Licensing Guides
State Septic License: How to Become a Septic Contractor in North Dakota
Septic, ND
Table of Contents
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Septic License in North Dakota?
How Long Does it Take to Get a Septic License in North Dakota?
Septic License Requirements in North Dakota
We all need safe, reliable sewage management for our homes and businesses. Those homeowners and businesses that rely on septic tanks, also known as onsite sewage treatment facilities (OSTF), depend on people who know how to install and maintain those systems.
There are 27,900 septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners nationwide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and North Dakota employs 60 of them. The projected growth rate nationally is expected to be 8% by 2033, adding 3,000 of these skilled workers to the ranks. In North Dakota, according to CareerOneStop, the U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, the projected growth rate is almost double that at 14% for septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners.
If you’re thinking about starting a septic business or working in the field, you need to know the requirements in your state or local jurisdiction. This guide will help you determine what you need before you get started.
Who Issues Septic Licenses in North Dakota?
The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ), a division of the North Dakota Department of Health, regulates professionals engaged in servicing septic systems. Practitioners must obtain a Septic Pumper permit, which mandates adherence to state health and environmental health standards.
According to the DEQ, “The Septic Pumper Program regulates the use and disposal of domestic septage while protecting public health from unsanitary and unhealthy practices and conditions and protecting surface waters and groundwaters of the state from contamination by septage. A person wishing to engage in the business of servicing septic systems must obtain a permit from the department.”
Additionally, septic system installer permits are issued at the county or local level. For example, the First District Health Unit (a multi-county health district) requires a permit for the installation and/or repair of any part of an onsite sewage treatment system in Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, McLean, Renville, Sheridan, and Ward Counties.
To obtain a permit, you must have a Sewer and Water Installer or Contractor license from the North Dakota Plumbing Board, or be a certified property owner if you plan to install your own system.
Types of Septic Licenses in North Dakota
North Dakota licenses Septic Tank Pumpers and Sewer and Water Installers/Contractors at the state level, and some counties have additional licensure requirements for septic installers at the local level.
Enables the permit holder to clean septic systems, cesspools, privies, chemical toilets, holding tanks, and similar devices that receive domestic wastewater. Pumpers can also remove, transport, and dispose of septage in drain fields and other approved sites.
Sewer and Water Installer/Contractor
Enables the license holder to design, install, alter, operate, maintain, monitor, and manage all onsite sewage treatment systems.
Steps to Get a Septic License in North Dakota
Follow these steps for a Septic Tank Pumper permit.
Register your business with the Secretary of State’s Office.
Pass the Annual Septic Pumper exam.
Complete the permit application.
Include a copy of a North Dakota State Training Certificate.
Include a list of proposed disposal sites along with permission to use each site.
Pay the $100 application fee and a $50 fee per servicing unit.
Submit the application to the NDDEQ.
Follow these steps for a Sewer and Water Installer license.
Complete the license application
Gain two years of work experience under a licensed contractor.
Pass the licensing exam and pay the $25 fee.
Submit the application to the North Dakota State Plumbing Board in Bismarck.
Follow these steps for a Sewer and Water Contractor license.
Complete the license application
Gain one of work experience as a licensed Sewer and Water Installer.
Pass the licensing exam and pay the $100 fee.
Submit the application to the North Dakota State Plumbing Board in Bismarck.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Septic License in North Dakota?
Getting a Septic Pumper permit or Sewer Installer/Contractor license is relatively inexpensive in North Dakota.
The application fee for the Pumper permit is $100. There’s also an additional $50 fee per servicing unit. Note: Licensed plumbers don’t have to pay the servicing unit fee if applying for a Pumper permit.
The application fee for the Sewer and Water Installer license is $25 and $100 for the Contractor license.
What Business Owners Need to Know
Getting the most out of a septic installation technician, no matter where they are in their licensing journey, takes work. ServiceTitan cloud-based, all-in-one septic business software gives technicians and business owners the technology they need to do the work efficiently, and the data they need to do it smartly.
ServiceTitan features:
SMS communications that keep customers informed about the technician’s visit.
Location-specific service history, including recorded calls, accessible from the mobile app.
Required forms that ensure every job is done right, driving consistency.
The ability to build multi-option proposals with photos, on-site, in minutes.
Sales presentations that make conversations with customers easier and drive the average ticket.
Mobile payment acceptance, eliminating lost checks and increasing cash flow.
To learn more, schedule a demo with a product expert today.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Septic License in North Dakota?
It takes roughly 8 hours to earn the North Dakota State Training Certificate required for a Septic Pumper permit.
It will take a minimum of 2 years to become a licensed Sewer and Water Installer in North Dakota. To qualify for a Contractor license, you must work an additional year as a licensed Installer.
North Dakota Training Programs and Schools
The North Dakota DEQ provides training programs periodically throughout the state for Septic Pumpers. The training is required for licensure and prepares candidates for the permit exam.
Candidates for a Sewer and Water Installer or Contractor license typically earn the 2-3 years of required work experience by working under a licensed Sewer and Water Contractor.
North Dakota Septic Licensing Exam Details
The Annual Septic Pumper Exam consists of 20 questions and requires a score of 70% to pass. All questions are derived from NDAC 33.1-21-02. Find more info about the exam here.
The exam for the Sewer and Water Installer/Contractor license covers the application and maintenance of basic principles of sewer and water installation, the state plumbing code, and the state industrial safety code. The fee for the Installer exam is $25; $100 for the Contractor exam. You must score at least 80% to pass the exam. Find more info about the exam here.
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Do I Need to Renew My North Dakota Septic License?
Pumper permits require annual renewal for a fee of $100 plus a $50 fee per servicing unit.
Sewer and Water Installer/Contractor licenses require renewal every year. The Installer fee is $25; the Contractor fee is $100.
Does North Dakota Reciprocate Septic Licenses?
While North Dakota maintains reciprocal agreements with other states for plumbers and electricians, there are no agreements in place for septic workers.
National Septic Certifications
Other certifications can help you demonstrate your proficiency to potential employers and clients. The National Association of Wastewater Technicians and The National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association offer certifications. Those and other professional certifications are not required but can add to your marketability and therefore increase your opportunity to make more money.
Continuing Education
Septic Tank Pumpers must renew their North Dakota State Training Certificate every 5 years, which requires taking an 8-hour course.
Sewer and Water Installers/Contractors must obtain at least 8 contact hours of continuing education every two years that pertains to onsite septic system installation.
Resources
You can stay up to date on all septic industry news several ways:
Check top septic blogs, including ServiceTitan’s blog.
Read about the latest industry trends, and discover ideas on how to grow your septic business.
Listen to top septic podcasts like ServiceTitan’s “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast.
The states have licensing requirements for other trades, too. You can find out more about how to get an HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or contractor license in North Dakota, or in any of the other 49 states and the District of Columbia through the ServiceTitan Licensing Hub.
