MD Well Driller exam-day guide
MD Well Driller · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID whose name matches your registration exactly. If your registration name differs (middle name, maiden name, hyphenation), confirm with the provider before test day what documentation they accept. Do not rely on a photocopy or a photo on your phone.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or save offline the confirmation showing your test date, time, and location or testing-center details. Cell service and Wi-Fi can fail at the worst moment; an offline copy avoids that. Confirm the reporting time with the provider - arriving early is safer than assuming a grace period exists.
Directions and parking plan
Know the exact building entrance and where to park or which transit stop to use. For a practical drilling exam, the site may be an outdoor training yard or rig site rather than an office, so confirm the meeting point with the provider. Do a dry run of the route if the site is unfamiliar.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Bring your own hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, and steel-toe boots unless the provider states PPE is supplied. Confirm with the provider which PPE is required and whether any item is prohibited. Inspect gear the night before; damaged PPE may be refused.
Work clothing suited to weather and rig work
Dress for the forecast and for hands-on work: no loose sleeves, dangling drawstrings, or jewelry that could catch in rotating equipment. Bring rain gear and layers if the site is outdoors. Confirm with the provider whether there is a sheltered area for breaks.
Gloves and hand tools if permitted
Ask the provider in advance whether candidates use their own gloves or hand tools or whether all equipment is supplied. If personal items are allowed, label them. Never assume you may bring powered tools or rig components.
Water, food, and any permitted medication
Practical days can run long with limited access to shops. Bring water and a snack. If you need medication during the day, confirm with the provider how to store and access it, since bags and phones may be restricted in the test area.
Knowledge of the test format and scoring weights
Review the provider's candidate handbook for how many stations or tasks are assessed, time limits per task, and pass criteria. Confirm with the provider any details the handbook leaves unclear rather than guessing. Knowing the weighting helps you decide where to slow down.
Rest and a realistic travel buffer
Plan to arrive with margin for traffic and check-in. A late arrival may be treated as a no-show; confirm the provider's late-arrival policy in advance. Sleep and hydration matter more than last-minute cramming for a hands-on assessment.
A plan for phone and valuables
Expect phones, smartwatches, and bags to be restricted during testing. Confirm with the provider where these can be stored. Leave unnecessary valuables at home or in a locked vehicle.
Provider contact number saved offline
Save the provider's contact number and the site contact in your phone and on paper. If something goes wrong on the way - breakdown, closure, illness - call as early as possible and ask what options exist. Confirm with the provider what documentation they require for a reschedule.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and your confirmation email end to end. Write down every open question - PPE rules, tool policy, reporting time, parking, break policy, scoring - and send one consolidated message to the provider. Confirm the exact site address and whether the test is indoors, outdoors, or both.
Do a route dry run or check transit schedules for the actual test-day time of day, not a quiet weekend. Identify a backup route and a backup parking option. If the site is remote, decide whether to stay nearby the night before.
Inventory and inspect your PPE and clothing. Replace damaged safety glasses or worn boot soles now rather than the morning of. Pack gloves and any permitted tools in one bag so nothing is forgotten.
Shift from memorizing to rehearsing. Walk through the sequence of each major hands-on task out loud - setup, checks, operation, shutdown, housekeeping - and note where you habitually skip a step. Practicing the verbal safety checks you intend to perform is as useful as practicing the physical motions.
Confirm the test is still scheduled and check for any provider message about site changes or weather. Charge your phone and any permitted device, and download offline maps. Lay out ID, confirmation, PPE, clothing, water, and snacks in one place.
Eat a normal meal, avoid a late night, and set two alarms. Skip heavy cramming; a tired candidate makes avoidable safety errors on a rig floor. Re-read only your own short list of common mistakes.
Eat breakfast and hydrate, but manage caffeine to how you handle a long day on your feet. Leave earlier than the map suggests. Bring the packed bag and confirm you have your ID before locking the door.
Report to the check-in point at the stated time, present your ID, and follow the examiner's instructions on where to store belongings. Use the restroom before testing starts. If you have a question about a task, ask before it begins, not during.
Listen to the full instruction before acting. Perform safety checks deliberately and audibly, since examiners often score observable behavior. Manage time per station - if a step is going wrong, stabilize the situation safely and move on rather than losing all remaining time on one task.
If you do not understand an instruction, ask for clarification; that is normally allowed and is not a sign of weakness. If equipment malfunctions or a condition is unsafe, stop and tell the examiner immediately, and ask how the incident will be recorded.
Ask the examiner or provider when and how results are released and what the appeal or retake process is. Note anything you want to improve before a retake while it is fresh.
Rules to check
Bring original government-issued photo ID matching your registration. Confirm with the provider in advance what alternative identification, if any, is accepted; do not assume a expired or photocopied document will be allowed.
Follow all site safety instructions from examiners and site staff immediately. If you believe a task or condition is unsafe, stop and raise it with the examiner rather than proceeding to protect your score.
Do not bring unauthorized materials, notes, or recording devices into the test area. Phone and smartwatch rules vary by provider and station, so confirm with the provider exactly what must be stored and where.
Work only on the equipment and tasks you are directed to. Do not operate rig controls, touch another candidate's station, or assist others unless an examiner explicitly instructs it.
Treat other candidates and staff professionally. Discussing specific task content with candidates who have not yet tested may be treated as misconduct; confirm with the provider what post-test discussion is permitted.
Ask the examiner before the task starts if you need a restroom break, water, or medication. Confirm with the provider in advance how breaks are handled and whether the clock stops during them.
Understand how you are scored before you begin: which tasks are pass/fail, whether safety violations cause automatic failure, and what the overall pass mark is. Confirm any scoring detail the handbook does not state clearly.
If equipment fails, you are injured, or you must leave, notify the examiner immediately and ask how it will be documented. Confirm with the provider afterward what options exist for a reschedule or retake.