Construction / Well Driller Continuing Education / Iowa
- Iowa
- Well Driller CE
- Water Well Driller
- Updated Oct 2026
Iowa Well Driller Continuing Education: Hours, Deadline and Approved Courses
Iowa water well drillers need 16 hours of CE approved by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources every two years, earned by March 31, before their certification expires on June 30 of even-numbered years.
Last updated October 28, 2026 from Iowa Department of Natural Resources requirements
Hours per cycle
16 hrs
All training must be approved by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Cycle
2 years
Licenses renew biennially
Deadline
Jun 30, even years
CE must be earned by March 31 of the renewal year
Online allowed?
Not stated
Confirm with the department before you enroll
Who needs CE
Who needs continuing education for an Iowa well driller license?
Every licensed Iowa water well driller needs CE to renew. Renewal is handled by the state through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, not by cities or counties.
CE applies to
- Certified well drilling contractors (16 hours)
- Contractors certified as both well driller and pump installer (16 hours)
- Pump installers only (10 hours)
- Well plugging contractors, if the DNR requires it (2 hours)
Exemptions
- Contractors newly certified after April 1 of an even-numbered year, until the next two-year period
- Honorable active military duty
- Government well contractor work outside the United States
Iowa well driller CE at a glance
Iowa well driller renewal, one box
| Renewed with | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| CE required? | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 16 hrs |
| Cycle | 2 years |
| Required topics | None set; well contractor safety capped at 2 hrs |
| Online allowed? | Not stated |
| Deadline | June 30, even years (CE by March 31) |
| Who reports | You, through the DNR Operator Certification Database |
| Carryover | None |
| Grace period | None; late renewal within 60 days with a $100 penalty |
| Renewal fee | $300 well driller; $200 pump installer only |
| Last updated | October 28, 2026 |
Hours
How many CE hours does an Iowa well driller license need?
Well drillers need 16 hours (1.6 CEUs) of CE every two-year period, and pump installers only need 10. All of it must be approved by an accredited college or university, technical institute or the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Approved courses cover industry topics such as Iowa groundwater laws and rules, water well and drinking water services and well construction, maintenance and abandonment practices.
| Class | Total | Required topics | Electives | Delivery limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Well Driller | 16 hrs | None set (safety capped at 2 hrs) | Approved industry topics | Not stated |
| Pump Installer only | 10 hrs | None set (safety capped at 2 hrs) | Approved industry topics | Not stated |
Accepted topic areas include, but aren’t limited to: Iowa groundwater laws and rules; water well and drinking water services; well construction, maintenance and abandonment practices; well product training; geothermal drilling, loop borehole construction, pipe headers and fusion training; well contractor safety; water system repair, maintenance and renovation; cross-connection prevention; Iowa hydrogeology; water sampling, water chemistry and water treatment methods and equipment; natural and man-made contaminants.
Deadline
When is the Iowa well driller license renewal deadline?
Iowa well contractor certificates expire June 30 of even-numbered years. CE has to be earned during the two-year period from April 1 to March 31, so finish your 16 hours by March 31 and submit your renewal before June 30.
| Deadline rule | June 30 of even-numbered years |
| Cycle | 2 years |
| Next deadlines | June 30, 2028 |
| Grace period | None; renewals up to 60 days late are accepted with a $100 penalty |
| Late penalty | $100; after 60 days the right to renew ends and you must pass the exams again |
| CE completion deadline | March 31 of the renewal year (CE period runs April 1 to March 31) |
Steps
How to renew an Iowa well driller license, step by step
- Take approved CEBy March 31
Complete 16 hours of approved CE between April 1 and March 31 of the even-numbered renewal year. - Get your certificateSame day
Save the certificate of completion for each course you finish. - Confirm it’s reportedBefore you renew
You report your CEUs to the DNR yourself through the Operator Certification Database, before or at renewal. Keep your certificates either way. - Pay the renewal fee$300 fee
Submit your renewal and fee ($300 for well drillers, $200 for pump installers only) to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources before June 30. - Check your license statusAfter renewal
Confirm with the department that your license shows its new expiration date.
Providers
Approved Iowa 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. All training must be approved by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Approval
How to check an Iowa well driller CE course is approved
Only pre-approved training counts toward your 16 hours. Courses must be approved by an accredited college or university, technical institute or the department, and must relate to well services, Iowa groundwater law, well construction, maintenance or abandonment, water systems or Iowa hydrogeology.
- Confirm the course is approved before you pay.
- Check that the topic relates to the water well industry. No more than 2 hours of well contractor safety count each period.
- Make sure your total reaches 16 hours by March 31.
Reporting
How Iowa well driller CE is reported, and what happens in an audit
Reporting is your job. You keep a written record of your CEUs and submit them to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources through the Operator Certification Database before or at renewal.
- Keep a certificate of completion for every course.
- Submit your CEUs through the DNR Operator Certification Database.
- Extra CEUs can’t be carried forward to the next period.
- If you face hardship, ask the director for a six-month extension before March 31.
Cost
How much does Iowa well driller license renewal cost?
| Item | Fee | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| License renewal fee | $300 well drilling contractor; $200 pump installation or well plugging contractor | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Late renewal fee | $100 | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Recertification (not enough CEUs, within two years) | $1,000 plus passing the exams | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| CE courses (16 hours) | Varies by provider | CE provider |
Fees from 567 IAC chapter 82, checked October 2026.
Late or lapsed
Late, expired or inactive Iowa well driller license
There’s no grace period. You can renew up to 60 days after June 30 by paying a $100 penalty, but you can’t provide well services while your certificate is expired. After 60 days you have to pass the exams again.
Late renewal
Renewals filed after June 30 need the renewal fee plus a $100 penalty. You can’t work on an expired certificate.
After 60 days
The right to renew ends. You can be certified again by passing the exams and paying the certification fee.
Missing CE
If you didn’t earn enough CEUs, recertifying within two years means retaking the exams and paying $1,000.
Extension
In hardship cases, the director can give you six more months to finish CE if you ask before March 31.
Who controls
Who controls Iowa well driller license renewal?
Renewal authority
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
6200 Park Avenue, Suite 200, Des Moines, IA 50321
515-725-8200
Responsibilities
- Issues and renews Iowa water well driller licenses
- Approves continuing education training
- Sets the 16-hour CE requirement
Getting licensed
Getting licensed
We haven’t published a Iowa license guide for this profession yet. Tell us if you need one.
FAQ
Iowa well driller license CE FAQs
How many CE hours does a Iowa well driller need?
16 hours every two years, approved by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
When is the deadline?
Certificates expire June 30 of even-numbered years. Your CE must be earned by March 31 of that year.
Can I take CE online?
Our sources don’t say. Confirm with the department that a course counts before you enroll.
Who reports my hours?
You do. Submit your CEUs to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources through the Operator Certification Database before or at renewal.
Do hours carry over?
No. Extra CEUs can’t be carried forward, so plan on 16 new hours each cycle.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
You can renew up to 60 days late with a $100 penalty, but you can’t work while expired. After 60 days you must pass the exams again.
Sources
Official sources for Iowa well driller CE rules
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources, water well driller license renewal
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources, water well driller continuing education requirements
- Iowa DNR well contractor certification
- 567 IAC chapter 82, well contractor certification
Last updated October 28, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.