tabs below to view the required experience requirements by license type.

Master

Five years experience, including two years as a Journeyman well driller; experience must include construction or decommissioning of five wells from Category 1, 2, or 3 within the preceding five years from the date of application.

Journeyman

Three years experience under the supervision of an ERG, Journeyman (Class B), Journeyman, Master, or VCLG well driller; experience must include construction or decommissioning of five wells from Category 1, 2, or 3 within the preceding five years from the date of application.

Journeyman (Class B)

Three years experience under the supervision of an ERG, Journeyman (Class B), Journeyman, Master, or VCLG well driller; experience must include construction or decommissioning of five wells from Category 1, 2, or 3 within the preceding five years from the date of application.

ERG

Two years experience under the supervision of an ERG, Journeyman (Class B), Journeyman, Master, or VCLG well driller; experience must include construction or decommissioning of five wells within the preceding five years from the date of application.

Dewatering

Two years experience under the supervision of a Dewatering, Journeyman (Class B), Journeyman, Master, or ERG well driller; experience must include construction or decommissioning of five wells within the preceding five years from the date of application.

VCLG

Two years experience under the supervision of a VCLG, Journeyman (Class B), Journeyman, Master, or ERG well driller; experience must include construction or decommissioning of five wells within the preceding five years from the date of application.

Elevator

Two years experience drilling elevator boreholes; Effective January 2, 2020, the applicant must demonstrate that the experience has been obtained under the supervision of a Master, Journeyman, Journeyman (Class B), or Elevator Borehole well driller.

Pump Installer

Two years experience under the supervision of Pump Installer, Journeyman, Journeyman (Class B), or Master well driller.

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Study Materials

Use the links below to view suggested study materials for the exam modules. Study materials for the NJ Regulatory Exam Modules are sorted by license type in the first link. Study materials for the NGWA Technical Exam Modules, such as General Drilling and Water Systems General, can be found below on NGWA’s Certification Exams page.

List of Suggested Study Materials For New Jersey Regulatory Exam Modules 

Suggested Study Materials for NGWA Technical Exam Modules

Instructions to Schedule an Exam

To schedule an exam, visit the PSI Exams website and follow these instructions:

    1. Click on the VIEW AVAILABLE TESTS button
    2. Select the test that you need to take by clicking on the appropriate box
    3. Click the LOGIN/REGISTER button to book a timeslot for the exam

Here you will be able to select the certification exam(s) that you are required to take for your license. Exams may also be scheduled by calling PSI at (855) 579-4642.

If space is available, exams can be scheduled one day in advance, before 4:00 pm Pacific Standard Time, at testing centers across the United States. For information about rescheduling or cancelling and exam that you have scheduled, visit PSI’s FAQ’s for instructions.

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License Applications

There are two license applications: one for pump installers and one for well drillers. You should submit this application once you have completed all of your required certification exams and have met the experience requirements for the license which you are applying.

Pump Installer License Application
Pump Installer License Application

Complete this application if you are applying for the following license:

  • Pump Installer
Learn More
Well Driller License Application
Well Driller License Application

Complete this application if you are applying for the following license:

  • Master Well Driller
  • Journeyman Well Driller
  • Journeyman (Class B) Well Driller
  • Environmental Resource & Geotechnical Well Driller
  • Dewatering Well Driller
  • Vertical Closed Loop Geothermal Well Driller
  • Elevator Borehole Well Driller
Learn More