Licensing Guides
North Dakota Septic License: How to Become a Septic Contractor in North Dakota
Septic, ND
October 1st, 2026
Table of Contents
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Septic License in North Dakota?
What Is the Mean Wage for a Septic Professional in North Dakota?
How Long Does it Take to Get a Septic License in North Dakota?
How Can I Prepare for the Septic License Exam in North Dakota?
What Are the Penalties for Unlicensed Septic Work 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 30,650 septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners nationwide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and North Dakota employs 70 of them. Employment of septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners is projected to grow 8% from 2024 to 2034 across the country, according to CareerOneStop, the U.S. Department of Labors job search website, adding roughly 2,900 job openings a year. In North Dakota, the projected growth rate is almost double that at 14%.
Skilled trades stay in demand across North Dakota. Homes and businesses that depend on septic systems need trained professionals to install and maintain them, so if you get the right credentials, you should have steady work to choose from.
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.
The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) regulates professionals who service septic systems through its Division of Water Quality. Practitioners must obtain a Septic Pumper permit, which requires them to follow state health and environmental 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.
Benefits of Getting a Septic License in North Dakota
Getting licensed is more than a legal box to check. It sets you apart, protects your customers, and opens doors that unlicensed operators never get to walk through. Here is what a septic license does for you in North Dakota.
A license is required by law to service septic systems in North Dakota.
Your license is proof of your skill and experience.
You can legally operate and advertise your septic business.
You can pull permits and pass inspections on your jobs.
You become eligible to bid on public and government projects.
Licensed professionals gain access to higher earning potential.
Licensing protects both your customers and your business.
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.
How to Get a Septic License in North Dakota
North Dakota runs two separate paths for septic work, and the one you follow depends on the service you plan to offer. Pumping septic tanks falls under the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. Installing sewer and water lines falls under the North Dakota State Plumbing Board. Many contractors pursue both.
Start by setting up your business. Register your entity with the North Dakota Secretary of State, and note that sewer and water contractor businesses must also complete general contractor registration with the Secretary of State when a job exceeds $4,000.
To pump septic tanks, follow the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality’s Septic Pumper permit process. Earn the North Dakota State Training Certificate, pass the Annual Septic Pumper exam, and submit application form SFN4869 to the department. Permits expire December 31, and renewal runs January 1 through March 1. Applications postmarked after March 1 pay new-applicant fees.
To install sewer and water lines, work your way up through the North Dakota State Plumbing Board’s Sewer and Water licensure. An apprentice needs two years and 3,400 hours under a licensed Sewer and Water Contractor to sit for the Installer exam. After that, you need one year and 1,700 hours as a licensed Installer to sit for the Contractor exam. Applications are downloadable, and you can email them to ndplumb@nd.gov or mail them to the Board at 1110 College Drive, Suite 210, Bismarck.
If you plan to run a Class I commercial servicing operation, you also need written pre-approval for land-application disposal sites before you dispose of septage.
What Is the Mean Wage for a Septic Professional in North Dakota?
According to CareerOneStop’s occupation profile for North Dakota, septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners in the state earn a median annual wage of $46,340. Pay ranges widely by experience, from $42,410 at the 10th percentile and $44,080 at the 25th percentile up to $59,220 at the 75th percentile and $78,570 at the 90th percentile.
Nationally, the median annual wage is $49,880, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 national data puts the mean annual wage at $53,500.
Mean and median measure two different things. The mean wage is the mathematical average of every salary in the group. The median wage is the midpoint, where half of workers earn less and half earn more.
Your own earnings depend on your experience, your city, the certifications you hold, and whether you own the business. Newer professionals tend to start near the 10th percentile, and pay climbs toward the 90th percentile as you build experience.
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.
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North Dakota Septic 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. Installer candidates must score at least 70% to pass, and Contractor candidates must score at least 80%. Find more info about the exam here.
How Can I Prepare for the Septic License Exam in North Dakota?
Preparation depends on which exam you take. Each one draws from a specific body of code, so study the source material directly.
