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Illinois Water Well Driller — Requirements & Free Practice

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Water Well Contractor

Authorizes water well drilling, alteration and repair under 225 ILCS 345.

Licensing authority: Department of Public Health · Application information

Initial licensure by examination
Age
At least 18 years old under 225 ILCS 345/9(a).
Application
Submit the prescribed sworn application, required fee and current photograph at least 45 days before the examination; personally present a recent photograph at the examination.
Character
Good moral character under 225 ILCS 345/9(c); applicant conviction decisions are governed by Sections 15 and 15.1, including rehabilitation and prohibited consideration of specified records.
Citizenship source difference
225 ILCS 345/9(b) is blank following P.A. 101-541, effective August 23, 2019. The older implementing text at Section 915.10(d)(2) still states: "Is a citizen of the United States or has declared his or her intention to become a citizen of the United States;". This condition reports the implementing material; the controlling amended statute governs eligibility.
Experience documents
Document 420 working days in a maximum of two years through employment records, W-2s, paychecks or other evidence, with affidavits of licensed contractor employers.
Form requirements
The IDPH application requests a Social Security number and a signed child-support certification, a current 2 by 2 inch color head-and-shoulders photograph, and work experience documentation.
Implementation score difference
Section 915.20(c) requires at least 70 in each part. The older IDPH study manual, page 4, additionally states: "A satisfactory grade is a minimum average score of 75 on both parts of the examination with a grade no lower than 70 on either part of the examination;". The current rule governs the scoring recorded for these versions.
Out of state experience
Section 915.40 permits credit for supervised experience gained under persons licensed elsewhere only after IDPH determines that jurisdiction has licensure requirements equal to Illinois. This is experience credit; the Illinois examination requirements of Section 915.20(c) remain applicable.
Signed reports
At least ten signed and dated water well construction reports identifying the applicant as driller, also signed by the supervising licensed driller.
Supervision
Two years under a licensed water well contractor.
Reinstatement after expiration for three years or fewer
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application and fees
Submit the completed renewal application, reinstatement and lapsed renewal fees, and continuing education proof under Sections 915.25(c) and 915.60(a).
Continuing education
Attend at least one IDPH-approved six-classroom-hour continuing education session within the preceding two years, with completion documentation.
Prior license
This license expired three years or fewer before the application.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2012-06-13.

Annual renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application and fees
Complete renewal forms and pay the required fees; renewal applications and fees are due December 31, with a late fee thereafter.
Continuing education
Attend at least one IDPH-approved six-classroom-hour continuing education session within the preceding two years, with completion documentation.
Prior license
Holds this Illinois license.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2012-06-13.

Restoration after expiration for more than three years
Application
Submit the completed licensure application under Section 915.10 and required restoration fee.
Current fitness
Submit evidence satisfactory to IDPH of current qualifications and fitness under 225 ILCS 345/12.
Passing
Successfully pass every part applicable to the license under Section 915.20(c).
Prior license
Previously held this Illinois license, now expired for more than three years.

Water Well Contractor Examination Part 1 — Illinois Water Well Construction Code and the Act

Provider
Illinois Department of Public Health
Format
Written examination
Passing score
At least 70 out of 100 points in this part
Examination outline
  • Water Well and Pump Installation Contractor's License Act
  • Water Well and Pump Installation Contractor's License Code
  • Water Well Construction Code
  • Illinois Water Well Construction Code
Examination sources

Water Well Contractor Examination Part 3 — Experience in the Construction of Water Wells

Provider
Illinois Department of Public Health
Format
Written examination
Passing score
At least 70 out of 100 points in this part
Practice scope

The authority has not published an examination outline; the practice questions follow the scope of the existing question bank.

  • Site assessment and preliminary design
    • Siting, aquifer information, demand, and preliminary well design
  • Safety and mobilization
    • Utility clearance, ground conditions, rig setup, blocking, and leveling
  • Rotary drilling operations
    • Pits, circulation, bits, stabilizers, pumps, and cuttings removal
  • Drilling fluids
    • Mud composition, mixing, pH, viscosity, testing, and adjustment
  • Casing, screens, and gravel packs
    • Formation sampling, screen selection, installation, packers, and gravel placement
  • Geology, sampling, and drilling logs
    • Cuttings collection, formation identification, water-bearing intervals, and field records
  • Grout materials and placement methods
    • Mix design, quantity, density, bottom-up placement, and approved methods
  • Cable-tool and bored-well construction
    • Starting holes, drive shoes, bailers, casing advance, bored-well design, and completion
  • Well development, yield, and disinfection
    • Development methods, completion criteria, yield tests, and chlorination
  • Construction reports and completion records
    • Report timing, construction details, geologic logs, signatures, and variance samples
Examination sources