Getting a water well or pump installer certification in Iowa

Getting certified in Iowa

Certification is renewed every two years, and well contractor licenses expire on June 30 of even numbered years.

Well drillers need 16 contact hours and pump installers need 10 contact hours of approved continuing education every two years.

Iowa does not accept other states' well licenses or NGWA national certification in place of its own DNR certification.

Source: Three certification levels

Who needs a certification

In Iowa, installing and repairing well pumps and water distribution systems, including pressure tanks and pressure switches, counts as a regulated well service.

State law requires well contractors to be certified by the Iowa DNR, and the certified person must be on site while the work is done.

A well owner may do their own well work, but must do it personally and cannot hire or barter with a non-certified person. Owners must follow the same rules as contractors.

Iowa certified pump installers can install and repair pumping and water distribution systems and can plug all types of wells.

Sources: Pump work is a well service; Certified contractor on site

How owners check a certification

You can confirm a contractor is certified by looking up their name on the Search Well Contractors page of IWIS for the type of work you need.

Non-certified contractors are not legally allowed to perform well services in Iowa, so check that the person you hire is on the DNR lists.

Iowa DNR says to always have a contract when hiring anyone for well services.

A certified contractor may still lack the equipment or experience for every job, so choose carefully.

Sources: Check certification in IWIS; Non-certified work is illegal; Certification is not everything