There will be about 60 – 75 test questions directly from API 510. API 510 is 60 pages long, which means an average of more than one exam question per page.

The remaining 70-90 questions will come from some 2000 pages contained in the other documents. That’s only 1 question for every 20 pages.

If you thoroughly understand API 510 and don’t even look at the other publications , chances are you could pass the test. (we are not recommending this approach!), but remember, almost half of API exam comes straight from API 510 Inspection Code.

API 510 Exam sequence

API core examinations contain two parts (Closed & Open Book).

First, you would answer the closed book part (2 hours 45 minutes for some 110 questions).

After that, you have a maximum of 45 minutes break when you can leave the building and also use the locker.

After the break, you would start the second part (open book) and need to answer some 60 question within 3.75 hours of allocated time using the reference documents in PDF format available on the computer screen.

The ‘’word search’’ is disabled so you should know which document and also which section you should look for each question during closed book part of the exam.

In subsequent modules, we shall explain how you could navigate between documents to find the right answer, chart or formulae you need to solve an open book exam question.

45 Minute Exam Break between Closed & Open Book Parts

Remember that the open book or second part of the API core examinations automatically starts after the 45 minutes break or if you start the second part sooner by pressing the ‘end the break’ button.

This means you should start your second part of examination (open book part) no later than 45 minutes after completing the first part in order not to lose any time.

Therefore, if during the 45 minute break, you go for lunch and return later than 45 minutes, your second part of the exam has already automatically started.

Try to report to the examination center around 5 minutes before the end of the 45 minutes break to allow for time spent going through the security check and sign in.

Remember, the second part (open book) automatically starts after the 45 minutes break even if you are not at your desk.

During API 570 examinations, one of our candidates went for lunch and returned half an hour later than 45  minutes break because he was lost.

By the time, he started his second part of the exam; he was already some 30 minutes short of the allocated 3.75 hours because after the 45 minute break, the time for second part of the test (closed book) keeps running regardless of whether you are at your desk or not.

Tips on Time Management during exam

Remember, if you need to leave the examination room for say, using the toilet or drinking water, you need to take your ID with you, report to the security outside the examination room and sign out. On return, you shall go through the same initial security check and sign in.

During all this time, the clock is running.

Remember, your exam is not concluded until your time is up or when you press the ‘end exam’ button (which asks for confirmation to ensure that you have not pressed it accidentally).

You can also see the list of attempted and non attempted questions by pressing the ‘’review all’’ button.

This would ensure that you have not left a question unanswered.

You can see the remaining time at the upper right hand corner of the screen.

There are a few good tutorials in the API ICP (Individual Certification Program) website.

The allocated time seems to be more than enough to answer all the questions as well as review them.

Number of Exam Questions

There are 170 questions in the core exams, of which only 140 are scored.

The remaining 30 are pre-test questions and not marked towards your score, meaning these pre-test questions do not affect your score whether you have answered them correctly or incorrectly.

API does not mark unscored questions, therefore, you have to answer all the 170 questions.

The reason for these non scored pre-test questions is that API frequently adds up new questions to their existing question bank.

API needs to ensure that these questions are not significantly challenged by the candidates and also answered by a reasonable number of people before adding them to their question bank as scored questions.

Exam Result

API Exam comes with Instant Final Scoring now

As of April 2024; all candidates appearing for API exam shall receive instant confirmed scoring and maximum within 24 hours after exam from prometric.

That is not all.

Candidates shall also receive their downloadable certificate in their API account within 3 working days.

You shall then receive your hard copy of certificate card by post within 2-4 weeks. In the meantime, you can dowload your card and cerificate from your API account within 3 business days after you passed the exam.

This is a huge difference of previously waiting for final score for upto 8 weeks and another 8 weeks to receive your certificate. To read more, click on link:

Instant Scoring

If you fail, you need to apply for rescheduling and pay USD 350 $. You shall receive the exam authorization approval email normally within 2-3 working days. You should then book your seat with the Prometric as soon as possible.

Certification & Recertification; and Cost

API 510 certification is valid for a three-year term and cost USD 1,070 $ each.

After 3 years, you need to apply for recertification demonstrating that you still work as an API 510 inspector for 20% of the time. Recertification cost USD 845 $.

You may apply for recertification 90 days prior to the certification expiration date, and for a 90-day grace period after subject to a late application fee of $200.

If an application is not submitted by the end of the 90-day grace period, the certification will expire. A new application and the full fee must be submitted, and you will need to pass the full version of the examination in order to be certified.

API inspectors are required to take an on-line, open-book quiz every six years in order to recertify.

Each quiz has 25 questions that address the changes in the relevant API codes over the past six years.

You have a total of four hours or 240 minutes to complete the quiz, and it may be paused or interrupted up to two times.

If you fail the quiz once, you will be able to take it again. If you fail the quiz a second time, you will not be able to recertify. You will need to submit a new application and take the full version of the exam to certify again.

Publications Effectivity Sheet & Body of Knowledge (BoK)

Publications effectivity sheet is the list of applicable reference documents that you need to study for the exam. It also tells you which sections of each document are applicable.

Publication Effectivity sheet or reference study material is revised annually when the codes and recommended practices or their addendum are revised and becomes applicable.

Red color codes and RPs indicate a revision or a change from the previous Publication Effectivity Sheet.

Body of knowledge also list the reference codes and recommended practices (but without revision number) and elaborates on topics that a pressure vessel inspector needs to know giving examples.

BoK explains what you are expected to know as an API 510 pressure vessel inspector.

Our e-learning is particularly designed around the  latest Publication Effectivity Sheet and Body of Knowledge and revised annualy.

Area of examination or Scoring areas

Below you can find scoring areas by topic; showing the maximum number of score you could achieve for each area. This should give you a fair idea of importance and weightage of each area of knowledge.

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