Texas Well Driller & Pump Installer Continuing Education Requirements
Updated October 5, 2026 · Written by a Texas-licensed well driller and pump installer
Texas water well drillers and pump installers have to complete continuing education (CE) to renew their licenses. The requirement went up in 2024, and the timing rules catch people out at renewal. Here's what 16 TAC §76.25 requires.
How many hours
For licenses renewing on or after March 1, 2024, each renewal requires 8 hours:
| Topic | Hours |
|---|---|
| Industry-related instruction | 7 |
| Texas water well driller and pump installer statutes and rules | 1 |
| Total | 8 |
Before March 1, 2024, the requirement was 4 hours: 3 industry-related plus 1 on statutes and rules. If you're working from old notes or an old certificate count, you may be short.
Apprentices
A registered apprentice must complete a 1-hour department-approved CE course to renew their registration.
When the hours have to be done
This is where most renewal problems come from:
- Renewing on time: your hours must be completed within the term of your current license. Hours from your previous license term don't count.
- Renewing late: the hours must be completed within the one year immediately before the date you renew.
Don't wait until the month your license expires. Courses fill up, and late renewal has its own consequences.
Rules about the courses
- Approved providers only. The course must come from a provider registered with TDLR, and cover one or more of the approved topics.
- No repeats. You can't get credit for taking the same course more than once in the same license term.
- Keep your certificate. Hold onto the certificate of completion for one year after you complete the course.
Inactive licenses
If your license is on inactive status, you're exempt from CE until you ask to change back to active.
Renewal fees
From TDLR's current fee schedule:
| Renewal | Fee |
|---|---|
| Driller | $430 |
| Pump installer | $430 |
| Combination driller and pump installer | $430 |
| Apprentice | $65 |
| Combination apprentice | $115 |
Where to find courses
- TDLR lists registered continuing education providers for the water well program on its website.
- The Texas Ground Water Association offers CE classes for drillers and pump installers.
Starting out?
If you're not licensed yet, CE comes later. First come two years of supervised experience and the licensing exams. See our guides to getting a water well driller license or a pump installer license, or try a free practice test.
Sources: 16 TAC §76.25 (effective January 1, 2024); TDLR, "Water Well Drillers & Pump Installers At a Glance" (Dec. 2025). Requirements and fees change, so confirm with TDLR before your renewal.