# Water Well Driller (605B)

## Fast facts

| Trade code | 605B |
| --- | --- |
| Sector | Industrial |
| Classification | Voluntary trade |
| Certifying exam | Not prescribed under O. Reg. 876/21, s. 3 |
| Apprentice to journeyperson ratio | Not subject to a ratio |
| Red Seal trade | No |
| Active apprentices in Ontario | 33 (reported in Ontario's apprenticeship dataset) |
| Approved sponsors | 8 |
| Certifying body | Skilled Trades Ontario |

Last verified August 20, 2026 against the sources listed below.

## What does a water well driller do?

A Water Well Driller operates a truck-mounted drilling rig and supporting equipment to drill water wells.

Skilled Trades Ontario describes the work of this trade as follows:

- plans and prepares site locations
- communicates with co-workers to identify previous job operations, availability of tools, parts, and machinery, scheduling requirements, and any other information needed to complete job
- mobilizes the drilling rig
- maintains and repairs drilling equipment
- sets up and operates rotary drill
- sets up, operates and maintains other related equipment
- cuts and welds metal
- performs well development
- installs and maintains related systems
- completes work documentations

## Is water well driller a compulsory trade in Ontario?

No. Water Well Driller is a prescribed trade under section 1 of O. Reg. 876/21, but it is not on the compulsory list in section 2. That means you can legally work in this trade in Ontario without holding a Certificate of Qualification. Certification is voluntary and serves as formal proof of competency to employers and clients.

Voluntary classification only covers certification under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act. Specific work within the trade can still require separate licences or permits under other Ontario statutes, so confirm the rules for the actual work being done. The 23 trades where certification is mandatory are on the [compulsory trades list](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/compulsory/).

## How do you become a water well driller in Ontario?

The apprenticeship pathway for this trade is administered by Skilled Trades Ontario under section 14 of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021:

1. **Find a sponsor and register a training agreement.** An employer or union sponsor takes you on and the training agreement is registered with the ministry.
2. **Complete the on the job and in school training.** The skills are set out in the trade's Apprenticeship Training Standard, signed off by your sponsor as you demonstrate them, alongside levels of in school theory at a training delivery agent.
3. **Receive your Certificate of Apprenticeship.** Skilled Trades Ontario issues it when the program is complete.
4. **No certifying exam follows.** O. Reg. 876/21, s. 3 does not prescribe a certifying exam for this trade, so the Certificate of Apprenticeship is the completion credential.

The exact training standard, current curriculum and program details are on the [Skilled Trades Ontario page for Water Well Driller](https://www.skilledtradesontario.ca/trade-information/water-well-driller/). On the job hour requirements vary by trade and are not published on this page yet; confirm them in the training standard before signing an agreement.

## Is the 605B a Red Seal trade?

No. Water Well Driller is an Ontario prescribed trade but is not part of the Interprovincial Red Seal Program, so an Ontario credential in this trade does not carry automatic recognition in other provinces. Workers moving to another province should check that province's own trade classification.

## Certification is not the only paperwork

A Certificate of Qualification covers the person. Running a business in the trade carries its own obligations: many Ontario municipalities require a contractor licence on top of personal certification, and construction employers must complete WSIB registration before work begins. Both are indexed on our sister site: [municipal contractor licensing requirements by city](https://ontariotraderegistry.ca/licensing/) and [WSIB Form 1000, registration of constructors and employers](https://ontariotraderegistry.ca/compliance/wsib-form-1000/), on Ontario Trade Registry.

## Where can you train as a water well driller in Ontario?

| Approved sponsors | 8 employers registered to train apprentices |
| --- | --- |
| Apprentices in training | 33 |

Counts are from Ontario's published apprenticeships dataset. A sponsor is the employer or union that registers and trains the apprentice; you need one before an apprenticeship can start.

## How dangerous is industrial work in Ontario?

Ontario does not publish injury figures per trade, only by sector. In 2024 the Ministry of Labour recorded 27 worker fatalities and 2,148 critical injuries under the industrial health and safety program. See [the ten-year counts and what they leave out](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/safety/).

## Related Ontario trades

Other industrial sector trades with certification records on this registry:

- [Industrial Electrician (442A) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/442a-industrial-electrician/)
- [Industrial Mechanic Millwright (433A) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/433a-industrial-mechanic-millwright/)
- [Tool and Die Maker (430A) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/430a-tool-and-die-maker/)
- [Welder (456A) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/456a-welder/)
- [Elevating Devices Mechanic (636E) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/636e-elevating-devices-mechanic/)
- [Blacksmith (600P) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/600p-blacksmith/)
- [Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Programmer (670C) certification requirements](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/670c-computer-numerical-control-cnc-programmer/)
- [All 23 compulsory trades in Ontario](https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/compulsory/)

## Official verification sources

- Regulation[O. Reg. 876/21, Prescribed Trades and Related Matters (e-Laws)](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/210876)
- Certifying body[Skilled Trades Ontario: Water Well Driller](https://www.skilledtradesontario.ca/trade-information/water-well-driller/)
- Act[Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 (e-Laws)](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/21b28)
- Participation data[Ontario open data: Apprenticeships dataset](https://data.ontario.ca/dataset/apprenticeships)Classification, exam requirement and ratio status on this page are read directly from O. Reg. 876/21 as consolidated on e-Laws, not from secondary summaries. Facts not yet verified against a primary source are marked as not published rather than estimated.

---

Source: https://ontariocertificationregistry.ca/trades/605b-water-well-driller/