How to Get a Texas Pump Installer License (Step by Step)
Updated September 19, 2026 · Written by a Texas-licensed well driller and pump installer
In Texas you need a license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to install or repair a pump on a water well for someone else. Pump installers are licensed under Chapter 1902 of the Texas Occupations Code. Drillers are licensed under Chapter 1901. Both follow the same rules in 16 TAC Chapter 76.
Here is the path from start to license.
Step 1: Get two years of supervised experience
TDLR requires at least two years of experience under the supervision of a licensed well driller or pump installer.
Most people get there as a registered apprentice. Apprentices must be at least 18 years old and work under someone who has held a Texas license for at least two years. Registration is $65, or $115 for a combination driller and pump installer apprentice.
Step 2: Log your qualifying installations
A pump installer license carries endorsements for the kinds of pumps you are licensed to install. Each one needs a minimum number of qualifying installations:
| Endorsement | Qualifying installations |
|---|---|
| Single Phase Pumps (P) | 15 |
| 3 Phase Pumps (K) | 15 |
| Turbine Pump (T) | 15 |
| Windmill, pump jack, hand pump | 15 |
| Master Installer (I) | 60 |
For most residential work, the Single Phase Pumps endorsement is the one you need first.
Step 3: Apply to TDLR
The fees are:
- $430 for a pump installer license
- $650 for a combination driller and pump installer license
- $25 to add an endorsement to a license you already hold
After TDLR verifies your application, you are approved to take the exam. That eligibility lasts one year, so plan your studying around it.
Step 4: Pass the General exam and your endorsement exam
PSI runs the exams for TDLR. They are taken on a computer, are closed book, and 70% is a passing score (16 TAC §76.23). TDLR says the General exam must be passed before any license or endorsement may be issued.
For a single-phase pump installer, that means:
- General Pump Installer: 60 scored questions in 110 minutes. It covers Texas law and rules, pump installation, hydrology and well hydraulics, safety, and water chemistry.
- Single-Phase Pump: 30 scored questions in 55 minutes. It covers installation, diagnostics and repair, and tools and equipment.
The General Pump Installer exam has a heavy share of Texas law and rules: 20 of 60 scored questions. Those questions are about the same Chapter 76 rules drillers are tested on, such as well caps, setbacks, and reporting.
The Single-Phase exam is practical. Our practice questions for it cover the working knowledge a service call needs: matching a motor to its control box, voltage and amperage checks, insulation resistance readings, pressure tanks, and troubleshooting a pump that short-cycles or won't start.
See what's on all four exams for the full topic breakdown.
Step 5: Keep your license current
Pump installer licenses renew for $430. Each renewal requires 8 hours of continuing education: 7 industry-related hours plus 1 hour on Texas law and rules (16 TAC §76.25).
Driller, pump installer, or both?
If you both drill wells and set pumps, a combination license ($650 initial) covers both trades. Ask TDLR which exams apply to your application before you schedule.
Sources: TDLR, "Water Well Drillers & Pump Installers At a Glance" (Form AAG-036, Dec. 2025); TDLR application and examination pages; PSI Candidate Information Bulletins; Tex. Occ. Code Ch. 1902; 16 TAC §§76.23, 76.25. Confirm current requirements with TDLR before you apply.