The State Engineer is charged with licensing and regulating all water well and related drilling in the State. The license exam consists of three parts:
The written exam and POD test are now conducted separately from the board interviews. See below for scheduled testing times. (The test occurs on the third Thursday of those months that the board does not meet.) Locations have been expanded to include Elko in addition to Carson City and Las Vegas.
All tests and interviews begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. at all locations.
February 2 and 3, 2012, Part III interview schedule
In order for the applicant to be licensed, they must get a 70% or greater score on the written exam and pass the POD test and oral exam to the satisfaction of the board.
In conjunction with licensing the well drillers, DWR is responsible for field inspections of drilling operations, review of intent to drill cards and well logs, investigation of all well drilling related complaints and writing rulings pertaining to well drillers.
| Board Dates | Written/POD Test Dates |
| November 2, 2011 | in Carson City | October 20, 2011 | Carson City, Elko, Las Vegas | |
| November 3, 2011 | in Las Vegas | December 15, 2011 | Carson City, Elko, Las Vegas | |
| February 1, 2012 | in Carson City | January 19, 2012 | Carson City, Elko, Las Vegas | |
| February 2, 2012 | in Las Vegas | March 15, 2012 | Carson City, Elko, Las Vegas | |
| May 2, 2012 | in Carson City | April 19, 2012 | Carson City, Elko, Las Vegas | |
| May 3, 2012 | in Las Vegas | June 21, 2012 | Carson City, Elko, Las Vegas | |
| August 1, 2012 | in Carson City | July 19, 2012 | Carson City, Elko, Las Vegas | |
| August 2, 2012 | in Las Vegas | September 20, 2012 | Carson City, Elko, Las Vegas | |
| November 7, 2012 | in Carson City | October 18, 2012 | Carson City, Elko, Las Vegas | |
| November 8, 2012 | in Las Vegas | December 20, 2012 | Carson City, Elko, Las Vegas |
Carson City: Nevada Division of Water Resources, 901 South Stewart Street , 2nd Floor, Carson City, Nevada. Point of Contact: Mark Sivazlian - 775-684-2874 or Sue Gilbert - 775-684-2838
Elko: Nevada Division of Forestry, 911 Falcon Lane, Elko, NV, 89801 (near the Youth Training Facility). Point of Contact: Kathi Griffis or Rich Perry: - 775-753-3553.
Las Vegas: Parts 1 and 2 only: 400 Shadow Lane, Suite 201, Las Vegas, NV, 89106. Part 3 (Board Interviews): Grant Sawyer Office Building, 555 East Washington Avenue, Las Vegas NV, 89109. Point of Contact: Tracy Geter - 702-486-2770.
NAC 534 - Regulations for Water Well and Related Drilling was last amended and printed in June of 2006. The State Engineer is currently working on a “Draft Revised Regulation� to be released for public comment in early 2012. Each state agency is supposed to review its regulation every five years. There will be workshops and hearings scheduled around the state once the draft regulation is available.