Continuing Education Programs

All certified representatives must obtain two (2) contact hours of MDH-presented or MDH-sponsored continuing education to be eligible for license renewal each year.

Certified representatives must list course(s) attended, provider organization, date(s), course location (city or online), and contact hours earned on their Certified Representative License Renewal Application annually.

Continuing education (CEU) contact hours reset upon renewal. Contact hours cannot be repeated or "banked" from previous renewal years and applied to future renewals. It is the responsibility of each certified representative to keep record of their CEUs and track the hours they have achieved. MDH uses attendance records maintained by education providers and other information to monitor for compliance during license renewal.

*See list of qualifying CEU requirements below.

MDH-presented CEUs are available 24/7 on the MDH Learning Center. MDH will provide new courses specific to each renewal year. Certified representatives must complete MDH-presented CEUs for the same renewal year in which they are applying.

• Launch the MDH Learning Center.
• Each certified representative must have an individual account.
  • New users must create a username and password. Once your account is created, use this same account for all future training sessions. Users may enroll in the MDH Learning Center online courses any time.
  • Returning users may enroll in online courses or will be automatically enrolled when new MDH-presented courses are available. Account users may view their progress, MDH learning history, or download/print course certificates at any time.
• Refer to the Online Continuing Education Training for License Renewal - Quick Reference Guide (PDF) for assistance with getting started, creating a username and password, enrolling in courses, and navigating the courses.

Certified representatives of well contractors (full) and environmental well contractors must obtain six CEU contact hours annually.

• Two of the contact hours must be MDH-presented or MDH-sponsored, and
• Four additional hours must be from qualifying continuing education meeting the rule requirements listed below.

Courses or activities used for the additional four hours may be virtual or in-person and do not require MDH preapproval. Qualifying courses or activities must meet the following criteria under Minnesota Rules, part 4725.1675:

• Qualifying topics are related to wells or borings, drilling technology, groundwater contamination, health aspects of water quality, groundwater monitoring, geology, hydrology, well or boring construction or sealing, water systems or treatment, geothermal systems, dewatering, or elevator borings. MDH must approve any other continuing education topic.
• The activity must have a specific written objective that describes expected outcomes for the participant.
• The activity must be presented by a person knowledgeable about recent developments in the subject.
• The activity must document attendance and the number of earned contact hours.
• A contact hour is qualifying continuing education that continues for at least 50 minutes. Lecture, demonstration, workshop, or training are included. Coffee breaks, registration, meals, or social activities are excluded.

MDH does not require preapproval of third-party continuing education courses or activities that meet the qualifying requirements listed above. It is the responsibility of each certified representative to become familiar with the rule requirements and to determine if a particular course or activity qualifies. If you have questions about continuing education requirements (e.g., unsure if a course topic qualifies), please contact MDH Well Management Section at health.wells@state.mn.us.

Certified representatives of well (full) contractors and environmental well contractors looking to earn their four additional CEU contact hours of qualifying continuing education can explore learning opportunities from the providers listed below.

Please contact individual providers for information on upcoming events. This list is not comprehensive, and the courses or events may be subject to change.

• The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG)
• Goulds Water Technology e-Learning
• International School of Well Drilling
• Midwest Geosciences Group
• Minnesota Groundwater Association
• Minnesota Water Well Association
• National Drilling Association
• National Ground Water Association
• Wisconsin Water Well Association

If your continuing education courses or activities meets the requirements in Minnesota Rules, part 4725.1675 Criteria for Continuing Education, they do not need preapproval by MDH. Courses or activities must meet all rule requirements listed below to qualify.

1. Provide an activity or course that relates to wells and borings, drilling technology, groundwater contamination, health aspects of water quality, groundwater monitoring, geology, hydrology, well or boring construction or sealing, water systems or treatment, geothermal systems, dewatering, or elevator borings. MDH must approve any other continuing education topic.
2. Develop a written objective that describes expected outcomes for participant.
3. The course or activity must be presented by a person knowledgeable about recent developments in the subject. The person's qualifications must be documented by either specialized training in the subject matter or work experience in the subject area.
4. The activity must be at least one contact hour as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 4725.0100, subpart 24, item C. (Definitions). "Contact hour" means a minimum of 50 minutes of lecture, demonstration, workshop, or training. Coffee breaks, registration, meals, or social activities are excluded.
5. The continuing education provider must document participation, including but not limited to the number of contact hours and verification of attendance. Providers must maintain attendance sheets for two years and provide copies to MDH upon request.

Most MDH-presented continuing education will be provided online through the MDH Learning Center. Event sponsors may play MDH’s online continuing education courses to larger event audiences (when expecting 20 or more certified representatives in attendance). If a provider is planning to show MDH’s online continuing education for an audience, they must give minimum 30-day advanced notice to health.wells@state.mn.us. This will allow MDH to prepare event-specific accommodations so participants can get individual credit in their MDH Learning Center account.

Note: A provider still must document participation, including but not limited to the number of contact hours and verification of attendance. Providers must maintain attendance sheets for two years and provide copies to MDH upon request.

MDH does not preapprove qualifying third-party continuing education courses or activities as listed above. Please contact MDH Well Management Section at health.wells@state.mn.us with questions about continuing education requirements for providers.

Continuing education providers that advertise are welcome to state the following in event materials, "The Minnesota Department of Health does not need to preapprove courses or activities that meets the rule requirements. To the best of our knowledge, this course/activity meets the continuing education requirements outlined in Minnesota Rules, part 4725.1675.”

For other information about continuing education, please contact MDH Well Management Section at health.wells@state.mn.us.