Commercial Explosives Licensing Requirements:

The state of Iowa requires licensing for all commercial explosive contractors and blasters as defined in Iowa Code 101A and Administrative Rules Chapter 235. A company engaged in the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale or commercial use of explosives and their employees must be licensed as commercial explosive contractors and blasters.

Explosive Material User Permit (for County Sheriff/Chief of Police use only) PDF Form

Complaints about unlicensed commercial explosive contractors and/or blasters should be directed to the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.

Complaints about detonation of explosives should be directed to the county sheriff or chief of police in the jurisdiction where blasting occurred.

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Companies:

All contractors working in Iowa must get a commercial explosive contractor license.
A national criminal history background check is required for all responsible persons and employee possessors who are not licensed as commercial explosive blasters.
Contractors must license at least one commercial explosive blaster.

Blasters:

All blasters working in Iowa must get a commercial explosive blaster license under a licensed contractor. They must provide a copy of their current qualifying certification as specified in the matrix below.
All blasters renewing a license in Iowa are required to provide proof of continuing education as specified in the matrix below.

Blaster Endorsement	Qualifying Certification Option(s)
Commercial Explosive Blaster (new license applicant)	Satisfactory completion of training in the use and handling of explosives by the employer or reputable third party knowledgeable about the storage, handling, and use of explosives [or] Completed on-the-job training affidavit documenting 640 hours or more of experience provided by the blaster's employer [or] Copy of a current blaster license issued by another state with comparable licensing requirements [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the department before applying for the International Society of Explosives Engineers webinar, all 4 blaster webinars are required
Commercial Explosive Blaster (renewal license applicant)	Completed continuing education from a nationally recognized institution for professional explosives storage, handling, and use [or] Copy of a current blaster license issued by another state with comparable licensing requirements [or] Completed additional on-the-job training affidavit documenting 16 hours or more of continued work experience provided by the blaster's employer [or] Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the department before applying for the International Society of Explosives Engineers webinars, retraining completion of at least 1 webinar

Blaster Endorsement

Qualifying Certification Option(s)

Commercial Explosive Blaster (new license applicant)

Satisfactory completion of training in the use and handling of explosives by the employer or reputable third party knowledgeable about the storage, handling, and use of explosives [or]

Completed on-the-job training affidavit documenting 640 hours or more of experience provided by the blaster's employer [or]

Copy of a current blaster license issued by another state with comparable licensing requirements [or]

Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the department before applying

for the International Society of Explosives Engineers webinar, all 4 blaster webinars are required

Commercial Explosive Blaster (renewal license applicant)

Completed continuing education from a nationally recognized institution for professional explosives storage, handling, and use [or]

Copy of a current blaster license issued by another state with comparable licensing requirements [or]

Completed additional on-the-job training affidavit documenting 16 hours or more of continued work experience provided by the blaster's employer [or]

Satisfactory completion of an applicable training or testing program that has been approved by the department before applying

for the International Society of Explosives Engineers webinars, retraining completion of at least 1 webinar

Licensing Fees:

Fee Structure for Contractor License

$60 license fee (prorated monthly)
$35 criminal history background check for each listed responsible person and employee possessor

Fee Structure for Blaster License

$60 license fee (prorated monthly)
$35 criminal history background check

Payments can be made online by debit/credit card or eCheck/ACH or by mailing a check or money order payable to the Dept. of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing or State of Iowa and mailed to the Dept. of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Attention: Alarm Licensing Administration, 215 E 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0047.

Criminal History Background Check:

Stop mailing fingerprint cards! Use Fieldprint Iowa Livescan network today!

Use Fieldprint's largest Livescan network in Iowa to schedule secure, electronic submission of your fingerprints for criminal history background checks required by Commercial Explosives licensing.

Refer to the Program Scheduling Aid below for step-by-step instructions to schedule your Livescan appointment at one of the Fieldprint locations nearest you.

Please be sure to use the Fieldprint Code for your license as indicated in the scheduling aids below.

Explosives licensing - FPIASFMExplosives

Commercial Explosives Licensing Fieldprint Program Scheduling Aid

For information on fingerprint locations outside our Livescan network, please visit the National Background Information-Fingerprinting Locations website.

Please visit our License Management System website to find downloadable application forms under the Forms menu.

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Commercial Explosives Licensing