Construction / Well Driller Continuing Education / Arkansas
- Arkansas
- Well Driller CE
- Water Well Driller
- Updated Oct 2026
Arkansas Well Driller Continuing Education: Hours, Deadline and Approved Courses
Arkansas water well contractors need 6 approved CE credits each licensing year, up to 3 of them online, before their license expires on July 31.
Last updated October 28, 2026 from Arkansas Department of Agriculture requirements
Hours per cycle
6 credits
Plus 2 credits for each additional designee
Cycle
1 year
Renewed annually
Deadline
July 31
Same date every year
Online allowed?
Yes, up to 3 credits
Online courses must be state-approved
Who needs CE
Who needs continuing education for an Arkansas well driller license?
Arkansas water well CE is tied to the contractor license. To renew each year, the contractor, or one designee who is a partner, officer or full-time employee and a registered driller or pump installer, must show 6 approved CE credits. Renewal is handled by the state through the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
CE applies to
- Licensed water well contractors (drilling and pump systems, drilling-only or pump system-only)
- A contractor’s designee who is a registered driller or pump installer
- Each additional designee (2 more credits per contractor)
Exemptions
- Active duty service members deployed outside Arkansas, returning veterans within 1 year of discharge, and their spouses (full or partial exemption)
Arkansas well driller CE at a glance
Arkansas well driller renewal, one box
| Renewed with | Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Arkansas Natural Resources Commission) |
| CE required? | Yes, for water well contractor licenses |
| Hours per cycle | 6 credits |
| Cycle | 1 year |
| Required topics | Wells and pump systems, business practices, commission rules, worker safety, regulations |
| Online allowed? | Yes, up to 3 credits |
| Deadline | July 31 |
| Who reports | You submit proof; approved providers send attendee lists |
| Carryover | Yes, extra credits carry into the next licensing year |
| Grace period | None stated; lapsed under 1 year renews with a $25 late fee |
| Renewal fee | $350 drilling & pump; $175 drilling-only or pump-only |
| Last updated | October 28, 2026 |
Hours
How many CE hours does an Arkansas well driller license need?
Each contractor needs 6 credits of CE approved by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission every licensing year, plus 2 credits for each additional designee. Courses must cover water wells or pump systems technology, science or health; sound business practices; or compliance with the commission’s rules and other requirements, including worker safety. Up to 3 credits can be taken online.
| Class | Total | Required topics | Electives | Delivery limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water well contractor (or one designee) | 6 credits | No set split; courses must fit approved topics | 2 more credits for each additional designee | Up to 3 credits online; the rest in seminars or classrooms |
Deadline
When is the Arkansas well driller license renewal deadline?
Arkansas water well licenses run on a licensing year that starts August 1, so you renew every year by July 31. Submit proof of the CE credits you earned during the previous licensing year with your renewal to the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.
| Deadline rule | Every year by July 31 |
| Cycle | 1 year |
| Next deadlines | July 31, 2027 |
| Grace period | None stated |
| Late penalty | $25 late fee per registration lapsed under 1 year |
| CE completion deadline | Before you submit your renewal |
Steps
How to renew an Arkansas well driller license, step by step
- Take approved CEBefore July 31
Complete 6 credits of CE approved by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, plus 2 for each additional designee. Up to 3 credits can be online. - Get your certificateSame day
Program sponsors must give you written proof of attendance. Save it for your renewal. - Confirm it’s reportedWith your renewal
You submit proof of your credits with your annual renewal. Providers of preapproved classes also send their attendee lists to the commission by July 31. - Pay the renewal fee$175–$350 fee
Pay $350 for a drilling and pump system license or $175 for a drilling-only or pump system-only license, plus $145 for each rig permit. - Check your license statusAfter renewal
Confirm your license shows the new expiration date.
Providers
Approved Arkansas well driller license CE providers
We haven’t compared CE providers for this license yet. Use the board’s approved provider list to confirm a course counts before you pay. The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission can preapprove CE programs and set the credits each one earns.
