W. Va. Code R. § 64-19-7 - Application and Certification Examination Procedures and Fee Requirements

7.1. An applicant for a West Virginia master well drilling certification shall:

7.1.a. Submit an application on the forms prescribed by the Commissioner, pursuant to satisfying all experience and other requirements specified, and provide evidence of the following:

7.1.a.1. The applicant shall demonstrate two years of relevant work experience with a minimum of three thousand hours as a journeyman. To demonstrate relevant experience, the applicant shall specify the dates of employment, description of the work and provide the name of the supervising certified well driller;

7.1.a.2. The applicant shall demonstrate that he or she has resolved any revocation or suspension of a previously issued well drilling certification or of any outstanding violation or fine pursuant to the rule;

7.1.a.3. The applicant shall obtain a minimum grade of seventy percent on each portion of the written examinations and perform a possible field test demonstrating the applicant's expertise; and

7.1.a.4. The applicant shall be at least eighteen years of age.

7.2. An applicant for a West Virginia journeyman well drilling certification shall:

7.2.a. Submit an application on the forms prescribed by the Commissioner, pursuant to satisfying all experience and other requirements specified, and provide evidence of the following:

7.2.a.1. The applicant shall demonstrate relevant work experience of two years with a minimum of three thousand hours as an apprentice under the supervision of a master or journeyman well driller. To demonstrate relevant experience, the applicant shall specify the dates of employment, description of the work and provide the name of the supervising certified well driller;

7.2.a.2. The applicant shall obtain a minimum grade of seventy percent on each portion of the written examinations and a possible field test demonstrating the applicant's expertise;

7.2.a.3. The applicant shall demonstrate he or she has resolved any revocation or suspension of a previously issued well drilling certification or of any outstanding violation or fine pursuant to the rule; and

7.2.a.4. The applicant shall be at least eighteen year of age. Provided, That the Commissioner may waive the eighteen year age requirement if requested to do so, in writing, by the applicant, to a minimum age of sixteen and completion of the 10^th grade. The minimum age requirements are verified each semester that the student is currently attending school and maintaining a 2.0 average on a 4.0 scale towards graduation requirements. Failure to meet this requirement is grounds for revocation of the certificate.

7.3. An applicant for a West Virginia pump installer certification shall:

7.3.a. Submit an application on the form prescribed by the Commissioner, pursuant to satisfying all experience and other requirements specified, and provide evidence of the following:

7.3.a.1. The applicant shall demonstrate relevant work experience of two years experience with a minimum of one thousand hours as an apprentice under the supervision of a pump installer or a master or journeyman well driller. To demonstrate relevant experience, the applicant shall specify the dates of employment, description of the work and provide the name of the supervising certified well driller or pump installer;

7.3.a.2. The applicant shall obtain a minimum grade of seventy percent on each portion of the written examinations.

7.3.a.3. The applicant shall be at least eighteen years of age. Provided, That, the Commissioner may waive the eighteen year age requirement if requested to do so, in writing, by the applicant, to a minimum age of sixteen and completion of the 10^th grade. The minimum age requirements are verified each semester that the student is currently attending school and maintaining a 2.0 average on a 4.0 scale towards graduation requirements. Failure to meet this requirement is grounds for revocation of the certificate.

7.3.b. Pump installers actively engaged in pump installation on or before the effective date of this rule are exempt from the minimum experience and testing requirements. Pump installers seeking to qualify under this provision shall, within one year of the effective date of the rule, submit evidence on the prescribed forms, of ten pump installations completed within the past two years.

7.4. The Commissioner shall review each application upon receipt of all the information required and either notify the applicant of any deficiencies or notify the applicant of her or his eligibility to take the appropriate examination.

7.5. The Commissioner shall notify in writing, all applicants of the results of their examinations.

7.6. The Commissioner shall issue the appropriate certification to successful applicants upon receipt of full payment of the appropriate initial certification fee.

7.7. Certifications are not transferable or assignable and shall automatically become invalid upon suspension or revocation.

7.8. Water well drillers with a valid current West Virginia water well certification actively engaged in well drilling on or before the effective date of this rule shall be classified as master well drillers. The Commissioner shall issue master well driller certification for these individuals as of the effective date of this rule and the certification shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance.

7.9. An individual working to obtain the current West Virginia driller certification shall register with the Commissioner, on the prescribed forms, within one hundred and eighty calendar days from the effective date of the rule. The applicant is eligible to become a master water well driller if he or she has two years of experience, obtain a minimum grade of seventy percent on each portion of one or more written examination for the certified master well driller and passes a possible field test demonstrating his or her expertise.

7.10. For an individual who holds a legal certification or who has practiced well drilling in accordance with all laws and rules in a state that does not have comparable certification classes, the applicant shall have acquired the following experience:

7.10.a. For a master well driller - Six years of well drilling experience;

7.10.b. For a journeyman driller - Four years of well drilling experience; or

7.10.c. For a pump installer - Three years of pump installation experience; and

7.10.d. For all classes each individual shall have passed any written examination requirements and obtained a minimum grade of seventy percent on each portion of the one or more written examination and any other requirements determined necessary by the Commissioner.

7.11. The Commissioner may review applications from individuals who hold a legal certification for well drilling in another state with comparable certification classes. The Commissioner may grant a comparable certification for the applicant if appropriate.

7.12. All certifications expire one year from the date of issuance and shall be renewed thirty days prior to expiration. The applicant shall submit a completed renewal on forms provided by the Commissioner. Applicants shall provide evidence of bonding and insurance as required by section 8 of this rule. Applicants shall supply evidence of continuing education requirements in accordance with section 9 of this rule for certification renewal.

7.12.a. A certificate holder who fails to renew his or her certification within six months following the renewal date of the certification shall not have the certification reinstated until he or she successfully passes the written examinations or field test prescribed by the Commissioner for applicants for a new certificate.

7.14. A certificate holder may place his or her certification on inactive status for a two year period if the certificate holder has submitted an application for inactive status within sixty days before the expiration date of the certificate. Before the Commissioner reactivates the certificate of an inactive-status certificate, that certificate holder shall satisfy any renewal requirements.

7.15. A certificate holder may obtain a duplicate certificate to replace a certificate that has been lost, destroyed or mutilated if the certificate holder makes a written, notarized request to the Commissioner, stating the reason for the request.

7.16. The Commissioner may charge a fee for each certification service provided as listed in Appendix B of this rule.

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 64-19-7