On 3/1/2018, amendments to the Well Construction and Maintenance; Sealing of Abandoned Wells Rules (N.J.A.C. 7:9D), became operative. The updated well rules contain new procedures for obtaining/renewing well driller and pump installer licenses. Here the major changes:
New Examination Process: The Bureau of Water Allocation and Well Permitting staff will no longer be administering the exams. The exams will be prepared by the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) and administered by PSI. Exams will be administered electronically and will be available at testing centers nationwide. Applicants will be able to schedule their exams at any time under this new system.
New Process to Apply for a License: Rather than applying to take an exam, the applicant will apply for their license after they have taken all the necessary exams and have met the appropriate experience requirements. After submitting the completed application, the New Jersey State Well Drillers and Pump Installers Examining and Advisory Board (Board) will review the applications to ascertain whether the applicants have met the qualifications and experience requirements set forth at N.J.A.C. 7:9D-1.8(a).
Changes to License Types: The Department will no longer issue or renew monitoring well driller or soil borer licenses. Any person licensed as a monitoring well driller pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:9D as of 3/1/2018, may, in lieu of applying for a new license, apply for renewal as an environmental resource and geotechnical well driller upon expiration of their monitoring well license. Any person licensed as a soil borer pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:9D as of 3/1/2018, may, in lieu of applying for a new license, successfully complete a Department-approved training course, to renew their license as an environmental resource and geotechnical well driller. In addition, any individual licensed as a journeyman (Class B) well driller may choose to qualify to be licensed as a journeyman well driller upon successful completion of a Department-approved training course. Well Permitting staff will notify those individuals who are eligible for the Department-approved training course once it is available. Additionally, the Department now offers licenses for elevator borehole well drillers and vertical closed loop geothermal well drillers.
Continuing Education: There is now a continuing education requirement for all license renewals. Click here for more information.