Nevada Drilling Wells Contractor (C-23) Books Allowed into Exam Package

Prepare for the Nevada Drilling Wells Contractor (C-23) trade examination with a focused exam-room book package that includes the reference permitted for use during the test. This package includes Nevada Administrative Code 534: Underground Water and Wells, the key Nevada regulatory reference used for C-23 exam preparation and open-book reference navigation.

The Nevada C-23 classification covers drilling wells and installing pumps, pressure tanks, and storage tanks that are integral to water-well systems. Candidates preparing for this license should understand drilling methods, boreholes, casing and screens, grouting and sealing, contamination prevention, testing, safety, pumps, tanks, and Nevada requirements governing underground water and wells.

This package is designed specifically for candidates who want the book allowed into the examination room rather than a broader technical study package. It does not include additional study-only books such as the Water Well Driller's Beginning Training Manual, Manual of Water Well Construction Practices, or OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926.

The Nevada Administrative Code 534: Underground Water and Wells should be used throughout preparation so candidates become familiar with its structure, terminology, and major well-related requirements. Because the C-23 trade examination is open book, candidates who practice navigating NAC 534 before test day can approach regulation-based questions more efficiently.

Open-book testing does not eliminate the need for technical knowledge. Many C-23 questions involve practical well-drilling and water-well construction concepts, so candidates should combine reference-navigation practice with a strong understanding of drilling, casing, grouting, pumps, contamination prevention, and general safety.

Exam Details

The Nevada C-23 Drilling Wells trade examination is administered through PSI for candidates authorized to test as part of the Nevada contractor licensing process.

• Exam: Nevada C-23 Drilling Wells
• Testing Provider: PSI
• Number of Questions: 45
• Time Allowed: 1.5 hours
• Minimum Passing Score: 32 correct answers

The examination is divided into the following subject areas:

• General Regulations: 10 questions
• Drilling and Boreholes: 5 questions
• Casings and Screens: 6 questions
• Grouting and Sealing: 6 questions
• Contamination Prevention: 5 questions
• Testing: 3 questions
• Safety and General Knowledge: 4 questions
• Pumps and Tanks: 6 questions

General Regulations is the largest individual exam category with 10 questions. This makes Nevada Administrative Code 534 especially important. Candidates should become comfortable locating requirements involving underground water, well construction, drilling, casing, sealing, and other regulatory topics.

Casings and Screens, Grouting and Sealing, and Pumps and Tanks each account for six questions. Together, these categories represent a major portion of the examination and should receive dedicated preparation time.

Drilling and Boreholes and Contamination Prevention each contain five questions. Candidates should understand practical drilling procedures as well as the methods used to protect groundwater and maintain an uncontaminated water supply.

Safety and General Knowledge includes four questions, while Testing includes three. These smaller categories should still be included in a complete study plan because a passing score requires consistent performance across the exam.

Open Book Test

The Nevada C-23 Drilling Wells examination is an open-book test with designated reference material permitted in the examination room.

The exam-room-approved book included in this package is:

• Nevada Administrative Code 534: Underground Water and Wells

Candidates should study directly from NAC 534 before test day and practice finding important requirements efficiently. The regulation covers Nevada-specific requirements related to underground water and wells, making it a central reference for the General Regulations portion of the examination.

Because the C-23 test allows 90 minutes for 45 questions, candidates have an average of approximately two minutes per question. Spending too much time searching for one regulation can interfere with overall pacing.

A useful exam strategy is to first determine whether the question is regulatory or practical. Questions involving Nevada requirements, well construction rules, or regulatory obligations may require a NAC 534 lookup. Questions involving drilling methods, pumps, tanks, casing, or field practices may be answered more efficiently from trade knowledge.

Candidates should learn the terminology used in the regulation. Recognizing key words in a question can make it easier to move to the correct section and confirm the applicable requirement.

Licensing Steps

The Nevada State Contractors Board regulates the C-23 contractor classification. Passing the trade examination is one part of the overall Nevada contractor licensing process.

