- CPI here means Certified Pump Installer, a voluntary individual credential from the National Ground Water Association (NGWA).
- The minimum route is two exams: Water systems general plus Exam K (under 100 gpm) or Exam L (over 100 gpm).
- Each exam has 50 questions, a 60-minute limit, a 70% passing standard, and a US$75 fee.
- Applicants need 24 consecutive months of full-time drilling and/or pump-installation experience and be at least 20 years old.
What the Acronym Means Here
Search for "CPI" and you will find several unrelated credentials, indexes, and job titles that share the same three letters. On this site, a CPI is a Certified Pump Installer: a person who has demonstrated, through experience and examination, that they can size, install, and troubleshoot pump systems for water wells and related water supply applications.
If you landed here looking for something else, the short version is that nothing on this page applies to other credentials with the same acronym. If you are a pump installer, a well driller's helper moving into pump work, or a contractor weighing whether certification is worth pursuing, keep reading. For the shorter definitional pages, see What Is CPI?, What Does CPI Stand For?, and CPI Meaning.
Who Issues the Credential
The Certified Pump Installer credential is governed by the National Ground Water Association (NGWA), the trade association for the groundwater industry. Examinations are delivered by testing provider PSI Services at its testing centers. NGWA membership is not required to sit for the exams or to become certified, which surprises many first-time applicants.
Two characteristics define the credential's role in the trade:
- It is individual certification. It attaches to a person, not to a contracting company, and it does not certify a firm's work.
- It is voluntary. It is not a substitute for a state license. Some states regulate water well contractors and pump installers through their own licensing or registration programs, each with separate rules and fees. Check your state's requirements independently; the NGWA credential does not replace them.
How the Exams Are Built
The CPI is not a single test. The complete route requires passing the Water systems general examination plus at least one specialty exam:
- Exam K: Water systems less than 100 gpm
- Exam L: Water systems more than 100 gpm
Choose the specialty that matches the work you actually do. A residential and light-agricultural installer will typically align with the under-100 gpm exam, while someone installing municipal, irrigation, or industrial systems will lean toward the over-100 gpm exam.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Required exams (minimum route) | Water systems general + Exam K or Exam L |
| Questions per exam | 50 multiple-choice |
| Time limit per exam | 60 minutes, separately timed |
| Passing standard | 70% |
| Delivery | Computer-based, closed-book, PSI centers |
| Availability | Year-round |
| Results | Available immediately |
| Completion window | All required exams within one 12-month period |
Across the minimum two-exam route that totals 100 questions and two hours, but these are two separately timed sittings, not one combined 100-question test or an uninterrupted two-hour block. The multiple-choice format is also corroborated by state-level descriptions of the exam, such as the New York State Department of Labor's water well contractor page, though that state's own licensing rules do not apply to this voluntary credential.
For a deeper look at scoring, see CPI Passing Score 2026, and for scheduling logistics, CPI Exam Dates 2026.
The Seven Duty Areas Behind the Exams
NGWA's DACUM Research Chart for Pump Installers, developed in June 2003, breaks the pump installer's job into seven occupational duty headings. These are the preparation competencies this site uses to organize study. A caution is warranted: they are issuer-linked job-task headings, not an official exam blueprint. NGWA publishes no percentage weights in the preparation sources, and its separate Exam Preparation Success Guide (May 2019) uses six preparation categories, omits the administrative duty, and varies reference coverage by examination. Do not assume every duty appears on every component exam or in equal proportion.
1. Determine Client Needs
Understanding what the customer actually needs from the water system before any equipment is chosen.
- Intended water use and demand patterns
- Existing system limitations and customer expectations
- Budget, timeline, and service considerations
2. Assess Job Site
Evaluating physical and safety conditions at the well and surrounding area.
- Well condition, access, and surface constraints
- Power availability and site hazards
- Information gathering needed for later sizing decisions
3. Determine System Component Requirements
Selecting and sizing the pump, motor, piping, controls, and accessories so the system performs as designed.
- Matching pump type and capacity to well and demand
- Electrical, pressure, and storage component selection
- Why this is where the gpm threshold between Exam K and Exam L becomes practically meaningful
4. Prepare to Install the Pump
Staging materials, tools, and procedures before work begins.
- Verifying components against the plan
- Safety planning and equipment readiness
5. Install Pump System
The hands-on core of the trade: setting the pump, making connections, wiring, and bringing the system online.
- Proper installation sequence and workmanship
- Electrical and plumbing connections
- Start-up checks and verification of operation
6. Troubleshoot Existing Pump System
Diagnosing why an installed system is underperforming or failing.
- Isolating mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic causes
- Reading symptoms such as low pressure, short cycling, or loss of flow
7. Perform Administrative Activities
The business side of the work: documentation, records, and professional practice.
