How to become an oil and gas well driller, servicer, tester or related worker
Official title: Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
Also called: Drill stem tester, Oil well perforator, Well testing operator, Rig technician - driller, Driller - oil and gas drilling, Offshore driller - oil and gas, Driller - offshore drilling rig, Gas tester - oil field services, Well puller - oil field services, Gun perforator - oil field services, Coring operator - oil field services, E-line operator - oil field services
Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers control the operation of drilling and hoisting equipment on drilling and service rigs, and direct the activities of the rig crew under supervision of the rig manager. Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers operate specialized mechanical or electronic equipment, tools or instruments to provide services in conjunction with well drilling, completion or servicing. They are employed by drilling and well service contractors, petroleum producing companies and well logging or testing companies.
Main tasks
- Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers
- Direct rig crew in setting up rigs and drilling, completing or servicing oil and gas exploration and producing wells
- Operate controls of drill or service rig drilling and hoisting machinery
- Train or arrange for training of crew
- Maintain records of drilling and servicing operations
- Ensure safety procedures are followed
- Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers
- Drive well service or wireline truck to well site
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers require three to six months of formal on-the-job training, college or petroleum industry-approved training courses and four or more years of work experience in subordinate rig crew positions. A college diploma in drilling may be required. Offshore work requires several years of experience in an equivalent position on land. Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, well control, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) and a special oil well operator (boiler) certificate are required. Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers require three to six months of formal on-the-job training and several years of experience in subordinate logging and testing positions or on drilling and servicing rigs. Completion of a college program in electronics or engineering technology may be required for open hole well logging. A provincial blaster's licence, and seismic blaster and oil well blaster certification are required for well perforation services. Trade certification for rig technician is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified rig technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Ways in
- Licence or registration: A provincial blaster's licence, and seismic blaster and oil well blaster certification are required for well perforation services.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $91,884 a year The middle half earn $66,573 to $117,000.
- About 23,500 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 26,000 are projected by 2033. (+10.6%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an oil and gas well driller, servicer, tester or related worker?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers require three to six months of formal on-the-job training, college or petroleum industry-approved training courses and four or more years of work experience in subordinate rig crew positions. A college diploma in drilling may be required. Offshore work requires several years of experience in an equivalent position on land. Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, well control, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) and a special oil well operator (boiler) certificate are required. Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers require three to six months of formal on-the-job training and several years of experience in subordinate logging and testing positions or on drilling and servicing rigs. Completion of a college program in electronics or engineering technology may be required for open hole well logging. A provincial blaster's licence, and seismic blaster and oil well blaster certification are required for well perforation services. Trade certification for rig technician is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified rig technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
How much does an oil and gas well driller, servicer, tester or related worker earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $91,884 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $66,573 to $117,000.
Is an oil and gas well driller, servicer, tester or related worker a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2033, from about 23,500 to about 26,000 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an oil and gas well driller, servicer, tester or related worker?
Usually not. Only 12% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03