API examinations are divided into two main groups: core exams (API 510, 570, 653) and others (API 571, 577, 580, 936, TES, 1169, SIFE, SIRE).
All API examinations held 3 times a year and each API certification has ‘’ 3 weeks exam window’’ that you should choose from at the time of registration. For API 577, the 3 weeks windows are: April 11 – May 2, 2025, August 8 – 29, 2025 and December 5 – 26, 2025.
After registration and approval by API, you can select a location, date and time at a Prometric test center.
Prometric is subcontracted by API to hold the computer-based examinations.
If you hold a current API 510, 570 or 653 certification, you automatically qualify to take the API 577 Welding Inspection and Metallurgy certification exam.
If you do not hold a current API 510, 570 or 653 certification, then qualification is based on a combination of your level of education and industry experience acquired within the last 10 years. For example, BS or higher in engineering with one year experience in the petrochemical industry.
To get the API approval in order to sit for a particular test, file the application form by registering with API ICP by using the link:
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Upload the supporting documents (your qualification & certification); provide two references & pay the fee.
API shall verify your claimed experience by contacting one of the two referencesyou have provided via their business email.
It is recommended to brief your references, so they know which inspection fields and for how long you have claimed the experience for. This would avoid any discrepancy that may result from your claimed experience against their verification.
There are more than 600 Prometric testing centers worldwide to choose from.
Hence, it is highly recommended that you may schedule your exam immediately after receiving your ‘’Exam Authorization Notice’’ email from API.
If seats are not available, try a different date within the same window, or choose another location.
Please note that, during registration with API, you are required to select one of the available ‘’3 weeks’ time window’’.
Once the time window selected, you cannot change it which means you can only attempt the exam within the selected ‘’3 weeks window’’ unless you decide to reschedule and pay the fees which is as good as failing the exam.
Although the deadline to get your application approved prior to your selected test window is around 2 months, you might not be able to find a suitable available date or worse, you might not be able to get a seat at your favorite test center within the allocated ‘’3-week window’’ if your approval (API authorization email) is received late.
So, it is recommended that you register and get API approval (API Exam Authorization Notice email) around 3-4 months prior to your scheduled exam; that is; do not choose the next immediate test window but choose the one that is 3-4 months away.
This is especially important for core API exams that need a full day slot. For other API exams such as API 577, there is normally a good chance of getting the convenient test location and date at the next available test window.
You can change the location and the date (within the allocated 3 weeks window) up to 5 days before the last day of test window for a fee of USD 70 $ subject to availability. Normally, it is possible to change the time and location for API 577.
API gives each candidate 12 consecutive months to pass an exam beginning from the first scheduled test window.
If you do not pass the exam within a year for any reason such as:
then, you have to apply all over again and pay the full fees.
One of our trainees received the API Exam Authorization Notice for API 570 seven months before the selected test window; but he attempted to book a place with Prometric only two months before the test window.
As a result, his closest Prometric center (London) was already full, so, he had to fly to Amsterdam Prometric test center to attend the exam since his other option would be to reschdule, pay the fees and wait another 6 months.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you book your place as soon as you receive the API authorization notice
API 577 certification is valid for a three-year term and exam cost $420. For schedule and fees click on below Link:
After 3 years, you need to apply for recertification demonstrating that you still work as an API inspector for 20% of the time.
Recertification cost $ 315.
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 is expired.
A new application and fees must be submitted, and you will need to pass a full examination in order to be recertified.
What happens if you fail the exam?
If you fail, you need to apply for rescheduling and pay $200 for Reschedule ot Re-examination. After requesting for rescheduling and paying the fee, you shall receive the approval letter via email within a day or two. You shall then book your seat with the Prometric as soon as possible.
Make sure you reach the Prometric test center at least half an hour before the scheduled time.
Prior to letting you in to sit for the exam; they shall check:
You cannot carry anything with you except a bottle of water.
No ornaments are allowed except a wedding ring.
They shall supply you with a couple of green color A4 size papers and a pencil for taking notes plus a simple calculator.
You are required to have a valid government issued photo identity card such as a passport or a driving license and keep it with yourself during the examination.
If you don’t produce a government photo ID card at the Prometric test center, you shall be refused entry and it is treated as a ‘’no show up’’ which is as good as failing the exam.
Also, make sure your government issued photo ID (driving license, passport) is VALID.
If your ID is expired, you shall be refused entry.
During API 653 exam, one of our candidates had an expired driving license and was refused entry although he returned half an hour later with a valid passport but by that time it was too late, Prometric said.
As a result, he had to pay the rescheduling fee (USD 300 $) and appear for the exam 6 months later. It is recommended to check your photo ID to ensure it is valid.
It is simply not worth it to be refused for an ID issue after all the time, effort and money you have put in.
Prior to the examination, you shall be given the key to a locker to keep your belongings.
You are not allowed to use the locker until you have completed the exam.
Immediately, upon completion of the exam, you shall receive an email notifying you whether you have passed or failed. Your preliminary exam result may be ’’preliminary pass’’ which is normally a pass; a ‘’marginal result’’ (too close to call; may be a pass if you are lucky) and a ’’preliminary fail’’ which is normally a fail.
The pass mark is 70% for all the API examinations (minimum 400 on an scale of maximum 500 scorecard).
Before you end the exam, click the ‘’Review all’’ button and peruse through the list to ensure that you have not skipped any question.
You can challenge any question you may wish, by writing on its comment sheet but please note that the clock keeps running so you shall be spending the time to fill in the comment sheet from your allocated examination time.
After ID verification, security check and letting you into the examination room, you will first go through the tutorial which last for maximum 10 minutes or earlier if you press ‘end session button’’, and then the actual exam begins and the clock start ticking. You can see the remaining time at the right-hand corner of the computer screen.
Remember, if during the examination, you wish to leave the examination room for say, using the toilet, you need to take your ID with you, report to the security outside the examination room and sign out.
Sitting for an exam can be stressful, so, try to have enough sleep the night before; on the exam day, just peruse the important parts of the reference documents or look at the figures and charts for a couple of hour maximum.
Let your brain rest. You need to be alert and full of energy to endure the exam.
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 shall also see the list of attempted and non-attempted questions at the end by pressing the ‘’review all’’ button. This would ensure that you have not left any question unanswered.
There is a frequently asked question (FAQ) in the Prometric web site.
There is a tutorial prior to exam that explains how the bottoms work. You can also find the tutorial via the following link:
The exam would automatically start after the 10 minutes allocated time for tutorial or if you end it earlier.
The icons are simple and user friendly. Remember that you can flag off those questions you are not sure of so you can return to them during the remaining time.
You can also right click on selected answers to eliminate them if you are confident that they are definitely the wrong answers. This will narrow down the possible right answers and therefore increases you chance of getting the right answer.
Remember that the clock does not stop for any reason once you start the test. The allocated time seems to be more than enough to answer all the questions as well as review them.
That is not all.
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:
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