OR Well Driller study guide
OR Well Driller · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Oregon Well Driller Licensing Exam is the credentialing step for people who intend to construct, alter, or abandon water-supply wells in Oregon under the state's well construction program. The program sits with the Oregon Water Resources Department, which administers water rights, groundwater, and well construction across the state. This page is an independent study resource: it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or published by the Oregon Water Resources Department or any state agency, and it does not reproduce official exam materials. Prepare for four linked knowledge areas. Topics on this exam: Well Construction and Compliance, Water Rights, Groundwater and Well Hydraulics, and Regulatory Requirements and Reporting. The OR Well Driller study guide has 4 sections and about 1,180 words.
01Well Construction and Compliance
This domain tests how Oregon well constructors build wells that protect groundwater and meet OAR Chapter 690, Division 200 standards. Expect questions on casing, annular seals, grouting, wellhead protection, screens, and abandonment-plus how those choices appear in compliance documents.
301 words, about 2 min02Water Rights
This domain tests Oregon's prior-appropriation system: who may divert or pump water, how much, for what use, and with what priority. OWRD administers permits and certificates; groundwater and surface water are managed together, with special rules in groundwater limited areas and critical groundwater areas.
295 words, about 1 min03Groundwater and Well Hydraulics
This domain tests how aquifers store and transmit water and how well design and pumping affect drawdown, yield, and interference. Expect porosity, specific yield, transmissivity, storativity, Darcy's law, cone of depression, specific capacity, and pumping-test interpretation.
295 words, about 1 min04Regulatory Requirements and Reporting
This domain tests the paperwork and reporting duties that make a well legal and traceable in Oregon. OWRD relies on well reports, identification tags, and abandonment records to protect groundwater and track water use.
289 words, about 1 min