How to Become a Water Well Driller in Nova Scotia
Do you need certification?
Certification required
Water well driller is a compulsory trade in Nova Scotia. You need a certificate, or registration as an apprentice, to work in the trade.
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“Anyone who wants to hold themselves out as a well driller, drill or operate a machine for the purpose of drilling a well, construct a drilled well, repair a drilled well, modify a drilled well or decommission a drilled well on any property in Nova Scotia, which they themselves do not own or lease.”
From novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp, checked October 11, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Certification required See the source
- Routes
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- Trained in Canada: 5 steps
- Licensed in another province: 2 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 2 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Environment (Department of Environment and Climate Change)
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 5 done
- 5 steps without a listed fee
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Applicants contact the Nova Scotia Groundwater Association to arrange the required exam and field test, and oral exams and study materials are available through that association.
Source
“Applicants contact Nova Scotia Groundwater Association (NSGWA) to arrange the required exam and field test. Oral exams are available for those who may require it, and study materials are available through NSGWA.”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp -
Applicants must successfully complete the required exam with a pass mark of 70 percent and the field test, with waiting periods of at least 90 days to re-write the exam and 6 months for a field test re-test.
Source
“Applicants successfully complete the required exam and field test. The pass mark for the exam is 70%. If you do not pass the exam, you must wait a minimum of 90 days to re-write the exam. The re-write is not the same as the original exam. If you do not successfully complete the field test, you must wait a minimum of 6 months from the date of the original field test for a re-test.”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp -
After successful completion of the exam and field test, NSECC contacts applicants and provides all required forms, which can also be obtained from the website or regional office.
Source
“NSECC will contact applicants following successful completion of the required exam and field test and provide all required forms. Applicants can also obtain the forms on our website or by contacting the regional office as listed above.”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp -
Applicants apply for their certificate by submitting a completed application form, proof of commercial liability insurance, a completed work experience form and the application fee to NSECC.
Source
“Applicants apply for their certificate of qualification by submitting the following information to NSECC: completed Application Form (PDF), proof of commercial liability insurance, completed Work Experience Form (PDF), application fee”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp -
NSECC issues the certificate of qualification once all items are submitted and complete, and applicants typically receive a response within 5-10 business days.
Source
“NSECC will issue a certificate of qualification after all items are submitted and determined to be complete. Applicants will typically receive a response from NSECC within 5-10 business days.”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Environment (Department of Environment and Climate Change)
5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 2 done
- 2 steps without a listed fee
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Applicants holding a well driller certificate from another province or country contact NSECC to determine their eligibility and requirements.
Source
“If you have a well driller’s certificate of qualification from another province or country, contact NSECC to determine eligibility and requirements.”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp -
Applicants may be required to successfully complete the written exam and provide documentation of work experience to become certified in Nova Scotia.
Source
“You may be required to successfully complete the written exam and provide documentation of work experience to become certified in Nova Scotia.”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Environment (Department of Environment and Climate Change)
2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 2 done
- 2 steps without a listed fee
-
Applicants holding a well driller certificate from another province or country contact NSECC to determine their eligibility and requirements.
Source
“If you have a well driller’s certificate of qualification from another province or country, contact NSECC to determine eligibility and requirements.”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp -
Applicants may be required to successfully complete the written exam and provide documentation of work experience to become certified in Nova Scotia.
Source
“You may be required to successfully complete the written exam and provide documentation of work experience to become certified in Nova Scotia.”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Environment (Department of Environment and Climate Change)
2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Certificate of qualification fee: $350 (for one driller and one machine)
- Additional machine fee: $145.75 (for each additional machine)
Requirements
Experience
Applicants must have at least 4,000 hours of work experience operating a well drilling machine under the supervision of a certified well driller.
Source
“have at least 4,000 hours of work experience in operating a well drilling machine while under the supervision of a certified well driller”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp
Insurance
Applicants must submit proof of commercial liability insurance with their application.
Other
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
Already licensed in another province?
Extra steps
Applicants with a well driller certificate from another province or country must contact NSECC to determine eligibility and may be required to complete the written exam and provide documentation of work experience. Source
“If you have a well driller’s certificate of qualification from another province or country, contact NSECC to determine eligibility and requirements. You may be required to successfully complete the written exam and provide documentation of work experience to become certified in Nova Scotia.”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp
Contact NSECC
Source
“If you have a well driller’s certificate of qualification from another province or country, contact NSECC to determine eligibility and requirements.”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.aspComplete exam and documentation
Source
“You may be required to successfully complete the written exam and provide documentation of work experience to become certified in Nova Scotia.”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Environment (Department of Environment and Climate Change)
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Environment (Department of Environment and Climate Change)
Exams
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written test of competence in well drilling
Source
“successfully complete a written test of competence in well drilling and demonstrate a working knowledge of Nova Scotia’s Well Construction Regulations”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp -
field test
Source
“successfully complete a field test to demonstrate practical knowledge of well construction”
novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Environment (Department of Environment and Climate Change)
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Environment (Department of Environment and Climate Change)
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Environment (Department of Environment and Climate Change)
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia | — | — | — | Undetermined |
| Canada | $21.60 | $30.00 | $41.92 | — |
Water well drillers in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Voluntary certification
- Alberta Voluntary certification
- Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Voluntary certification
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Voluntary certification
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Nova Scotia Permits Directory-Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change-Well Driller's Certification of Qualification novascotia.ca/sns/paal/nse/paal431.asp · fetched October 11, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a water well driller in Nova Scotia?
Yes. Certification, or registration as an apprentice, is required to work in the trade in Nova Scotia. Certification is managed by the Nova Scotia Environment (Department of Environment and Climate Change).
Which exams are required?
written test of competence in well drilling, field test.
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