# Texas Water Well Driller Exams (2026): Topics and Pass Rates > Source: PermitPulled, https://permitpulled.com/exams/water-well-driller-exam-texas > Compiled from the public TDLR license file. Published under CC BY 4.0; attribution to PermitPulled required. > For an individual license record, use the official TDLR search: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/ [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 ยท 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. [Read PSI's candidate bulletin]() ## 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.