The DNR Well Contractor Certification program helps ensure that groundwater professionals in Iowa meet minimum levels of work experience and knowledge. This means that the individual performing well services understands the basic protections required by law and rule, and how their work impacts the safety of the drinking water supplies used by citizens, communities, and industry.
If a well owner hires anyone to perform well services, that individual must be a DNR Certified Well Contractor and must be on-site at all times any well service is taking place. If an owner performs their own well services, the owner must physically perform the work themselves - they cannot hire, pay, or barter with another individual or non-certified company to perform the actual well service. Owners must follow the same well laws and rules that professional certified well contractors follow.
In Iowa, all work that meets the definition of "well services" (as found in Iowa law and Iowa Administrative Code) must be performed by a DNR Certified Well Contractor, or by an owner. The term "well services" includes:
All well construction, reconstruction, renovation, and rehabilitation of both private and public water supply wells, including irrigation wells
All water well test holes and test wells, installation of dewatering wells, and all wells needed for groundwater monitoring and observation
Installation of vertical or horizontal ground heat exchange (GHEX) loop borehole systems
Installation and repair of all well pumping and distribution systems, including pressure tanks and pressure switches
Plugging of all types of water wells
Well services are complicated and detailed tasks that require highly trained individuals using specialized equipment to perform them competently and safely.
Groundwater is a precious resource that can be found in abundance in most areas of Iowa. Certifying well contractors help ensures well services are completed in a manner that focuses on providing safe water sources and preserving those sources for future generations.
The protections are part of a set of uniform standards that the well industry helped create and are part of all well services that a professional certified well contractor provides. These services include well construction, pump installation, pump and pressure system repair, well renovation, well rehabilitation, water line installation and repair, and well plugging services.
There are minimum statewide standards and a requirement that a contractor plan and adapt your well services to the conditions found at your location and increase minimum standards when necessary to allow for greater protection. In some areas of the state, these additional protections are needed to ensure your drinking water starts out safe and remains that way for the useful life of the well.
DNR Certified Well Contractors are individuals who meet minimum work experience requirements in areas required for certification and have successfully passed state examinations demonstrating their knowledge of basic well services and state rules. They also must obtain continuing education to further their knowledge and skill sets. Certified Well Contractors are required to follow the DNR's well rules and contractor obligations. Well contractor certification is renewable for two year periods as long as the individual meets all eligibility requirements.
Certified Well Contractors are professionals who have a large investment in their tools, their continuing education, and their work experience. This allows them to perform the job in a manner that protects drinking water and the groundwater others depend on for their water source.
The type of well contractor certification an individual requires is based on the type of well services they want to offer. There are currently three levels of Certified Well Contractors in Iowa. They are Well Drillers, Pump Installers, and Well Plugger (a limited certification).
When choosing a certified well contractor, look for one who actively applies the standards, increases their knowledge and professionalism through continuing education, and has experience in providing successful outcomes in your local conditions.
Make sure you hire only DNR Certified Well Contractors. Using a non-certified well contractor creates additional expenses and requirements for both the well owner and the contractor. This ultimately increases the cost to both and creates additional liabilities for any inferior well services provided. If a non-certified contractor creates a groundwater hazard on your property, you, as the owner, are ultimately liable for all expenses to resolve the issue.
It's easy to find out if the individual working on your property is properly certified, look up their name on the Search Well Contractors page of IWIS based on the well services they are providing. If they are certified, their name will be on the list. If they are not certified, you shouldn't hire them - find a properly certified well contractor to perform your well services.
Well Drillers can drill new wells, renovate and rehabilitate old wells, and plug all types of wells
Pump Installers can install and repair pumping systems and water distribution systems, and plug all types of wells.
qualifying to take the certification exams by meeting the required minimum work experience standards
passing the required certification exams to prove knowledge
paying certification fees and providing documentation
attending approved training events to further knowledge, skill, and commitment of quality services
submitting the appropriate number of CEUs to the department each certification period
following the laws and rules in place for well services and managing rules based complaints in a timely and professional manner.
