Wells and Borings

Wells Program

Related Topics

Environmental Health Division

Contact Info
Well Management Section
651-201-4600
800-383-9808 (toll-free)
health.wells@state.mn.us

Contact Info

Well Management Section
651-201-4600
800-383-9808 (toll-free)
health.wells@state.mn.us

Licensing Applications

In Minnesota, a person or contractor who provides services to construct, repair, and seal regulated wells and borings must be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). MDH issues eight different types of licenses, ranging from the well contractor license to more limited or specialty licenses, such as well sealing. MDH licenses the company and certifies the individual who meets the qualification requirements and passes an exam. This individual is considered the licensed contractor’s certified representative.

Qualification application

The first step in becoming a certified representative is for the individual to submit to MDH a Qualification Application with the $75 fee. In the Qualification Application, the applicant documents work experience and provides letters of reference to verify that work experience. Each certification type has specific minimum experience requirements, which typically includes the number of hours worked or jobs performed each year. Once MDH approves the Qualification Application, the applicant is provided information for taking the written exam for the specific certification they are seeking.

Study materials

Study materials for each type of licensing exam are provided below. For more information about wells and borings visit the Water Well Information webpage. Paper copies of MDH study materials are available upon request.

Original contractor license application

Once the applicant passes the exam, the applicant is sent an Original Contractor License Application. The applicant completes the application by providing the company name and related business information, registers drilling machines and hoists, and submits a corporate surety bond and certified representative application. The license fee varies from $75 to $250, depending on the license type. Once the Original Company License application and the certified representative application are approved, the company is ready for well contracting work in Minnesota. Individual applicants planning to be the certified representative for an existing company are just sent the certified representative application.

License types

An elevator boring contractor may construct, repair or seal an excavation or boring for the hydraulic cylinder of an elevator boring. An applicant for an elevator boring contractor license must have two years of experience and must have designed, supervised, or installed three borings per year for the installation of elevator hydraulic cylinders.

Qualification Application

Study Materials

An environmental well contractor may construct, repair, and seal environmental wells and temporary borings. An applicant must be a professional engineer, professional geologist, a hydrologist or hydrogeologist certified by the American Institute of Hydrology, a geologist certified by the American Institute of Professional Geologists, or have three years of experience personally constructing, repairing, and sealing environmental wells, where a year of experience is a minimum of 20 environmental wells constructed, and a minimum of 1,000 hours worked to construct, seal, and repair environmental wells.

Qualification Application

Study Materials

Persons engaged in exploration work (explorers) in the state of Minnesota must be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health. The responsible individual for the explorer will supervise and oversee the location, construction, and abandonment of exploratory borings on behalf of the licensed explorer company. The responsible individual must successfully complete an examination. Licensed engineers and certified or licensed geologists are exempt from the exam. Even if exempt from taking the exam, person seeking to be the responsible individual must submit an application. The responsible individual's certification must be renewed annually. The explorer may construct and seal exploratory borings.

Qualification Application

Study Materials

A limited bored geothermal heat exchanger (BGHE) contractor may construct, repair, and seal BGHE systems. Individuals applying as a certified representative, must have three years of experience constructing, repairing, and sealing BGHEs; or in well drilling. The BGHE experience must be obtained under a licensed well contractor or limited BGHE contractor, unless it was obtained during directionally drilling BGHEs that were not regulated by MDH at the time of construction. The well drilling experience must be obtained under a licensed well contractor, and the applicant must also be accredited by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, certified by the National Groundwater Association, or have an equivalent certification. More details regarding experience requirements are in the Qualification Application for Limited Geothermal Heat Exchanger Contractor below.

Qualification Application

Study Materials

A limited dewatering well contractor may construct, repair, or seal dewatering wells. An applicant for a limited dewatering well license must have two years of experience. A year of experience is a year in which the applicant designed, field supervised, or personally drilled five dewatering wells and worked a minimum of 500 hours designing, constructing, or field supervising the construction of dewatering wells.

Qualification Application

Study Materials

A limited pump, pitless, and screen contractor may install well pumps and pumping equipment, and install, repair, and modify pitless units, pitless adapters, well casings above the pitless unit or pitless adapter, well screens, and well diameters. An applicant for a limited pump, pitless, and screen contractor license must have two years of experience. A year of experience consists of 1,000 hours installing well pumps or pumping equipment, or installing, repairing, and modifying pitless units, pitless adapters, well casings above the pitless unit or pitless adapter, well screens, and well diameters. The applicant must have personally worked on a total of 20 of the following:

  1. Pump installations,
  2. Pitless unit or adapter installation or repairs, and
  3. Well screen installation or repairs.

The experience must have been gained under the supervision of a licensed well contractor or a limited well contractor with the appropriate license for the work.

Qualification Application

Study Materials

A limited well sealing contractor may remove obstructions in wells prior to sealing, remove or perforate casings and seal wells. An applicant for a limited license to seal wells must have three years of experience. A year of experience is a year in which the applicant personally sealed a minimum of five wells and worked a minimum of 1,000 hours clearing obstructions, removing or perforating casing, and grouting wells.

Qualification Application

Study Materials

A well contractor may construct, repair, install pumps, and seal environmental bore holes, elevator borings, groundwater thermal exchange devices, geothermal heat exchangers and wells including; water wells, dewatering wells, drive point wells, dug wells, and environmental wells. An applicant for a well contractor license must have four years of experience. A year of experience is a year in which the applicant personally drilled at least ten wells and worked at least 1,000 hours drilling, sealing, and installing pumps in wells. An applicant with experience prior to 2006 must drill a minimum off five wells per year of experience. Applicants may qualify if the experience was in constructing one or more wells more than 700 feet deep with casings larger than 10 inches in diameter.

Qualification Application

Study Materials

Contractors seeking a full well contractor license to construct, repair, and seal all types of wells and borings are expected to have general knowledge of the regulations for each type of well and boring.

 

Well Management Section
651-201-4600 or 800-383-9808
health.wells@state.mn.us

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Last Updated: 11/13/2024