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Title: Wells and Borings: Well Contractor
Alternate Title:
Description: The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) licenses contractors who construct, repair, and seal wells and borings.
Subject: Water
Water Wells and Borings
Creation Date: 9/15/2008 1:35:24 PM
Modification Date: 1/29/2025 11:07:05 AM
Agency Name: Health (MDH), Minnesota Department of
Agency URL: https://www.health.state.mn.us
Agency Description: The Minnesota Department of Health is the state's lead public health agency, responsible for protecting, maintaining and improving the health of all Minnesotans.
Agency Phone: 651-201-5000
888-345-0823
Agency Fax: Agency URL: https://www.health.state.mn.us
Agency Address: Health, Minnesota Dept. of
625 Robert St. N.
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul
MN
55164-0975
Unit Name: Well Management Section
Unit URL:
Unit Description:
Unit Phone: 651-201-4600
800-383-9808
Unit Fax: Contact person(s): health.wells@state.mn.us
Unit URL:
Audience: Application URL:
Renewal URL:
Versa URL:
Requirements:
Review:

 

Licensing Applications
In Minnesota, a person or contractor who provides services to construct, repair, and seal regulated wells and borings must be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). MDH issues eight different types of licenses, ranging from the well contractor license to more limited or specialty licenses, such as well sealing. MDH licenses the company and certifies the individual who meets the qualification requirements and passes an exam. This individual is considered the licensed contractor’s certified representative.

Qualification application
The first step in becoming a certified representative is for the individual to submit to MDH a Qualification Application with the $75 fee. In the Qualification Application, the applicant documents work experience and provides letters of reference to verify that work experience. Each certification type has specific minimum experience requirements, which typically includes the number of hours worked or jobs performed each year. Once MDH approves the Qualification Application, the applicant is provided information for taking the written exam for the specific certification they are seeking.

Study materials
Study materials for each type of licensing exam are provided below. For more information about wells and borings visit the Water Well Information webpage. Paper copies of MDH study materials are available upon request.

Original contractor license application
Once the applicant passes the exam, the applicant is sent an Original Contractor License Application. The applicant completes the application by providing the company name and related business information, registers drilling machines and hoists, and submits a corporate surety bond and certified representative application. The license fee varies from $75 to $250, depending on the license type. Once the Original Company License application and the certified representative application are approved, the company is ready for well contracting work in Minnesota. Individual applicants planning to be the certified representative for an existing company are just sent the certified representative application.

A well contractor may construct, repair, install pumps, and seal environmental bore holes, elevator borings, groundwater thermal exchange devices, vertical heat exchangers and wells including; water wells, dewatering wells, drive point wells, dug wells, and monitoring wells. An applicant for a well contractor license must have four years of experience. A year of experience is a year in which the applicant personally drilled at least ten wells and worked at least 1,000 hours drilling, sealing, and installing pumps in wells. An applicant with experience prior to 2006 must drill a minimum off five wells per year of experience. Applicants may qualify if the experience was in constructing one or more wells more than 700 feet deep with casings larger than 10 inches in diameter.

Rules: 4725
4727

Statutes: 103I

Forms:

See:

Licensing Applications and Registration

Contractor Information


Fees:

Refer to Fees


Period of Issuance:

Annual (February 1 - January 31)


Length of Determination: Variable, depending on adequacy of documentation, identification of problems during review, results of examination, and in obtaining a bond. Typically, within 3 months of qualification application submittal.
Other Info:
Activity: License Detail URL:

Construction of Wells and Borings

Wells and Borings

Licensed Well and Boring Contractor Directory

Minnesota Department of Health

      


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