SEPTEMBER 1, 2001
CANADIAN GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION OF
GROUNDWATER DRILLING TECHNICIANS AND GROUNDWATER PUMP TECHNICIANS

PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT BEFORE FILLING IN THE APPLICATION FORM

The following criteria is the approved Canadian Ground Water Association Certification Program information.

1. CATEGORIES:

A. The groundwater drilling technician certification shall have one category.

There will be no separation/breakdown of categories.

The certification shall be for a groundwater drilling technician regardless of equipment type. It shall include all those individuals using cable tool, rotary (air mud, air or mud) or bucket and auger equipment.

B. The groundwater pump technicians certification will have two categories.
These will be Class 1 Groundwater Pump Technicians of pumps larger than 2 horsepower and of single or three phase design. Class 2: Pump Installation from fractional horsepower's up to 2 horsepower, single phase only. Applicants must write and pass the Class 2 examination before they can write for the Class 1.
The examination for pump installers in either class shall include a section of general knowledge on ground water and wells. This section will constitute approximately 30% of the examination.

Educational resources for individuals who want or need to upgrade are listed below. The Canadian Ground Water Association also recommends the learning resources in the water well training programs offered by: Sir Sandford Fleming Community College. Lindsay, Ontario, and Red Deer College, Red Deer, Alberta

2. CRITERIA FOR CERTIFICATION:

A. Groundwater Drilling Technicians:

To write the examination the applicant must provide and meet the following requirements:

1. 2 years (3600 hours) field experience in drilling water wells. Proof of this time may be an affidavit or statutory declaration from an employer, the provincial water well regulatory agency or once the program is established, other certified drillers.

2. The pass mark on the examination shall be 70%.

3. In case of an applicant not attaining the 70% mark, the applicant will be allowed to rewrite after a 90 day period has elapsed.
NOTE: This will allow the applicant time to make use of educational learning resources available to the industry.

4. Fee structure for certification examinations:
a) For members and associate/affiliate members of provincial ground water/water well associations that are members of the Canadian Ground Water Association the fee shall be $25.00 per examination.
b) For non-members the fee shall be $100.00.
c) Re-write examinations will be subject to the same fee schedule.

5. To maintain CGWA certification individuals must:
a) Accumulate 15 points per year of technical upgrading by attending seminars, lectures, or workshops. Annual groundwater conventions workshops, lectures, or technical sessions will be considered as appropriate means of acquiring annual technical upgrading points.
b) Certified individuals must become and maintain full or associate/affiliate members/membership in their respective provincial ground water association that are members of the Canadian Ground Water Association in order to maintain the CGWA certification.
c) Certified individuals who do not maintain their technical upgrading or do not maintain full or associate/affiliate membership shall after a lapse period of two (2) years be required to reapply to be re-certified.
d) Renewal fee of $10.00 (plus GST/HST).

B. Pump installer:

1. Groundwater drilling technicians, plumbers or electricians, who are journeyman in their respective trade, will be allowed to write, upon application and payment of fee, the CGWA groundwater pump technician certification examination.
Any other individual other than a journeyman must have proof of 2 years (3600 hours) of field experience in groundwater pump installation. The proof of time may be by affidavit, statutory declaration from an employer or a provincial regulatory agency and after the program is established from other certified groundwater pump technician.

2. The pass mark on either a Class 1 or Class 2 examination shall be 70%. The applicant must write and pass the Class 2 examination before they can write the Class 1 examination.

3. In the case of an applicant not attaining the 70% mark the applicant will be allowed to rewrite after a 90 day period has elapsed.
NOTE: This will allow the applicant time to make use of education learning resources available to the industry.

4. Fee structure for pump installer certification examinations:
a) For members and associate/affiliate members of provincial groundwater associations that are members of the Canadian Ground Water Association the fee shall be $25.00 per examination.
b) For non-members the fee shall be $100.00.
c) Re-write examinations will be subject to the same fee schedule.

5. To maintain CGWA certification individuals must:
a) Accumulate 15 points per year of technical upgrading in the form of seminars, lectures, or workshops. Annual groundwater convention workshops, lectures, or technical sessions, and pump company seminars will be considered as appropriate means of acquiring annual technical upgrading points.
b) Certified groundwater pump technicians must become and maintain full or associate/affiliate members/membership in their respective provincial groundwater association that are members of the Canadian Ground Water Association in order to maintain the CGWA certification.
c) Certified individuals who do not maintain their technical upgrading or do not maintain full or associate/affiliate membership shall after a lapse period of two (2) years be required to reapply to be re-certified.
d) Renewal fee of $10.00 (plus GST/HST).

3. TECHNICAL UPGRADING:

A. The CGWA will provide an appropriate form to each certified groundwater drilling technician or groundwater pump technician which must be completed and returned on an annual basis to the CGWA head office indicating that the individual has attended or participated in presentations to acquire the necessary points.
B. One hour of attendance/presentation at a seminar, lecture or workshop equals 2 points.
C. Topics that will be considered relevant to maintain/acquire the 15 points on an annual basis:
1. Any matter or subject relating to safety such as: First Aid/CPR/ WHMIS., etc.
2. Provincial or national groundwater convention technical sessions, workshops or trade shows.
3. Groundwater associations educational seminars.
4. Pump company presentations and seminars.
5. Lecturing and presentations to interested groups on groundwater, wells, pumps, safety, new equipment.

4. ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
All individuals who are presently journeyman water well drillers and recognized as such by their provincial regulatory or advanced education agency, upon application and payment of a $25.00 fee, will be given the Canadian Ground Water Association Certification of groundwater drilling technician, provided they are a full or associate/affiliate member of their respective provincial ground water/water well association that are members of the Canadian Ground Water Association.
This part of the program will be terminated December 31, 2001. As of January 1, 2002, everyone will have to write the groundwater drilling technician examination.

To maintain the CGWA Certification they must maintain the membership requirement and the 15 points of annual technical upgrading will apply.

CANADIAN GROUNDWATER ASSOCIATION
CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION INFORMATION
GROUNDWATER DRILLING TECHNICIAN

150 Questions in total Section A - Ground Water/Hydrogeology/Geology 50 questions
Section B - Drilling Systems
- Cable Tool 20 questions
- Rotary Air/Mud/Air Hammer/Reverse Circulations 30 questions
Section C - Well Construction/Development/Maintenance 32 questions
Section D - Safety 15 questions

LEARNING RESOURCES most applicable

Groundwater and Wells
The learning programs of Red Deer College (Water Well Driller Theory - distance education) and the Water Well Driller Training program at Sir Sandford Fleming College.

GROUNDWATER PUMP TECHNICIAN CLASS 2

120 Questions in total Section A - General Questions on ground water and wells 30 questions

Section B - General Pump/Pumping Systems 18 questions

Section C - Reciprocating pumps/centrifugal pumps/pressure tanks 24 questions

Section D - Jet pumps 12 questions
Section E - Submersible pumps 36 questions

LEARNING RESOURCES most applicable

Private Water Systems Handbook
Planning for an Individual Water System
Groundwater and Wells
The distance education program of water well driller - Modules 1-2-3 from Red Deer College
The learning resources of Sir Sandford Fleming College

GROUNDWATER PUMP TECHNICIAN CLASS 1

65 Questions in total

No subsections - questions are general knowledge of pumps, large electrical component and some troubleshooting.

LEARNING RESOURCES most applicable

Submersible Motors by Franklin Electric
Private Water Systems Handbook
Planning for an Individual Water System
Groundwater and Wells
Pump technical manuals as issued by pump manufacturers.
The learning resources of Red Deer College and Sir Sandford Fleming College

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
in preparing for CGWA Certification Examinations

1. GROUNDWATER & WELLS:

Check with water well supply firms in your locale. Also available from the Red Deer College Bookstore at Red Deer College, Box 5005, Red Deer, Alberta, T4N 5H5, phone (403)342-3245 (bookstore) or Pat Yates, Program Coordinator Extension Services. Also available from Mower House, 508-10 Street N.E., Austin, Minnesota, USA 55912, phone: (507)433-8079 or fax: (507)533-1069.

2. PRIVATE WATER SYSTEMS HANDBOOK:

To order request MW14 Private Water Systems Handbook ($7.00 US) Telephone orders (573)882-7216 or 1-800-292-0969. This can also be obtained through Red Deer College. Check with pump supply firms in your area.

3. PLANNING FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WATER SYSTEM:

Developed by the American Association for Vocational Instructional Materials, 120 Driftmier Engineering Centre, Athens, Georgia, 30602. Check with pump supply firms in your area. Also available through Red Deer College.

4. SUBMERSIBLE MOTORS by Franklin Electric:

Franklin Electric Service Hot line 1-800-348-2420. Check with your local pump supply firms.
5. WATER SYSTEMS HANDBOOK, 11TH EDITION:

Available from: Water Systems Council, 13 Bentley Drive, Sterling, Virginia, 20165, voice: (2020)625-4389, toll free: 1-888-395-1033, fax: (301)274-0258. Cost $20.00Us plus shipping and handling
6. THE AUSTRALIAN DRILLERS MANUAL:

Available from: The Australian Drilling Industry association, Att: Executive Officer, P.O. Box 3020, Frankston East, Victoria, 3199 Australia, ph: 613 9781 2229, fax: 613 9781 2699, e-mail: adia@smart.net.au

7. NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION (NGWA):

Many publications are available from NGWA, 601 Dempsey Road, Westerville, OH USA 43081, ph: 614-898-7791, fax: 614-898-7786, e-mail for the bookstore: mcdolb@ngwa.org or web site for their bookstore: http://www.ngwa.org/bookstore.htm

8. SIR SANDFORD FLEMING COLLEGE:

Learning resources are available from Sir Sandford Fleming College, School of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 8000, Lindsay, ON K9V 5E6, ph: 705-324-9144, fax: 705-878-9317, e-mail: gbailey@fleming.on.ca

9. RED DEER COLLEGE:

Water Well Driller Theory - Distance education - Modules 1-2-3. P.O. Box 5005, Red Deer, AB, T4N 5H5, ph: 403-357-3663, fax: 403-342-3278, e-mail: pyates@rdc.ab.ca website: http://extension.rdc.ab.ca/?industrial_and_technical_training/

10. GUIDELINES FOR WATER WELL CONSTRUCTION:

Available from the Canadian Ground Water Association, cost is $10.70 (includes GST) plus shipping & handling, 1600 Bedford Highway, Ste. 100-409
Bedford, NS B4A 1E8, Ph: 902-845-1885 | Fax: 902-845-1886 | email: cgwa@ns.sympatico.ca

To find more information regarding the Driller and Pump Installer Certification and exam application form, please visit the Canadian Ground Water Association at www.cgwa.org.