Getting a water well driller certification in Kentucky
It is illegal in Kentucky to build, alter or repair a water well without a state water well driller or driller's assistant certificate.
Getting certified in Kentucky
Kentucky issues separate certificates for water supply wells and monitoring wells, or one combined certificate, each listing the drilling methods the holder passed.
A driller certified for water supply wells may build, alter, repair or plug water supply wells, but only with the drilling methods printed on the certificate.
A driller certificate requires two years of work under a certified water well driller, or other experience or education the state accepts, plus a passing exam.
Applicants must score at least 70 percent on the Kentucky exam and the required National Ground Water Association exams.
Certificates are renewed every year, and drillers must complete at least 5 hours of state approved continuing education to renew.
A certified driller must carry liability insurance and file a $5,000 surety bond with the state, which can be used to correct violations.
The yearly renewal fee for a water well driller certificate is $200.
Sources: Certificate required for well work; Water, monitoring or combined certificates; Two years supervised experience; Bond and insurance; Renewal fee
Who needs a certification
Kentucky's well driller statute defines well alteration or repair so that it does not include replacing or repairing a water pump or its piping. The driller certificate is not required for pump work alone.
The state well rules define well construction so that it does not include installing a permanent pump and pumping equipment.
Maintenance, additions or changes to the well itself or to the pitless adapter count as well alteration or repair, which needs a certified water well driller.
The Division of Water's well owner page tells owners to have a Kentucky certified water well driller do all work on a well, which goes further than the statute's pump exclusion.
The state's well owner guide says that if the piping, wiring or pressure tank leaks or looks wrong, a certified water well driller or a plumber should check it.
Kentucky's plumbing licensing law lists private water supply systems in its definition of plumbing. It does not name well pumps.
Sources: Pump repair is outside the driller law; Pump installation is not well construction; State guidance favors certified drillers; Driller or plumber for piping and tank; Plumbing law covers private water systems
How owners check a certification
The Division of Water publishes a directory of certified water and monitoring well drillers and their companies.
In the state directory, W means certified for water wells only, M for monitoring wells only, and B for both.
Owners can find the nearest certified driller with the state's Well Driller Locator map or the Driller Directory.
A certified driller's certificate number must be fixed to the drill rig at the well site, so owners can check it.
Certified drillers and assistants must carry their state wallet card at the job site.
Wells built since 1986 should have a Kentucky water well record from the driller showing depth, casing size and water level.
Sources: State driller directory; Locator map and directory; Certificate number on the rig; Well record for owners since 1986
Common questions
Does Kentucky certify well pump installers?
No. Kentucky certifies water well drillers, but its driller law says well repair does not include replacing or repairing a water pump, so pump work alone needs no driller certificate. The Division of Water still tells owners to have a certified driller do all work on a well.