In this module you shall learn about:
We shall provide you with all the knowledge and information you need to know in order to pass the API 580 exam.
We shall explain the concepts and where necessary, shall elaborate by giving examples.
We shall provide you with flash cards for quick reference
We shall highlight areas that are potential exam questions
We shall provide you with mock exam questions that are specifically designed in line with the spirit of API exam questions.
You may appreciate the facts that API wants to verify your understanding of the topics and hence the exam questions are mostly rephrased and given in the context of a scenario.
Our course editors are all qualified API Inspectors and engineers who edit the course based on the latest revision and addendums, who have years of industry experience and many have passed the exam for the past 3 years, so, we are fairly up-to-date.
Our course content goes through several check points to ensure that it is easy to understand, focused on the body of knowledge and is in line with ISO 29990:2010 Learning services for non-formal education and training — Basic requirements for service providers; so you know what you are expect to learn at the end of each module.
API examinations are divided into two main groups: core exams (API 510, 570, 653) and non-core exams (API 571, 577, 580, 936, TES, 1169, SIFE, SIRE).
All API examinations are held 3 times a year and each API certification has a ‘’ 3 weeks exam window’’ that you should choose from at the time of registration. For exam schedules and fees, please click on link below:
After registration and approval by API, your 3 weeks exam window is frozen, and you can only select the location, date and time at a Prometric test center. Seats are limited at your preferred Prometric location, so select the date and time as soon as you can.
Note: Â Prometric is subcontracted by API to hold the computer-Based Examinations.
The deadline to get API authorization email is approximately 2.5 months or 10 weeks prior to the selected test window.
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:
create an account and then upload the supporting documents (your qualification & certification); provide two references & pay the fee.
API shall verify your claimed experience by contacting (via email) the two references you have provided.
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 3000 Prometric testing centers worldwide to choose from. All Prometric test centers operate on the first-come-first-served basis. Therefore, API cannot promise that you will be able to obtain a seat at your preferred location.
It is highly recommended that you 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 exam 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.
Remember, no show and failing to book a seat or even inability to book a seat at your preferred test center is as good as failing the exam itself.
API 580 certification is valid for a three-year term and the exam costs $410.
After 3 years, you need to apply for recertification demonstrating that you still work as an API inspector for 20% of the time. Recertification costs $ 310.
You may apply for recertification 90 days prior to the certificate expiration date, and up to 90-day after the expiry of your certificate (subject to a late application fee of 150 $).
If an application is not submitted by the end of the 90-day grace period, your certificate will expire. A new application and fees must be submitted, and you will need to pass a full examination in order to be recertified.
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 to complete the quiz, and it may be paused or interrupted up to three 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 and you shall need to submit a fresh application and take the full version of the exam in order to certify again.
If you fail, you need to apply for rescheduling and pay $200 re-examinations. 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.
Remember, you have one year from the date of your first exam to pass which entitles you to maximum three attempts.
Make sure you reach the Prometric test center at least half an hour before the scheduled time. If you reach the test center 15 minutes after the exam, they may refuse to admit you.
Prior to letting you in to sit for the exam; they shall check your photographic government ID (such as valid Passport or Driving License), ask you to sign in; check you with a metal detector; ask you to turn up your sleeves and trousers; check your pockets; look at your reading glasses to ensure it does not have any camera, ask you a security question (DOB, email address) and take your picture.
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 and preferably carry two valid government issued photo ID as plan B. 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 a ’’ 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.
You shall receive your confirmed score up to 8 weeks after the last day of 2 weeks examination window, sometime sooner. It takes another 6-8 weeks after receipt of confirmed score for the certification and the wallet card to arrive by post.
The pass mark is 70% (Minimum 400 on a maximum scale of 500) for all the API examinations. No negative marking is applied, therefore, answer all the questions. At the end, 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. On return, you shall go through the same initial security check and sign in. During all this time, the clock is running.
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.
To learn more, click on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below:
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.
You can either review all the questions once again or review the flagged off questions only during any remaining time left.
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.
Remember that the clock does not stop for any reason once you start the test, when you use the bathroom or when you wish to make a comment on a particular question or for any other reason whatsoever, so use the allocated time wisely.
The allocated time seems to be sufficient to answer all the questions as well as reviewing them.
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 days.
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:
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 shall then book your seat with the Prometric as soon as possible.
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