Apply for a Well Driller or Pump Installer License

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board licenses well drilling and pump installation professionals to ensure the integrity of well construction and prevent pollution of groundwater in Oklahoma.

Activities that must be licensed include the drilling and plugging of the following types of wells:

groundwater and test wells
marginal groundwater wells
monitoring wells and geotechnical borings
geothermal or heat exchange wells utilized for heat pumps
deep anode groundbeds for cathodic protection

Additionally, the OWRB licenses professionals to install or repair water well pumps and equipment, including windmills and solar installations.

Applications must be typewritten or printed in ink on official Oklahoma Water Resources Board forms.
Applicants must have at least two years of qualifying experience in the category applied for and must supply the Board with two (2) letters of verification for that experience from previous employers (one letter may be from a supplier). Education may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience. An Operator Application verifying two years of experience must accompany the Driller/Pump Installer Application.
Applicant must have been a resident of the state of Oklahoma for not less than ninety (90) days (unless the reciprocity provisions for nonresidents apply).
Applicant must list all employed operators.
For additional operator’s certification, all applicants must have one (1) year of qualifying experience in each category applied for and supply the Board with a letter of verification of that experience. Education may be substituted for six (6) months of the qualifying experience.
Fees and letters of verification must be submitted with the application prior to testing. Applicant must obtain a passing test score of 70% for each category.
Application requires the applicant’s Social Security number.
Applicant must submit an affidavit of citizenship.

To engage in activities that require certification, operators also need a valid license or be certified as an operator for a person having a valid license. An operator’s certification by itself does not constitute proper authority to engage in activities for which licensing is required.

Application must be typewritten or printed in ink on official Oklahoma Water Resources Board forms.
Applicant must have at least one year of qualifying experience in the category applied for and must supply the Board with a letter of verification of that experience from previous employers. Education may be substituted for up to six months of the required experience. The letter of verification must be submitted with the application prior to testing.
Applicant must have been a resident of the state of Oklahoma for not less than ninety 90 days (unless the reciprocity provisions for nonresidents apply).
Application must list the Well Driller/Pump Installer firm where currently employed.
Application requires the applicant’s Social Security number.
Applicant must submit an affidavit of citizenship.

Credit card payments, checks, or money orders payable to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board are accepted for the following fees:

LICENSE / FEE	STATE RESIDENTS	OUT OF STATE
Drilling/Pump Installer License (includes one category)	$400	$1,000
Indemnity Fund (includes one category)	$250	$400
Additional Category for License and Indemnity	$200
Additional Operator Certificate	$100
Testing Fee	$50
Transfer/Name Change	$50

All licenses and operator certifications issued by the Board shall expire on June 30 of the first or second year following issuance of the license or operators certification. New licenses or operator certifications shall be issued for a one or two year period, so that all odd license numbers and associated operators certifications shall expire in odd numbered years and all even numbered licenses and associated operator certifications shall expire in even numbered years.

All licenses and certifications may be renewed for a period of two years, subject to Chapter 35 Rules, on or before May 31 of the year the license or certification is to be renewed. Each licensee and certified operator shall submit the following:

Application must be typewritten or printed in ink on official Oklahoma Water Resources Board forms.
A completed application for renewal on forms furnished by the Board with the affidavit executed by the listed contact person for the licensee.
The license or operator certification renewal fee, provided that renewal fees shall not be due for licenses and certifications issued after January 1 of the year in which the first renewal is due.
The indemnity fund fee for those activities for which the license or operator certification is valid.
The late fee if the application is submitted after May 31.

Any licensee or operator who allows his or her license or certification to lapse will be given until June 30 of the year in which they are scheduled to renew their license or operator certification in which to renew his or her license or certification without an examination provided however, a late fee shall be due after May 31. After the grace period, the application will be treated as a new application. Provided however, any licensee or operator fulfilling a military obligation shall be granted an indefinite grace period as determined by the Board.