TEXAS WELL DRILLER LICENSE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
1: Which Texas agency regulates well driller licensing?
A. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
B. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
C. Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)
D. Railroad Commission of Texas
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Rationale: TDLR administers the Well Driller Licensing Program under Texas Occupations Code
Chapter 1902 and 16 TAC Chapter 76.
2: What is the minimum age requirement for a Texas Well Driller license?
A. 18 years
B. 21 years
C. 25 years
D. No age requirement
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 18 years
Rationale: Texas Occupations Code §1902.102 requires applicants to be at least 18 years of age.
3: Which license class allows drilling of water wells, monitoring wells, and well repair?
A. Water Well Driller
B. Pump Installer
C. Well Driller (unrestricted)
D. Limited Well Driller
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Well Driller (unrestricted)
Rationale: The unrestricted Well Driller license permits drilling, constructing, repairing, and
abandoning water wells, monitoring wells, and other wells regulated under Chapter 1902.
4: What is the minimum experience requirement for a Well Driller license applicant?
A. No experience required
B. 1 year of supervised experience
C. 2 years of supervised experience
D. 5 years of experience
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2 years of supervised experience
Rationale: Applicants must provide documentation of at least 2 years (4,000 hours) of
supervised well drilling experience under a licensed well driller.
5: Which examination must be passed to obtain a Texas Well Driller license?
A. TCEQ water quality exam
B. TDLR Well Driller Licensing Exam
C. National Ground Water Association exam
D. No exam required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. TDLR Well Driller Licensing Exam
Rationale: Applicants must pass the TDLR-administered Well Driller Licensing Exam covering
regulations, well construction, safety, and environmental protection.
6: What is the minimum casing depth requirement for a water well in unconsolidated
formations?
A. To the bottom of the well
B. Through all unconsolidated formations and at least 10 feet into consolidated formation
C. Only 5 feet
D. No casing required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Through all unconsolidated formations and at least 10 feet into
consolidated formation
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.130 requires casing to extend through unconsolidated materials and at
least 10 feet into consolidated formation to prevent collapse and contamination.
7: What is the required grouting material for annular space in most water wells?
A. Sand only
B. Neat cement grout or bentonite slurry meeting specifications
C. Native cuttings
D. No grouting required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Neat cement grout or bentonite slurry meeting specifications
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.131 requires annular space to be grouted with approved materials (neat
cement or bentonite) to prevent contamination and protect aquifers.
8: How long must a well driller retain well construction records?
,A. 1 year
B. 3 years
C. 5 years
D. Indefinitely
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 5 years
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.150 requires well drillers to retain well construction records, logs, and
reports for at least 5 years.
9: What is the minimum setback distance for a water well from a septic tank?
A. 10 feet
B. 25 feet
C. 50 feet
D. 100 feet
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 50 feet
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.120 requires water wells to be located at least 50 feet from septic tanks
to prevent contamination (local regulations may require more).
10: Which document must be filed with TDLR after well completion?
A. Invoice only
B. Well Completion Report (Form WCR)
C. Photographs only
D. No filing required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Well Completion Report (Form WCR)
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.145 requires submission of a Well Completion Report to TDLR within 30
days of well completion.
11: What is the required diameter for a monitoring well casing?
A. No minimum
B. At least 2 inches
C. At least 4 inches
D. At least 6 inches
CORRECT ANSWER: B. At least 2 inches
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.210 requires monitoring well casing to have a minimum inside diameter
of 2 inches to allow for sampling and maintenance.
, 12: Which safety equipment is required on a drilling rig?
A. No requirements
B. Fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and personal protective equipment
C. Only hard hats
D. Only gloves
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and personal protective equipment
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.110 requires drilling operations to have appropriate safety equipment
including fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and PPE for workers.
13: What is the minimum depth for sealing an abandoned water well?
A. Top 10 feet only
B. Full depth of the well with approved materials
C. Only the screened interval
D. No sealing required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Full depth of the well with approved materials
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.140 requires abandoned wells to be sealed full depth with approved
materials (cement or bentonite) to prevent contamination and hazards.
14: Which license allows installation of pumps only?
A. Well Driller
B. Pump Installer
C. Water Well Contractor
D. No license required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Pump Installer
Rationale: The Pump Installer license specifically authorizes installation, repair, and removal of
pumps and related equipment, but not well drilling.
15: What is the continuing education requirement for license renewal?
A. None
B. 8 hours every 2 years
C. 16 hours every 2 years
D. 32 hours every year
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 16 hours every 2 years
CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
1: Which Texas agency regulates well driller licensing?
A. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
B. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
C. Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)
D. Railroad Commission of Texas
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Rationale: TDLR administers the Well Driller Licensing Program under Texas Occupations Code
Chapter 1902 and 16 TAC Chapter 76.
2: What is the minimum age requirement for a Texas Well Driller license?
A. 18 years
B. 21 years
C. 25 years
D. No age requirement
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 18 years
Rationale: Texas Occupations Code §1902.102 requires applicants to be at least 18 years of age.
3: Which license class allows drilling of water wells, monitoring wells, and well repair?
A. Water Well Driller
B. Pump Installer
C. Well Driller (unrestricted)
D. Limited Well Driller
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Well Driller (unrestricted)
Rationale: The unrestricted Well Driller license permits drilling, constructing, repairing, and
abandoning water wells, monitoring wells, and other wells regulated under Chapter 1902.
4: What is the minimum experience requirement for a Well Driller license applicant?
A. No experience required
B. 1 year of supervised experience
C. 2 years of supervised experience
D. 5 years of experience
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2 years of supervised experience
Rationale: Applicants must provide documentation of at least 2 years (4,000 hours) of
supervised well drilling experience under a licensed well driller.
5: Which examination must be passed to obtain a Texas Well Driller license?
A. TCEQ water quality exam
B. TDLR Well Driller Licensing Exam
C. National Ground Water Association exam
D. No exam required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. TDLR Well Driller Licensing Exam
Rationale: Applicants must pass the TDLR-administered Well Driller Licensing Exam covering
regulations, well construction, safety, and environmental protection.
6: What is the minimum casing depth requirement for a water well in unconsolidated
formations?
A. To the bottom of the well
B. Through all unconsolidated formations and at least 10 feet into consolidated formation
C. Only 5 feet
D. No casing required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Through all unconsolidated formations and at least 10 feet into
consolidated formation
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.130 requires casing to extend through unconsolidated materials and at
least 10 feet into consolidated formation to prevent collapse and contamination.
7: What is the required grouting material for annular space in most water wells?
A. Sand only
B. Neat cement grout or bentonite slurry meeting specifications
C. Native cuttings
D. No grouting required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Neat cement grout or bentonite slurry meeting specifications
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.131 requires annular space to be grouted with approved materials (neat
cement or bentonite) to prevent contamination and protect aquifers.
8: How long must a well driller retain well construction records?
,A. 1 year
B. 3 years
C. 5 years
D. Indefinitely
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 5 years
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.150 requires well drillers to retain well construction records, logs, and
reports for at least 5 years.
9: What is the minimum setback distance for a water well from a septic tank?
A. 10 feet
B. 25 feet
C. 50 feet
D. 100 feet
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 50 feet
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.120 requires water wells to be located at least 50 feet from septic tanks
to prevent contamination (local regulations may require more).
10: Which document must be filed with TDLR after well completion?
A. Invoice only
B. Well Completion Report (Form WCR)
C. Photographs only
D. No filing required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Well Completion Report (Form WCR)
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.145 requires submission of a Well Completion Report to TDLR within 30
days of well completion.
11: What is the required diameter for a monitoring well casing?
A. No minimum
B. At least 2 inches
C. At least 4 inches
D. At least 6 inches
CORRECT ANSWER: B. At least 2 inches
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.210 requires monitoring well casing to have a minimum inside diameter
of 2 inches to allow for sampling and maintenance.
, 12: Which safety equipment is required on a drilling rig?
A. No requirements
B. Fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and personal protective equipment
C. Only hard hats
D. Only gloves
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and personal protective equipment
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.110 requires drilling operations to have appropriate safety equipment
including fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and PPE for workers.
13: What is the minimum depth for sealing an abandoned water well?
A. Top 10 feet only
B. Full depth of the well with approved materials
C. Only the screened interval
D. No sealing required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Full depth of the well with approved materials
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.140 requires abandoned wells to be sealed full depth with approved
materials (cement or bentonite) to prevent contamination and hazards.
14: Which license allows installation of pumps only?
A. Well Driller
B. Pump Installer
C. Water Well Contractor
D. No license required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Pump Installer
Rationale: The Pump Installer license specifically authorizes installation, repair, and removal of
pumps and related equipment, but not well drilling.
15: What is the continuing education requirement for license renewal?
A. None
B. 8 hours every 2 years
C. 16 hours every 2 years
D. 32 hours every year
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 16 hours every 2 years
