NGWA CWD study plan

Map the Drilling general exam blueprint into a one-page checklist of every task area, weighting each by the 50% domain share.

Define the candidate's chosen specialized drilling exam (e.g., pump installation, monitoring well construction, or geotechnical/environmental drilling) and list its published task areas.

Assemble a reference set: state well-construction regulations, NGWA best-practice guidance, and manufacturer manuals for rigs and pumps, and index them by topic.

Build a terminology glossary of 60 drilling terms (annulus, grout, casing, screen, bentonite, yield, static water level) with a one-line definition each.

Explain the sequence of drilling methods (rotary air, mud rotary, cable tool, auger, sonic) and match each to formation and site conditions.

Describe rig components and their function, including mast, drawworks, mud pump, compressor, and top drive or rotary table.

Calculate basic drilling-fluid properties: mud weight, viscosity, and the volume needed to fill an annulus of given diameter and length.

Identify the causes and corrections for common fluid problems: lost circulation, hole collapse, and stuck pipe.

Diagram a complete well from borehole to finished head: casing, screen, filter pack, grout seal, and surface completion.

Size casing and screen openings for a stated formation and target yield using slot-size and open-area rules of thumb.

Sequence a grouting operation, including the tremie method, seal depth, and verification steps.

List well-development methods (surge, jet, air-lift, overpumping) and state when each is appropriate.

Interpret a driller's log and pump test data to estimate specific capacity and safe yield.

Explain disinfection and water-quality sampling procedures for a new well, including chlorine concentration and contact time.

Describe well abandonment and decommissioning requirements, including sealing materials and documentation.

Complete a timed 25-question self-test across all general drilling topics and record the score by task area.

Outline the specialized exam's task areas and rank them by the candidate's current confidence.

Study the equipment and procedures specific to the chosen specialty, citing manufacturer and regulatory sources.

Complete 30 practice items within the specialty and tabulate results by task area.

Identify the three weakest specialty topics and write a targeted remediation list for each.

Work through specialty-specific calculations (e.g., pump setting depth, pressure head, flow rate, or grout volume) until each can be solved without notes.

Explain the regulatory and permitting steps that govern the specialty work from pre-drilling through final reporting.

Describe safety hazards unique to the specialty and the controls for each.

Draft concise written answers to five scenario questions set in the specialty.

Take a full-length 50/50 mixed practice exam under timed conditions and record section scores.

Review every missed item and trace it to a specific reference page or formula.

Re-drill the 10 weakest topics across both domains with fresh practice items.

Rehearse the well-construction and specialty procedures aloud to confirm retention.

Review condensed notes for both domains, spending proportionally more time on the weaker specialty area.

Retake the mixed practice exam and compare scores against week 7.

Confirm exam-day logistics: identification, scheduling, permitted references, and calculator rules.

Write a final one-page summary of the 15 highest-risk facts across both domains.