The DNR does not reciprocate with any other state's well contractor certification or licensure programs, or NGWA national certification. These other certifications provide proof that you are a professional who is vested in the industry, but they do not allow you to work within Iowa's borders without first obtaining a DNR Well Contractor Certification.
Iowa offers a "provisional certification" for well contractors who don't meet current minimum work experience requirements, but have at least one-half of the required work experience and they are employed by or work in the same company as a fully certified well contractor.
Provisional certification requires you to sit for and pass the certification exams in your areas of specialty and have a fully certified well contractor working for the same company inspect and sign-off on any work performed independently while building work experience.
Currently, there are four dedicated exams specific to the work that will be performed.
General fundamentals examination - well drilling and pump installation contractors.
Specialty examination - well drillers.
Specialty examination - pump installers.
Specialty examination - well plugging contractors.
An applicant must pass each required exam to qualify for the level of well contractor certification they are seeking.
To become an Iowa DNR Certified Well Contractor an individual must:
To retain certification, all well contractors must:
Maintain a high level of work ethic and standards by performing all well services using at least the minimum appropriate standards for the service or area the service is performed.
Submit all required well documentation to the Iowa DNR and/or their delegated local permitting authorities within the timelines specified in rule.
Earn the appropriate minimum number of Continuing Education training Units (CEUs) during each two year certification cycle starting on July 1st of even numbered years. Note: All CEUs must be earned by March 31st of even numbered years.
Track earned CEUs and submit a record of earned CEUs to the DNR before or at the time of certification renewal.
Notify the DNR of any change in address so that you will receive the certification renewal forms.
Abide by the Iowa Code (statute) and Iowa Administrative Code rules and regulations (567 IAC Chapter 82) for well construction and contractor certification.
All well contractors renew their certification at the same time - July 1st of even numbered years. To qualify for certification renewal, a well contractor must be in good standing with the department, submit the appropriate amount of CEUs earned during the current two year CEU period, and submit all required certification renewal documents along with the correct certification fee.
It is the well contractor's responsibility to submit qualifying CEUs to the DNR and to notify the certification staff of any changes in mailing address. The DNR maintains the DNR Operator Certification Database to help individuals track their CEU contact hours, view their contact information and find training events.
Once certified, well contractors who work in Iowa are required to renew their certification every two years. Each certification period starts on July 1st of even numbered years and ends on June 30 of even-numbered years. The required CEUs earned by a well contractor must be earned between April 1st of even numbered years and March 31 of even numbered years. CEUs in excess of what's needed for renewal cannot be carried forward into the next certification period.
Well Contractor licenses expire on June 30th of even numbered years (ex. June 30, 2026)
The current CEU periods run from April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2026
You must obtain the required CEUs during that period in order to successfully renew your license (which expires June 30, 2026)
CEUs must be earned by March 31st of even numbered years (ex. March 31, 2026)
CEU Requirements
Well Drillers need 16 contact hours (1.6 CEUs) every two years
Pump Installers need 10 contact hours (1.0 CEUs) every two years
All training submitted to the DNR for well contractor CEUs must be pre-approved
Well Contractors are responsible for ensuring a course is eligible for CEU credit
Well Contractors are responsible for confirming that CEUs have been properly submitted to the department (direct questions to Opcertcustomersupport@dnr.iowa.gov)
Only two contact hours of safety training can be applied to meet CEU requirements during a CEU accrual period
Renewal applications will be posted online by May 1st of even numbered years (Example: May 1, 2024)
All CEUs that will qualify for well contractor training hours must be directly related to the subject matter of the certificate or other groundwater related topics. These topics include:
Relevant aspects of Iowa groundwater law and rules
Water well and drinking water related services
Well construction, well maintenance, well abandonment practices
Well product training - the products used in the construction, maintenance, renovation and rehabilitation of water supply well
Geothermal drilling, loop borehole construction, pipe headers, and fusion training
Well contractor safety (no more than 2 contact hours per renewal period)
Water system repair, maintenance, and renovation
Cross-connection prevention (no more than 2 hours per renewal period)
Iowa hydro-geological topics including the conditions which protect groundwater and water supplies or place them at risk
Water sampling, water chemistry, and water treatment methods and equipment
Natural and man made contaminants that are found in water
A limited number of other topics related to performing quality work on ground water well systems
CEU events are hosted by various state and national training organizations both inside and outside of Iowa. Training itineraries should be submitted to the DNR in advance of the event for review and approval to ensure that you will get the most hours for your time if you choose to attend. You also help other contractors when you submit potential events to our offices. The events we review are placed on a training calendar for all contractors to view and consider.