Approval
How to check an Arkansas well driller CE course is approved
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission can preapprove CE programs and the credits they earn. Programs can be held in-state or out-of-state and must cover water wells or pump systems technology, science or health; sound business practices; or compliance with the commission’s rules and other governmental and industry requirements, including worker health and safety.
- Confirm the course is approved by the department before you pay.
- Check that the course topic fits the approved subject areas.
- Make sure your total reaches 6 credits before July 31.
Reporting
How Arkansas well driller CE is reported, and what happens in an audit
You submit proof of 6 approved CE credits, earned during the previous licensing year, as part of your annual renewal. Program sponsors must give you written proof of attendance, and providers of preapproved classes must send a list of attendees to the commission by July 31 each year.
- Keep the written proof of attendance for every program.
- Count any extra credits; they carry over into the next licensing year.
- Check that your credits are on file with the commission before you renew.
Cost
How much does Arkansas well driller license renewal cost?
| Item | Fee | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Drilling and pump system license | $350 a year | Arkansas Department of Agriculture |
| Drilling-only or pump system-only license | $175 a year | Arkansas Department of Agriculture |
| Driller or pump installer registration | $125 | Arkansas Department of Agriculture |
| Late fee (registration lapsed under 1 year) | $25 per registration, plus the $125 registration fee | Arkansas Department of Agriculture |
| Rig permit | $145 per rig, expires July 31 | Arkansas Department of Agriculture |
| CE courses (6 credits) | Varies by provider | CE provider |
Fees from the Arkansas Water Well Construction Rules (17 CAR § 11-304) and the Water Well Construction Committee page, checked October 2026.
Late or lapsed
Late, expired or inactive Arkansas well driller license
Licenses and rig permits expire every July 31. A driller or pump installer registration that has lapsed for less than a year can be renewed with a late fee; after a year you must apply again.
Grace period
None stated. Renew before July 31 to stay current.
Lapsed under 1 year
Renew a registration by sending the $125 registration fee and a $25 late fee for each registration.
Lapsed over 1 year
Send in a new application. It’s presented for approval at the next commission meeting.
Makeup CE
You still need your 6 approved credits before you can renew. Extra credits from the year before carry over.
Who controls
Who controls Arkansas well driller license renewal?
Renewal authority
Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 225-1598
Responsibilities
- Issues and renews Arkansas water well contractor licenses and driller registrations
- Preapproves well driller CE programs
- Receives attendee lists from preapproved CE providers
Getting licensed
Getting licensed
We haven’t published a Arkansas license guide for this profession yet. Tell us if you need one.
FAQ
Arkansas well driller license CE FAQs
How many CE hours does an Arkansas well driller need?
6 approved CE credits each licensing year per contractor, plus 2 credits for each additional designee.
When is the deadline?
Every year by July 31.
Can I take CE online?
Yes. Up to 3 of your 6 credits can come from online classes; the rest must be seminars or in-person classes.
Who reports my hours?
You submit proof of your credits with your annual renewal. Providers of preapproved classes also send attendee lists to the commission by July 31.
What topics count?
Water wells or pump systems technology, science or health; sound business practices; and compliance with the commission’s rules and other governmental and industry requirements, including worker health and safety.
Do hours carry over?
Yes. Credits above the required number carry over into the next licensing year.
What if my registration lapses?
If it lapsed less than a year ago, send the $125 registration fee plus a $25 late fee. After a year, you must submit a new application.
Sources
Official sources for Arkansas well driller CE rules
- Arkansas Department of Agriculture, water well driller license renewal
- Arkansas Department of Agriculture, water well driller continuing education requirements
- Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Water Well Construction Committee
- Arkansas Water Well Construction Rules (17 CAR Part 11)
- Arkansas Water Well Contractor License Application
Last updated October 28, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.