1. Confirm the C-23 classification. Determine that drilling wells and installing pumps, pressure tanks, and storage tanks integral to water-well systems matches the work the business intends to perform.
2. Identify the qualifying individual. Designate the person who will satisfy the applicable experience and examination requirements.
3. Document qualifying experience. Prepare records describing relevant work involving drilling, boring, excavation, casing, cementing, dewatering, cleaning, pumps, pressure tanks, storage tanks, and related water-well construction activities.
4. Prepare the contractor license application. Gather the required business information, qualifier information, experience documentation, financial information, and supporting materials.
5. Submit the application. The Nevada State Contractors Board reviews the application and applicable qualifications.
6. Complete applicable background requirements. Follow required disclosure, fingerprint, and background procedures.
7. Meet applicable financial responsibility requirements. Provide the financial information required as part of the contractor licensing process.
8. Receive examination eligibility. Candidates who are required to test can proceed with exam scheduling after authorization.
9. Schedule the C-23 trade examination. Follow the examination scheduling instructions provided after eligibility is established.
10. Prepare for the C-23 exam. Study Nevada well regulations, drilling methods, boreholes, casing and screens, grouting, sealing, contamination prevention, testing, pumps, tanks, and safety.
11. Complete applicable contractor management requirements. Nevada contractor licensing may also require business and management qualification in addition to the trade examination.
12. Complete remaining licensing requirements. Satisfy applicable bonding, financial responsibility, background, and other Nevada State Contractors Board requirements before license issuance.

State Requirements

The Nevada C-23 classification is designated for drilling wells and installing pumps, pressure tanks, and storage tanks that are considered integral to water wells.

The classification includes installing and repairing water wells, pressure tanks, storage tanks, and pumps through activities such as boring, drilling, excavating, casing, cementing, dewatering, and cleaning to provide a supply of uncontaminated water.

This scope means candidates should understand the complete water-well system rather than only the drilling process. Preparation should include boreholes, casing, screens, sealing, grouting, contamination protection, pumps, tanks, testing, and safe work practices.

Protecting underground water from contamination is a major part of well construction. Candidates should understand how proper casing, sealing, grouting, site practices, and well completion procedures support water quality and well integrity.

Pumps and tanks are also part of the C-23 scope. Candidates should review the relationship between the well, pump, pressure tank, and storage tank and understand the general functions these components serve within a completed water-well system.

Nevada Administrative Code 534 is particularly important because it establishes requirements affecting underground water and wells. Candidates should develop enough familiarity with the regulation to identify where key rules are located during the open-book examination.

Passing the C-23 trade examination does not automatically issue a Nevada contractor license. Applicants must also complete the other applicable Nevada State Contractors Board licensing requirements.

Reference Books

• Nevada Administrative Code 534: Underground Water and Wells
  Exam-room-approved Nevada regulatory reference covering underground water and well requirements relevant to drilling, well construction, casing, sealing, groundwater protection, and related regulatory responsibilities.

Exam Room Approved Books

• Nevada Administrative Code 534: Underground Water and Wells
  This is the exam-room-approved reference included in the Nevada C-23 Books Allowed into Exam Package.

This package is focused specifically on the book permitted for use during the Nevada C-23 trade examination. It does not include the Water Well Driller's Beginning Training Manual, Manual of Water Well Construction Practices, or OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926.

Candidates should use NAC 534 during their preparation so regulation-based questions become easier to recognize and reference navigation becomes more efficient before exam day.

Test Information and Study Materials

A productive C-23 study plan should balance Nevada regulation review with practical water-well construction knowledge. The exam includes several technical categories that cannot be answered simply by locating a rule in NAC 534.

Prioritize General Regulations. With 10 questions, this is the largest category. Practice identifying the parts of NAC 534 that address well construction, underground water, regulatory responsibilities, and related Nevada requirements.

Study drilling and boreholes. Review boring, drilling methods, borehole preparation, drilling conditions, equipment, and practical construction procedures associated with water wells.

Review casings and screens. Candidates should understand the purpose and placement of casing and screen components and how they contribute to the function and integrity of a well.

Study grouting and sealing. Review why grouting and sealing are important and how these practices help protect the well and underground water from contamination.

Focus on contamination prevention. The C-23 classification specifically involves providing uncontaminated water. Candidates should understand how well construction practices affect groundwater protection and water quality.

Review testing. Candidates should understand the purpose of well testing and the types of information testing can provide about a completed well system.

Prepare for pumps and tanks. Review pumps, pressure tanks, storage tanks, their relationship to water wells, and their role in delivering and storing water.

Review safety and general knowledge. Water-well drilling can involve heavy equipment, moving machinery, excavation, drilling hazards, and other jobsite risks. Candidates should include safety preparation in their study plan.

Practice NAC 534 navigation. Because the regulation is permitted in the exam room, candidates should practice finding relevant sections under timed conditions rather than relying on slow searches during the actual test.

