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Environmental Health Division
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.
The first step in becoming a Certified Representative is to submit an application to MDH through the MDH Licensing System. Applicants will include their work experience, education and training received. 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 application, the applicant is provided information for taking the written exam for the specific certification they are seeking.
Once the applicant passes the exam, the applicant can complete the Company License. Applicants need to provide the company name and related business information, register drilling machines and hoists, and submits a corporate surety bond. Once the Company License and the Certified Representative applications are approved, the company is ready for well contracting work in Minnesota.
Create an account
- Go to the MDH Licensing System.
- Select “Login” in the upper right of the page.
- Select the “Sign up using Secure Portal” button.
- Select the “Sign Up” tab.
- Enter your email address.
- Enter a password.
- Select “Sign Up.”
- You will receive an email from the “Minnesota Department of Health.” Follow instructions in the email to log in.
Apply online
- Go to the MDH Licensing System.
- Select “Login” in the upper right of the page.
- Go to Wells and Borings tile. Choose the license type you would like to apply for.
- Follow the process to submit your online application and make an electronic payment.
- You'll receive email notifications from the online system when your application has been reviewed and/or approved.
For help, please email welllicensingsystem.mdh@state.mn.us.
- Beginning December 4, 2025, licensees can renew and register equipment through a new online system. Licensees may still send renewals by mail using the paper renewal packet. Please be advised that renewal by mail will continue to be available using the paper renewal packet. Using the new online system will be optional at this time and will be phased in gradually.
- For the first renewal, you'll receive a paper packet by mail with a memo that contains your license unique claim code.
- For future renewals, you'll receive an email within 60 days of your renewal expiration date. Please check your spam folder for the email. If you did not receive an email, contact welllicensingsystem.mdh@state.mn.us.
- You will need to submit a renewal application for each license type that you have, whether you submit a paper renewal or use the new online system.
- Renewal paper applications have been revised and will look different. All information is required and license types cannot be combined onto one application. You must submit individual applications for each license type.
- Paper renewals cannot be paid by credit card. If you want to pay by credit card, you must submit your application and payment through the online system.
- License numbers will change for all licensees. Even if you choose to renew using the paper packet, you will be assigned a new license number for each of your license types.
- License renewal packets will include detailed instructions for using the new online system. You will be assigned a claim code for each of your license types. If we have your email address, claim codes will be emailed to you for each license type. Claim codes allow you to access your previous license information and start the process to create an account in the MDH Licensing System.
For help, please email welllicensingsystem.mdh@state.mn.us.
Claim your code
Step 1: Log in at the MDH Licensing System.
Step 2: Copy the claim code that you received in an email or in a letter with your renewal packet. This is unique to you and should not be shared with others.
Step 3: In the lower right area of the MDH Health Licensing System, click on the link "Claim a Record."
Step 4: In the window that opens, paste the claim code you copied in step 2.
Congratulations, you have claimed your record. When it’s time for you to renew, a reminder email will be sent to the email address you used to login.
Create an account
- Go to the MDH Licensing System.
- Select “Login” in the upper right of the page.
- Select the “Sign up using Secure Portal” button.
- Select the “Sign Up” tab.
- Enter your email address.
- Enter a password.
- Select “Sign Up.”
- You will receive an email from the “Minnesota Department of Health.” Follow instructions in the email to log in.
For help, please email welllicensingsystem.mdh@state.mn.us.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
- Pump installations,
- Pitless unit or adapter installation or repairs, and
- 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.
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.
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.
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.