Texas license lookup / Exam guides / Water well driller
The Texas water well driller exams
Drillers take a general exam plus one exam per endorsement, all closed book, in English or Spanish. The water well endorsement exam is the hardest: 44 passes in 156 attempts in fiscal year 2025.
Based on PSI's candidate bulletin dated 20 September 2024 · Reviewed 9 October 2026
The exam at a glance
| Exam | Questions | Time | To pass | Fee | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General well driller | 60 | 110 min | 70% | $52 | Closed book |
| Water well driller | 70 | 112 min | 70% | $52 | Closed book |
| Monitor well driller | 65 | 100 min | 70% | $52 | Closed book |
| Closed loop geothermal | 30 | 45 min | 70% | $43 | Closed book |
| Injection well driller | 30 | 45 min | 70% | $43 | Closed book |
| Dewatering well driller | 30 | 45 min | 70% | $43 | Closed book |
"+ N" is extra time or questions for unscored items, which PSI includes to trial new questions. Exam fees are paid to PSI, separately from TDLR's license application fee.
How many people pass
| Pass rate | Taken | Passed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General well driller | 45.7% | 105 | 48 |
| Water well driller | 28.2% | 156 | 44 |
| Monitor well driller | 54.5% | 22 | 12 |
| Closed loop geothermal | 50.0% | 2 | 1 |
| Injection well driller | 100.0% | 1 | 1 |
Fiscal year 2025 (September 2024 to August 2025). Counts are exams taken, not people, and exclude no-shows. Source: TDLR examination statistics.
What is on it: general well driller (60 items)
| Topic | Items | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Texas law and rule | 20 | 33% |
| Groundwater protection | 15 | 25% |
| Safety | 10 | 17% |
| Hydrology and geology | 10 | 17% |
| Rigs | 5 | 8% |
What is on it: water well driller (70 items)
| Topic | Items | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Design, construction and completion | 35 | 50% |
| Texas law and rule | 15 | 21% |
| Geology and hydrology | 12 | 17% |
| Well rehabilitation | 4 | 6% |
| Safety | 4 | 6% |
References
The bulletin's references include Occupations Code chapter 1901, 16 TAC chapter 76, Groundwater and Wells (3rd edition), Manual of Water Well Construction Practices (3rd edition, 2017), The Drilling Manual (5th edition), Aquifers of Texas (Report 380) and selected OSHA standards. Pump installers take separate exams: see the pump installer exam guide.
Scheduling and exam day
- Eligibility first. TDLR reviews your application, then PSI emails you that you are eligible and how to book. You cannot book before that.
- Booking. Online through your PSI account, or by phone; your name must match your government ID exactly.
- On the day. PSI's TDLR bulletins ask you to arrive 30 minutes early with one valid government photo ID; late arrivals are turned away and lose the fee.
- Cancelling. Cancel or reschedule at least two days ahead through PSI, or the fee is forfeited.
- Results. Scores are given at the test center. PSI gives failing candidates a diagnostic report by topic, which is the best study guide for a retake.
Before and after the exam
- How to get a water well driller or pump installer license in Texas: hours, application and fees
- License statistics and renewal for this trade
- Renewal calculator for once you are licensed
- All exam guides and pass rates
For context: Texas has 1,586 active licenses of this type in the public TDLR file dated 20 September 2026.
Questions
What is the pass rate for the Texas water well driller exam?
In fiscal year 2025, 28.2% of water well driller exams and 45.7% of general well driller exams were passed, according to TDLR.
Sources
PSI Services, candidate information bulletin dated 20 September 2024. Pass rates: TDLR examination statistics. Exam fees, formats and outlines change when PSI reissues a bulletin: the bulletin sent with your eligibility notice is the one that applies to you.
Independent site, not affiliated with TDLR or PSI. We do not sell courses or practice tests.
Cite this page
PermitPulled (2026). The Texas water well driller exams. Retrieved from https://permitpulled.com/exams/water-well-driller-exam-texas
Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under CC BY 4.0. Attribution required.