The Annual Septic Pumper exam has 20 questions and requires a score of 70% to pass. Every question comes from North Dakota Administrative Code 33.1-21-02, so study that chapter closely. The certificate is valid for one year, and you can retake the exam as often as you need.
The Sewer and Water exam comes in two parts with 50 questions total. Part 1 is closed book with 25 multiple-choice questions. Part 2 is open book with 25 completion questions. You have five hours to finish, and you should bring the North Dakota Sewer and Water Service Code book and a calculator. Installers need a passing score of 70%, and contractors need 80%. A retake requires a three-month wait, and the exam is offered every other month. Questions cover the basic principles of sewer and water installation, the state plumbing code, and the state industrial safety code.
A few study habits pay off:
Review the code book until the layout is second nature.
Tab the code book so you can find answers fast during the open-book portion.
Get plenty of rest the night before your exam.
Do I Need to Renew My North Dakota Septic License?
Pumper permits require annual renewal, and the renewal fee is $50 per servicing vehicle (the $100 fee applies to new applicants only). Sewer and Water Installer/Contractor licenses require renewal every year. The Installer fee is $25, and 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.
Other Requirements Unique to North Dakota
North Dakota adds a few requirements that you will not find spelled out in the standard steps. Keep these on your radar as you plan your work.
Class I servicers need septage disposal-site approval before applying septage to land.
Septic system installer permits are issued at the county or local health-district level, so check with the health district where you work.
Your business must be registered with the North Dakota Secretary of State.
Septic pumpers must hold the North Dakota State Training Certificate.
Are There Septic Scholarships in North Dakota?
North Dakota offers several programs that can help cover the cost of training. A few are worth a close look if you are working toward a septic or sewer and water career.
The North Dakota Scholarship provides up to $750 per semester for career and technical education programs, and since fall 2023 it also covers North Dakota registered apprenticeship programs.
ND Career Builders offers up to $17,000 in scholarship and loan repayment with a one-to-one match for certificate and associate-level programs. Recipients must live and work in North Dakota. You may qualify if septic or sewer and water training appears on the current in-demand occupations list, so verify before applying.
The Technical Skills Training Grant from the North Dakota Department of Commerce is an employer and organization grant, not an individual scholarship, and it funds training for in-demand occupations. As an individual, contact Job Service North Dakota to explore your options.
How Can Someone Verify My Septic License in North Dakota?
Customers, general contractors, and inspectors can confirm your credentials in a couple of ways, depending on which license you hold.
For sewer and water credentials, the North Dakota State Plumbing Board publishes a public lookup. Here is how to use it:
Search for the licensed sewer and water individual by name.
Review the license details that appear in the results.
Call the Board at 701-328-9977 if you need help with a search.
For septic pumping, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality posts an annually updated active sanitary pumper list as a PDF on its Septic Pumper page. Open the page, download the current list, and look for the pumper’s name.
When Can a Septic License Get Suspended in North Dakota?
A license is a privilege, and the state can take it away. The consequences depend on which credential is at stake.
The North Dakota State Plumbing Board may revoke a license for an offense that has a direct bearing on your ability to serve the public, for fraud in obtaining the license, for allowing improper use of the license, or for incompetent work.
On the septic side, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality can terminate a disposal-site approval for causes such as excessive runoff, odor complaints, or illegal disposal.
Note: The information above should not be considered legal advice.
What Are the Penalties for Unlicensed Septic Work in North Dakota?
Working without the proper credential carries real consequences in North Dakota, and they vary by the type of work.
Performing sewer and water work without a license is a Class B misdemeanor under North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-18.2.
Working as a plumber without a license or violating the state plumbing code is a Class B misdemeanor under North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-18. On top of criminal penalties, plumbing inspectors may seek an injunction to stop the work, and anyone injured by a violation may bring a civil action for damages.
Operating without a septic pumper permit violates North Dakota Administrative Code 33.1-21-02 and is subject to state enforcement.
Note: The information above should not be considered legal advice.
Continuing Education
Septic Tank Pumpers must keep their North Dakota State Training Certificate current through the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality's five-year training cycle.
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.
