Water Well Construction Commission
Protecting the general health, safety, and welfare of Arkansans by regulating water well construction and pump installation
Information for Licensed Contractors and Permitees
If you are an active participant in this industry or considering obtaining licensure and certificates of registration, please take a look at these resources.
How Can I Legally Drill Wells or Install Pumps in Arkansas?
Any individual drilling a water well or installing a water well pump in Arkansas must possess both an Arkansas Water Well Contractor’s License and an Arkansas Certificate of Registration in Water Well Drilling or Pump Installation. An individual planning to both drill wells and install pumps must obtain both Certificates of Registration.
To apply for an Arkansas Water Well Construction Contractor license, fill out an application and provide the required documents identified in the application to the ANRC.
To apply for an Arkansas Water Well Driller's Certificate of Registration, provide a completed application and required documents identified in the application to the ANRC.
To apply for an Arkansas Pump Installer's Certificate of Registration, provide a completed application and required documents identified in the application to the ANRC.
Individuals applying for Certificates of Registration must have Experience.
You can meet the experience requirement necessary for working as a certified Arkansas Water Well Driller or certified Arkansas Pump Installer by either of these means:
- Serving at least two years as an apprentice under an Arkansas registered driller or pump installer supervisor who is a full-time employee of an Arkansas licensed contractor.
- Holding or having held a license for two or more years in another state with a similar program to Arkansas’s program in the same area for which you are seeking registration. (You must also be in good standing with that state.)
Approval by Commission to sit for Certificate of Registration Test.
At regular meetings, the Commission reviews and approves individuals to sit for the Commission’s Certificate of Registration Test. If you submit your completed application and fees to the Commission at least two weeks before the next Commission meeting, your application will be considered at the next Commission meeting. If you cannot submit your completed application and fees to the Commission two weeks before the next Commission meeting, your application will be reviewed at the following meeting.
Individuals applying for Certificates of Registration must pass a Test.
The Commission conducts testing at its office approximately three weeks after Commission meetings. You will be issued your registration after you have successfully passed your test and paid your fees.
Arkansas-licensed Geologists and Arkansas-licensed Engineers providing completed applications and fees are not required to take the Commission’s test. Also, any individual whose previous registration has lapsed will not need to take the test so long as the registration has not expired for more than a year.
This information is provided in our Rules and Regulations, pages 1-9.
Construction Reports
Click here to view the construction report data
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Print and mail in your Construction Report
If you prefer to mail your construction reports, please print and complete this blank construction report.
Laws and Rules
Click here to view or download the Arkansas Water Well Construction Rules (Updated 2022).
What happens if I let my certificate of registration expire?
If your driller or pump installer registration has lapsed for less than one year, you can renew it by sending in a registration fee of $125.00 and a $25.00 late fee for each registration. Provide a cover letter clearly stating that you are applying for renewal of an Arkansas driller or pump installer certificate of registration and provide your Arkansas registration number. You must pay a registration and late fee for each expired certificate you intend to renew.
If your registration has lapsed for more than one year, you can renew it by sending in an application, with a registration fee of $125.00 and a $25.00 late fee. You must pay a registration and late fee for each expired certificate you intend to renew. Provide a cover letter clearly stating that you are applying for renewal of an Arkansas driller or pump installer certificate of registration and provide your Arkansas registration number. Your application will be presented for approval at the next commission meeting date after all paperwork has been submitted. If approved at the commission meeting, you will be contacted with a date for testing. (Testing is usually 3 weeks after a commission meeting.)
To drill water wells or install pumps in Arkansas, you must be a registered Arkansas Water Well Driller or Arkansas Pump Installer and perform the work under the license of a person holding an Arkansas Water Well Contractor's License or hold your own Arkansas Water Well Contractor's License.
Water Well Abandonment Form
When an owner of land abandons or ceases using a water well, he or she is required by law to either fill up the well or place a sturdy cover over the well to prevent animals and persons from falling into the well.
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) considers a well to be abandoned when it is in such a state of disrepair that continued use for the purpose of obtaining groundwater is impractical.
After abandoning a water well, please submit a completed Arkansas Water Well Abandonment Form to the ANRC.
Continuing Education
Every contractor must obtain 6 continuing education units ("CEUs") per licensing year. Contractors will need to obtain two additional credits for each additional water well driller or pump installer employed by the contractor. Classes or seminars may be held in-state or out- of-state and must be related to water wells or pump systems technology, science or health, sound business practices, or compliance with the Commission’s rules and other government and industry requirements, including worker health and safety.
Generally, a CEU is equivalent to one hour of class time. You may only obtain 3 CEUs through online classes. The other three must be obtained in seminars or actual classrooms.
Examples of Classes or Meetings Qualifying for Water Well CEUs
- Attend one ANRC meeting per year = 1 CEU (Dates posted under Commission Meetings)
- Attend either or both of the AWWCA meetings per year (Contact AWWCA @ 501-282-6779 for dates and information).
- Attend other out of state seminars or trade shows
- Attend NGWA seminars and trade show (Contact NGWA @ 1-800-551-7379 for dates and other information)
- Training to enter online construction reports = 1 CEU (Contact our office @ 501-682-3900.)
- Entering all construction reports online = 1 CEU
- Any OSHA class, either your own or held elsewhere
- First Aid Classes (Local Fire Dept. may be able to help)
- Any business course from Vo-Tech or college
- Online classes