Renewal applications are mailed to well contractors 60 days prior to certificate expiration and all CEUs submitted must meet the requirements of 567 IAC Chapter 82. Only contractors obtaining the required CEUs are eligible for renewal of their certificate(s) and can continue to perform well services in Iowa.
The term "Well Driller" means an individual certified by the department to perform well drilling services such as:
install all types of new water wells
provide reconstruction services on all existing water wells
rehabilitate all water wells
renovate all water wells
inspect all types of water wells and identify areas that need improvement or don't meet Iowa's well standards
perform drawdown testing to determine the wells water production
modify the upper terminus of a well casing on the well (the top ten feet)
chlorinate water wells
obtain water samples for testing from all water wells
install GHEX loop boreholes
install monitoring wells, observation wells, and test wells
perform test drilling for determining groundwater accessibility, water quality, and water quantity
provide well plugging services for all three classes of water wells
The term "Pump Installer" means an individual certified by the department to:
perform new well pump installation on newly constructed and existing wells
perform well pump repair and replacement services on existing wells
install well water pressure tanks, pressure switches, pressure relief valves, repair and maintain other components of water systems
install, adjust and repair other necessary components of well water systems
install pitless adapters and pitless units on all water wells;
modify the top ten feet of well casing
chlorinate water wells
obtain water samples for testing on any water well;
provide well plugging services for all three classes of water wells
perform well rehabilitation
construct Class 3 wells
The term "Well Plugging Contractor" means an individual certified to plug only Class 1 wells (100 feet or less in depth and 18 inches or more in diameter) or Class 3 wells (sandpoints).
A Well Plugging Contractor is not certified to plug Class 2 wells (100 feet or more in depth or less than 18 inches in diameter) or perform any other well services.
The term "well plugging contractor" can be confusing because a contractor with this certification cannot plug all water wells. Well Plugging Contractors can only plug two of the three classes of water wells - it is a limited class of certification.
If a Well Plugging Contractor discovers that the well they are plugging is a "Class 2" well, they can not perform any plugging on the well and the well owner must hire either a DNR Certified Well Driller or Certified Pump Installer to perform the well plugging.
Please remember that certified well drillers and certified pump installers can also plug wells.
The installation geothermal heat exchange (GHEX) loops in Iowa requires that a DNR Certified Well Driller be present on-site at all times during vertical or horizontal borehole drilling, loop pipe fusion, loop pipe installation and pressure testing, and borehole grouting.
As you perform GHEX drilling in Iowa, please be sensitive to the goal of protecting the groundwater resources that Iowa's citizens use for drinking water. Because GHEX boreholes interact with our aquifers, drilling projects must be designed to provide ongoing protections within each borehole. In addition, much of the eastern one-third of Iowa includes Karst geologic features that make it difficult to install GHEX boreholes in a manner that insures long term protections remain in place. Please see the DNR Karst webpage for information on borehole drilling and grouting requirements in Karst areas.
Because GHEX boreholes can intersect the groundwater aquifers used for drinking water, all GHEX boreholes should include full depth grouting, void mitigation, and detailed records of anomalies that may compromise the boreholes in the future. Using care during GHEX borehole construction helps ensure that the groundwater remains protected and reduces the need for additional rules or policies that place additional restrictions on the industry.
Please refer to the GHEX webpage for additional information.
