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Waterwell Licensing

Waterwell Drillers’ Licence

In all Australian states and territories, most waterwell drillers are required to be licensed.

This ensures that bores meet minimum construction standards and that drillers comply with local regulations designed to protect Australia’s groundwater.

State and territory governments are responsible for issuing waterwell drillers’ licences and should be the first point of contact for applicants.

The National Uniform Drillers’ Licensing Committee (NUDLC) oversees coordination and consistency in licensing processes nationwide.

To earn a waterwell drillers’ licence, applicants must:

  • pass the National Drillers’ Licence Exam
  • complete any state/territory requirements.
    (These may include evidence requirements, practical interviews or completion of additional coursework)

State regulators assess each applicant’s theoretical knowledge from the results of the National Drillers’ Licence Exam, practical experience, and are ultimately responsible for issuing licences.

Licence Classifications

(The following licence classifications are relevant to WA, NT, SA, Qld, ACT, Vic, and Tas. For information on NSW licence classes, please contact NSW State Authority)

Under the current system, waterwell drillers’ licences are classified according to the type of aquifers and are endorsed with the drilling methods that are used. This ensures the skills, knowledge and experience of a driller match the groundwater protection requirements.

The classifications are:

  • Class 1: restricted to drilling operations in single non-flowing aquifer systems (water table aquifers).
  • Class 2: in addition to operating in class 1 conditions, permits drilling operations in multiple non-flowing aquifer systems (confined aquifers).
  • Class 3: in addition to operating in class 1 and 2 conditions, permits drilling operations in flowing aquifer systems (artesian aquifers).

Licence Endorsements

To progress through each licence class, applicants must first complete the previous class and obtain the relevant endorsements.

Waterwell drillers’ licences include endorsements that specify the drilling methods a licence holder is authorised to use in the development of water wells. Each licence holder must have at least one drilling method endorsement.

Endorsements are independent of licence class and can be added to an existing licence as needed. Once obtained, an endorsement applies to all licence classes (Class 1, 2, and 3) and does not need to be repeated.

Drilling Method Endorsements:

  • Cable tool
  • Auger
  • Rotary air
  • Rotary mud
  • Sonic
  • Non drilling rig

Ready to Apply?

National Applicants

Apply for your National Drillers Licence Exam

Apply Now

WA Applicants

Apply for your WA Waterwell Permit including your National Drillers Licence Exam

Apply Now

Licence Upgrades

Only holders of an existing licence may apply to upgrade to the next class of licence.

For example, an applicant holding a Class 1 licence may apply to upgrade to a Class 2. To do so, the applicant is required to complete the Class 2 examination and any additional state requirements pertaining to the class level.

The same process applies when adding a new drilling method endorsement.

Licence Conversions

Applicants who already hold a licence in one state may wish to apply for an additional licence in another state.

With the introduction of Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) by the Federal Government in 2020, licence conversions are now less common, as many states and territories recognise interstate licences. Click here more information on AMR.

Each state or territory manages AMR entrants and processes licence conversions, if required.

If you wish to convert your licence to a WA Waterwell Permit, please contact [email protected] for more information.

Exams

(The following information is relevant to WA, NT, SA, Qld, ACT, and NSW. Please contact Vic State Authority for information on Vic and Tas drillers licencing exams.)

ADIA is the body which administers and assesses the examinations for National Drillers’ Licences, in consultation with the National Uniform Drillers’ Licencing Committee.

EXAM PROCESS

  1. Applicants apply via the ADIA website and complete payment.
  2. The applicant will receive access to the chosen licence class and endorsement exams.
  3. The applicant has three months to complete the exams. If an extension is required, notify ADIA.
  4. Once completed, exams are marked. Please allow up to four weeks for marking.
  5. ADIA sends the exam results to the applicant. A copy of the results and the marked exam will be sent to the relevant state authority.
  6. The state authority will assess your application and determine whether the licence will be granted. This may involve additional evidence requirements and/or an interview to evaluate competency.

EXAM OUTCOMES

  • A mark of 80% or more is required to pass.
  • If an applicant receives a mark between 70% and 79%, ADIA will automatically give the applicant the opportunity to redo the incorrect questions at no extra cost (this can only be done once). If the applicant still receives a mark below 80% it is passed on to the relevant state authority for their guidance.
  • A mark between 0% and 69% is considered a failure. If the applicant has failed, they must wait three months before they can re-apply.
  • A re-application costs the same as a new application. If an applicant is considered unsuccessful in the exam results, their results are referred to the relevant licensing committee or Board for a final decision.