- Keeping accurate job and customer records
- Meeting professional and regulatory obligations
For a domain-by-domain walkthrough, see CPI Exam Domains 2026, and for a quick-reference summary, the CPI Cheat Sheet.
Eligibility and Enrollment
The CPI is experience-gated, which is part of what gives it weight in the trade. Applicants must:
- Be at least 20 years old
- Have 24 consecutive months of full-time drilling and/or pump-installation experience
- Provide two written professional references unaffiliated with their current employer
- Complete the application and sign the certification agreement
- Provide the required affidavit of legal standing
Two timing rules are easy to overlook. First, all required examinations must be passed within one 12-month period. Second, certification enrollment must be completed within 12 months of passing the qualifying examination, so passing the exams is not the finish line; the paperwork has to follow promptly.
The full eligibility picture is covered in CPI Requirements 2026.
Exam Fees and the Real Cost
The examination fee is US$75 per examination for both members and non-members. On the minimum two-exam route, that means US$150 in exam fees. Treat that figure as a floor rather than a total: it does not include retake fees if you need them, study materials, travel to a testing center, or other costs associated with the certification process. Where older application or FAQ material mentions generic member discounts, the current exam-specific fee schedule takes precedence.
Key Takeaway
Budget for the exams as a per-sitting cost. If you plan to add a second specialty later, each additional exam carries its own US$75 fee. See the CPI Certification Cost breakdown for a fuller view.
Keeping the Credential Active
Certification is not permanent. Annual maintenance requires:
- Seven continuing education points (CEPs) per year
- A renewal fee
- An affidavit addressing professional standing and required licensure
CEPs are points, not classroom hours, and should not be treated as interchangeable with seven hours of seat time. Your initial certificate expires December 31 of the year following certification, and newly certified individuals earn and report their first CEPs in that following year.
Renewal timing and fees
Renewal requirements are due December 31. NGWA's maintenance webpage and the reverse of the linked renewal form accept applications through January 31 without a late fee. However, the front page of that same form instructs applicants to add a US$50 late fee after December 31, which contradicts the January 31 grace period. The currently linked form, titled "2027 NGWA Voluntary Certification Renewal" despite its 2026 filename, lists CPI renewal at US$50 for members and US$150 for non-members.
Who Values It and What It Is Not
The CPI is recognized across the groundwater and water-well trade. The people most likely to care about it are:
- Pump installation contractors and well drilling companies that want verified competence on their crews
- Water system service companies handling residential, agricultural, and commercial systems
- Installers who want a portable credential that travels with them between employers
Whether it moves your income or opportunities depends on your market, your employer, and local licensing rules. No salary figure is guaranteed by the credential, and this article does not offer one. For a measured treatment, see the CPI Salary Guide, the ROI analysis, and CPI Jobs.
Just as important is what the CPI is not: it is not a company certification, not a state license, and not an NGWA membership. Keep those distinctions clear when you talk to employers or customers.
Sequencing Your Preparation
You do not need an elaborate system. What helps is tying your study order to the structure of the exams. Because the general exam is required and the specialty exam depends on system size, start with the shared foundation and then layer on the specialty.
Client needs, site assessment, and component sizing
- Work through Duties 1 through 3 together, since sizing decisions depend on what you learn at the client and site stages
- Decide whether Exam K or Exam L fits your daily work
Preparation and installation
- Review Duties 4 and 5, concentrating on procedures and the order of operations
- Practice scenario questions that ask what you do first and what you verify last
Troubleshooting and administration
- Cover Duty 6 symptom-to-cause reasoning, then Duty 7 documentation and professional obligations
- Take timed practice sets of 50 questions in 60 minutes to match exam conditions
Remember the exams are closed-book, so memorization of core relationships matters more than knowing where to look something up. For a complete plan, read the CPI Study Guide and the CPI Training overview, and try a free timed run on the CPI Exam Prep practice test. If you are weighing effort, How Hard Is the CPI Exam? and CPI Pass Rate explain what is and is not publicly known.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means Certified Pump Installer, a voluntary individual credential governed by the National Ground Water Association. It is unrelated to other credentials or terms that share the acronym.
At minimum two: the Water systems general exam plus either Exam K (under 100 gpm) or Exam L (over 100 gpm). Each has 50 questions, a 60-minute limit, and a 70% passing standard, and all required exams must be passed within one 12-month period.
No. Membership is not required. The exam fee is US$75 per examination for members and non-members alike, so the minimum route costs US$150 in exam fees.
No. It is a voluntary professional credential for an individual, not a company certification and not a substitute for any state license or registration your area may require.
Earn and report seven continuing education points each year, pay the renewal fee, and submit an affidavit on professional standing and required licensure. Renewal is due December 31, but the renewal materials conflict on the late-fee deadline, so confirm the current terms with NGWA.