Basic geotechnical drilling does not require an DNR Certified Well Driller on-site during operations as long as you are not installing temporary or permanent monitoring wells or piezometers. Non-certified contractors can perform geotechnical services, such as general subsurface examination of soil and rock mechanics or the investigation of existing subsurface conditions and materials. In general, these types of services explore for minerals in the shallow subsurface or consider the risks posed by site conditions when designing structure foundations or earthworks. Geotechnical boreholes are not water wells and do not require the presence of a DNR Certified Well Driller unless the boring will include installation of well casing to obtain water samples or to monitor groundwater levels.
If your job includes the study of groundwater through the use of temporary or permanent monitoring or piezometer wells, a DNR Certified Well Driller must be on-site any time the wells are being installed, extracted or plugged. Open boreholes can be left in place long enough to obtain water level information as long no casings or pipes are installed (other than the auger column) and the location does not pose any hazard to the groundwater.
As you perform geotechnical services in Iowa, please be sensitive to our state's goal of protecting groundwater resources. Any boreholes that won't be immediately excavated should immediately be plugged with proper bentonite or cementitious well sealing products. If boreholes are not adequately plugged after an investigation is completed, it may lead to the adoption of rules or local ordinances that place restrictions on the geotechnical drilling industry within our state.
What is Geotechnical Drilling?
Geotechnical drilling is used to obtain information on the physical properties of soil and rock around a site. It is used to sample and/or test the surface or subsurface conditions of a site so that appropriate structures can be designed and constructed. It's commonly used when designing a structure such as a building, foundation, or earthen project. It may be part of a construction project or used as part of the investigation process conducted on a site prior to construction. Geotechnical drilling usually isn't performed to obtain groundwater or to utilize the properties of groundwater.
Please take note of this section if your company operates equipment in Iowa that uses hydraulically-powered, direct push machine technology that uses both static force and dynamic percussion force to advance sampling tools into the ground to facilitate subsurface sampling and soil investigations.
In general, direct push operations do not require the services of a Certified DNR Well Contractor unless the project requires the installation of temporary or permanent monitoring or piezometer wells. A Certified DNR Well Contractor is not required for operations that allow the collection of groundwater through the probe tip.
However, if your direct push project calls for water sampling through the use of well casings and/or screens placed into the borehole, a DNR Certified Well Driller must be on-site at all times the wells are being installed, bailed, purged, or sampled, and when the casing is extracted and the borehole plugged.
As you perform direct push work in Iowa, please be sensitive to our state's goal of protecting groundwater resources. Any push boreholes should be immediately plugged with proper bentonite or cementitious well sealing products. If boreholes are not adequately plugged after an investigation is completed, it may lead to the adoption of rules or local ordinances that place restrictions on the direct push industry within our state.
What is a Direct Push operation?
The "direct push" technique refers to sampling tools that are "pushed" into the ground without the use of conventional drilling techniques to remove soil or to make a path for a tool. Direct push drilling uses a machine that "pushes" its tool string into the ground by relying on a relatively small amount of static weight combined with a percussion technique as an energy source. This causes the tools and sensors to advance or push into the ground. This technique doesn't remove soil to make a path for the tool. Instead, it depends on compressing the soil or rearranging granular soil particles to allow the advancement of the tool string.
In addition to DNR Well Contractor Certification, the State of Iowa requires that all Well Contractors register with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) and renew the registration annually. Anyone who performs water well related services are considered contractors under DIAL registration requirements. The DIAL requires all individual contractors and businesses performing “construction or service” work within Iowa to be registered, if the individual or business earns at least $2,000.00 a year from that work. For more information, please see DIAL's "How Do I Register as a Contractor?" webpage.
Iowa Wells Information System (IWIS) - a well data management system used to track information about private water supply wells, including well construction permits, well log reporting, water test reporting and tracking, and well renovation and well plugging information. County environmental health officials and certified well contractors can use the IWIS to manage information about water supply wells installed and used in Iowa.