Use key terms. Identify important words in a question and use them to narrow the search. Terms involving casing, drilling, sealing, contamination, pumps, or well construction may help guide reference navigation.

Know when not to use the book. Some questions test practical drilling knowledge rather than a specific Nevada regulation. Candidates should answer those efficiently instead of searching NAC 534 unnecessarily.

Practice timed questions. With 45 questions and 90 minutes, candidates should aim for steady pacing and avoid spending too much time on a single difficult lookup.

Connect regulatory requirements to field work. Understanding why a requirement exists can make it easier to remember and apply. Relate Nevada well rules to casing, sealing, contamination prevention, pumps, testing, and overall well construction.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports Nevada C-23 Drilling Wells Contractor candidates through organized study guidance, trade-focused review, practice-oriented preparation, reference navigation when applicable, and confidence-building study structure.

This Books Allowed into Exam Package gives candidates the Nevada regulatory reference they can use during the C-23 open-book examination. Working with NAC 534 throughout preparation helps candidates become more familiar with the structure of the regulation and the types of requirements it contains.

Reference-navigation practice helps candidates develop a repeatable process for regulatory questions. Instead of searching broadly, candidates can identify the topic, select the likely section, locate the relevant rule, and confirm the answer more efficiently.

Trade-focused review remains important because the C-23 examination also covers drilling, boreholes, casing, screens, grouting, sealing, contamination prevention, testing, safety, pumps, and tanks. Many of these subjects require practical understanding rather than a direct regulation lookup.

Practice-oriented preparation can help candidates identify weak areas. Someone with strong drilling experience may need more work with Nevada regulations, while another candidate may need additional study involving casing, pumps, sealing, testing, or contamination prevention.

Organized study also supports better time management. Candidates have 90 minutes to answer 45 questions, so preparation should include both direct-answer practice and efficient open-book reference use.

By combining the exam-room-approved Nevada reference with organized trade review and repeated navigation practice, 1 Exam Prep helps candidates build a focused preparation approach for the Nevada C-23 Drilling Wells Contractor examination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What book is included in the Nevada C-23 Books Allowed into Exam Package?

The package includes Nevada Administrative Code 534: Underground Water and Wells.

Is Nevada Administrative Code 534 allowed into the C-23 examination?

Yes. Nevada Administrative Code 534: Underground Water and Wells is the exam-room-approved reference included in this package.

Is the Nevada C-23 examination open book?

Yes. The Nevada C-23 Drilling Wells trade examination is open book with designated approved reference material.

Does this package include the Water Well Driller's Beginning Training Manual?

No. This package is limited to the book allowed into the examination room and does not include the Water Well Driller's Beginning Training Manual.

Does this package include the Manual of Water Well Construction Practices?

No. The Manual of Water Well Construction Practices is not included in this exam-room-only package.

Does this package include OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926?

No. OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 is not included in this Books Allowed into Exam Package.

How many questions are on the Nevada C-23 exam?

The examination contains 45 questions.

How much time is allowed for the C-23 exam?

Candidates have 1.5 hours, or 90 minutes, to complete the examination.

What score is required to pass?

The minimum passing score is 32 correct answers out of 45 questions.

What is the largest exam category?

General Regulations is the largest individual category with 10 questions.

What subjects are covered on the C-23 exam?

The examination covers General Regulations, Drilling and Boreholes, Casings and Screens, Grouting and Sealing, Contamination Prevention, Testing, Safety and General Knowledge, and Pumps and Tanks.

Should I practice using NAC 534 before exam day?

Yes. Candidates should become familiar with the structure and terminology of NAC 534 so regulation-based information can be located efficiently during the timed examination.

Is every C-23 question answered in NAC 534?

No. The exam also includes practical drilling and water-well construction knowledge, so candidates should understand the trade subjects in addition to using the Nevada reference.

What work does the Nevada C-23 classification cover?

The classification covers drilling wells and installing or repairing water wells, pressure tanks, storage tanks, and pumps through activities including boring, drilling, excavating, casing, cementing, dewatering, and cleaning to provide uncontaminated water.

Does passing the C-23 exam automatically issue a Nevada contractor license?

No. Passing the trade examination is one part of the licensing process. Applicants must also complete the other applicable Nevada State Contractors Board requirements.

Who is this package best for?

This package is designed for Nevada C-23 candidates who specifically want Nevada Administrative Code 534: Underground Water and Wells as their exam-room-approved reference.