WCCC: Get Certified as a Well Contractor

Applicability of Certification

A certified well contractor must be present at all times when well contractor activities are being conducted. A well contractor activity is defined as the construction, installation, repair, alteration, or abandonment of any well. Well contractor activities include breaking the well seal to gain access to the well, disinfection, extending the well casing, well abandonment, hydrofracturing, well repair and construction. Exemptions to the certification requirement can be found from our main page under "Regulations and Rule Changes", General Statute reference #3.

As of May 1, 2008, certification as a well contractor was split into 4 Levels, based on activities performed. Well Contractors are required to hold a level of certification appropriate to the work they perform/supervise.

Click here for a summary chart of the 4 Levels of Certification.

Certification will not be granted to anyone with unpaid civil penalties or who has not conducted all restoration activities ordered by the Department. (relating to well contractor activities & certification)

General Requirements to Become Certified

To become certified as a well contractor you must be at least 18 years old; provide satisfactory proof of experience in well contractor activities (6-18+ months depending on Level); satisfactorily complete the Field Observation (for Level A applicants only) then, pass the North Carolina well contractors certification exam for the appropriate Level.

Certification is renewed annually (June 30 deadline) with payment of the renewal fee ($100-$200 based on Level) and completion of eight hours of approved continuing education.

How to Get Certified

1) Decide which Level of Certification will be needed to cover all well contractor activities you intend to perform. Click here to review the summary chart of the 4 Levels.

2) Complete the application form (link is below) for the Level desired and mail in to the address listed on the form along with the application fee noted on the form. Your application fee is comprised of a scheduled exam fee ($50) and your annual certification fee ($100-$200) which covers the time left in that certification period upon passing the exam. The purpose of the application is to show you have met the experience requirement so make sure it is filled out completely and notarized properly. You will also want to maintain a copy for your records.

3) Once the application is received and processed, it goes to the Review Committee (a subset of the full Commission) for final review.

4) You will be notified by mail of the Review Committee's decision. If approved, you will receive an approval letter informing you that you have been approved to come take the next Scheduled exam. (For Level A applicants, you must also satisfactorily complete the Field Observation prior to taking the exam.) The packet will include the date & time of the next scheduled exam, a map, a list of the materials the exam is based on, and a copy of some of the actual exam reference materials (2C.0100, Chap.27, G.S.). The remaining reference materials are available from the NGWA or Library and contact information is included in the letter.

At this time you will also be given the option to request an out-of-cycle exam (OCE) if you would like to take the exam sooner than when the scheduled exam is to be held. There is an additional $50 fee for an OCE. To request one, you would submit a request in writing with the fee. You will then be contacted to schedule the exam date.

Please Note: An application must be received (and approved) by the Commission at least 30 days prior to the date upon which an examination is scheduled and the appropriate fee must accompany the application [15A NCAC 27 .0401 (a)], to be eligible to sit for that particular exam.

5) On exam day bring all of the reference books (it is an open-book exam), and a calculator. You will be notified by mail if you have passed or failed. Once you pass the exam you are certified. A certificate and wallet card with your assigned certification number will then be mailed to you. The certification card is required to be carried by the well contractor at all times when performing well contractor activities .