API 653 Storage Tank inspector is one of the three core API certificates. The other two are: API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector and API 570 – Piping Inspector.
These core certifications have some common reference documents between themselves, namely, API 571, API 576, API 577 as well as ASME Sec V, and ASME Sec IX.
Approximately 30% of questions for all three core certifications are derived from above ASME Codes and API RPs.
Most of the inspectors intend to get at least these 3 core certifications, So, it makes sense that once you have passed one of them, you may go for other two as well, since you have already covered roughly one third of the other two examinations.
Prometric is subcontracted by API to hold the computer-based examinations.
After registering and getting the API approval, you can book an exam date at your selected Prometric test center. Prometric has 600 test centers across the globe to choose from.
For exam schedule and application deadline, please visit:
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To get the API approval attending API 653 examination, you need to file the application form by registering with API ICP:
Then, upload your qualification; provide two references and pay the fees ($1,070 if your company is not an API member or $ 835 if your company is an API member).
Unfortunately, API does not grant individual membership like ASNT. You can only avail the reduced fee if your company is an API member and not yourself.
The minimum qualification requirements for API 653 Storage Tank inspector certification are based on the combination of education and experience related to pressure vessels.
Prior to submitting an application, please use the Qualification/Experience table to determine if you qualify to take the API 653 exam.
The minimum experience required MUST be documented on your application.
| Education | Years of Experience | Experience Required |
| BS or higher in engineering or technology | 1 year | Supervision or performance of inspection activities as described in API 653 |
| 2-year degree or certificate in engineering or technology | 2 years | Design, construction, repair, operation, or inspection of storage tank, of which one year must be in supervision or performance of inspection activities as described in API 653 |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3 years | Design, construction, repair, operation, or inspection of storage tank, of which one year must be in supervision or performance of inspection activities as described in API 653 |
| No formal education | 5 or more years | Design, construction, repair, operation, or inspection of storage tank, of which one year must be in supervision or performance of inspection activities as described in API 653 |
Your references shall receive email with a link. This link opens up a questionnaire listing your experience in various fields you have claimed and your references need to verify them.
This would avoid any discrepancy that may result from your claimed experience against their verification.
It only takes a minute or two to respond as a reference.
Please note that, during registration with API, you are required to select one of the available ‘’3 weeks time window’’.
Remember, if you do not attend the exam within the allocated 3 weeks window for any reason whatsoever such as:
In this situation, you need to request a reschedule (the same way as if you failed the exam) and pay USD 350 $ rescheduling fee.
The deadline to get your application approved prior to your selected test window is around 8 weeks or 2 months from first date of the 3 weeks exam window.
If your approval happens at the last minute; 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’’ while the next available test center may be hundreds of miles away or even in another country.
Hence, it is recommended that you register; get the API approval (called API Exam Authorization Notice email) and immediately book the prometric test center; that is; do not wait until the last moment.
It is also recommended not to choose the next immediate test window but may choose the exam window that is 4-5 months away.
This is especially important for core API 653 exam being a day long exam.
For non-core API exams, there is normally a good chance of getting the convenient test location and date at the next available test window or better, opt for remote proctoring.
There are some 600 Prometric testing centers worldwide to choose from.
All Prometric testing 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.
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 from your first selected exam window for any reason such as:
IMPORTANT: Schedule your exam with your closest Prometric test center as soon as you receive the API authorization.
One of our trainees received his ‘’API Exam Authorization Notice’’ for API 510 seven months before the selected test window; but attempted to book a place with Prometric only a month before the test window.
As a result, his closest Prometric center (London) was already full, so, he had to fly from London to Amsterdam Prometric test center to attend the exam. Therefore, it is strongly recommend that you book your place as soon as you receive the API authorization notice.
Remember, API 653 is a full day exam, so booking your favorite exam date and location may not be possible if you are late.
IMPORTANT: Be at the Prometric test center at least half an hour before the exam scheduled time
API 510 is a day-long exam and normally starts at 8.30 am.
You will be required to present a valid, unexpired and original government-issued photo ID with a signature, such as a driver’s license, passport, national ID or military ID.
In cases where a primary government-issued photo ID does not have a signature, a second ID with signature must be presented. The identification must be in Latin characters.
Prior to letting you to sit for the exam; Prometric employees shall check:
You cannot carry anything with you except a bottle of water.
No ornaments are allowed except a wedding ring.
Prometric shall supply you with a couple of green color A4 size papers and a pencil for taking notes plus a simple calculator.
During API 653 exam, one of our candidate’s driving license was expired and he 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 350 $) 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 at the exam center for an ID issue after all the time, effort and money you have spent.
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.
However, you are allowed to use the locker during the 45 minutes break.
There is a tutorial prior to exam and it explains how the bottoms work.
You can also find the tutorial via the below link which is an exact replica of the tutorial you shall see before the exam:
click to go to:
You can end the tutorial session earlier whenever you feel comfortable enough working with the icons.
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 back 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 or review incomplete questions (questions you have not attempted) by clicking on respective tabs during any remaining time left.
The exam ends automatically when the remaining time showing on the right hand corner of the screen goes to zero.
The pass mark is roughly 70% (Minimum 400 on a scale of Maximum 500) for all the API examinations as API uses scaled grading to standardize the degree of difficulty for all the exams.
No negative marking is applied, therefore, make sure you have answered all the question to the best of your knowledge.
At the end, click the ‘’Review all’’ button and peruse through the list to ensure that you have not left any question unanswered.
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