What are you expected to know for the exam?
The only reference document for API 580 Risk based Inspection (RBI) Exam is API RP 580, currently at 4th Edition (2023).
The title of API 580 is “Elements of a Risk-Based Inspection Program” so it is all about how to develop an RBI Inspection Program.
API 580 further elaborates what constitutes an RBI program (API 580 – 1.2 Purpose):
a) Risk-based inspection analysis methods; (what method used, qualitative, quantitative, semi quantitative)
Note: If you are using an RBI app, remember that each app has its own logic models, therefore, same input in two different app can give two different output).
b) Planning the RBI program; (designing a plan how to develop the program and how to execute it)
c) Roles, responsibilities, training, and qualifications; (who is who; what sort of training needed for team members?).
d) Data and information collection for a risk assessment; (what sort of input data needed and by which team member).
e) Damage mechanisms review; (to determine what sort of failure to expect: small leak, large leak, explosion, fire).
f) Assessing probability of failure (POF); (probability for each failure mode).
g) Assessing consequence of failure (COF);( consequence in terms of lost production, danger to human lives, environmental damage).
h) Risk determination, assessment, and management ;(multiply POF X COF to calculate risk and prioritize; either eliminate risk or mitigate below acceptable limit.)
i) Other risk management activities; (other than inspection such as; process change or design change to mitigate and manage risk).
j) Ever greening and reassessment of the risk assessment; (RBI assessment results are based on the data and knowledge available at the time of the RBI assessment. However, the results of inspections, changes in process conditions, modifications of equipment, implementation of maintenance practices, and mitigation strategies can all have significant effects on risk, and therefore the inspection plan).
k) RBI documentation and recordkeeping (what was the input data and assumptions, what was the logic; on what basis, the RBI program assessment and decisions taken, what was done to eliminate or mitigate risk).
What are the steps for an RBI program?
Identify equipment with highest probability of failure and/or consequence. One off equipment in a plant could be a candidate.
Determine the most probable damage mechanism; most probable associated failure mode and the consequences.
Develop a risk based inspection plan as part of management plan. This is called risk-prioritized inspection, risk-informed inspection, inspection planning using risk-based methods.
Note: Risk based inspection plan does not directly reduce risk but identifies the issues, therefore, laying the foundation stone to tackle them (either eliminate, else find ways to bring such risks within those acceptable limits that are set by the owner/operator).
Before diving it into this document, let’s examine some facts:
- API 580 is specifically targeted to the application of RBI in the hydrocarbon and chemical process industries. (Potential Exam Question).
- API RP 580 is a frame work of what elements to address when developing and RBI program.
- API 580 is also designed to provide a framework that specifies the minimum requirements and expectations needed for a risk assessment.
- API 580 is intended to promote consistency of the process and quality in the identification, assessment, and management of risks.
- Risk is defined as loss of containment (lead, rupture, explosion).
- RBI program will allow the owner-operator to integrate risk assessment and inspection planning.
- API 580 is only 87 pages long, has 16 Chapters, with 8 figures and 8 tables. Treat it as bible of RBI.
- RBI is not exclusively an inspection activity. It requires the involvement of engineering, maintenance, and operations.
- Risk-Based Inspection Methodology is brought in API Recommended Practice 581.
- API 580 tell you what need to be done (the elements) to develop an RBI Program. To understand how it should be done, refer to RBI methodology; API 581.
- API RP 580 is a recommended practice and hence not mandatory but RBI assessment has been recognized by all the 3 core codes to be used in lieu of calculated inspection interval (API 510 Inspection code for pressure vessel, API 570 Inspection code for piping & API 653 Inspection Standard for storage tank).
- API 580 exam is about verifying whether you have understood the basic concepts and therefore lot of question may come from scope and vocabulary (terms and definitions).
API 580 Content
Let’s have a look at API RP 580 table of content to see how it is structured and also give you examples of potential exam questions:
Chapter 1 talks about the Scope mostly covered above.
Chapter 2 References API 510, 570 & 571 only although there is a bibliography at the end with comprehensive list of codes and RPs.
Chapter 3 is about Terms and 68 Definitions (Study this carefully for exam, lots of questions about basic concepts and definitions).
Chapter 4 is about Risk Assessment Concepts. Defines risk and explains Risk Management and Risk Reduction; absolute vs. relative risk (potential exam question).
Chapter 5 talks about introduction to RBI. It is one of the longest chapters with figures and tables. Expect quite a few questions.
Chapter 6 is about Planning the RBI Program with a comprehensive list of questions to address. It is as important as Chapter 5. Try visualizing the list of to dos and questions within the context of a scenario. It is a good exercise to understand the concept behind the list.
Chapter 7 is about Roles, Responsibilities, Training, and Qualifications. Expect 2-3 questions.
Chapter 8 talks about the types of available input Data for RBI Assessment. Expect 3-4 questions, one from data quality and verification.
Chapter 9 talks about Damage Mechanism leading to failure modes. Expect 2-3 questions.
Chapter 10 talks about Probability of Failure (POF). Pay special attention to tables and determination of POF. Expect 3-4 questions.
Chapter 11 talks about Consequence of Failure (COF). It has 6 tables and 1 Figure. Expect 4-5 Questions.
Chapter 12 talks about Risk Determination, Assessment, and Management. Risk Matrix and Risk plot figures are particularly important. Expect 4-5 Questions.
Chapter 13 talks about Risk Management with Inspection Activities. Expect 3-4 Questions.
Chapter 14 talks about Other Risk Management Methods. Expect 3-4 Questions.
Chapter 15 talks about Updating the RBI Assessment (ever greening). Expect 2-3 Questions.
Chapter 16 talks about RBI Documentation and Recordkeeping. Expect 3-4 Questions.
Bibliography lists some 48 documents. Expect 1-2 Questions specially from the first 20 documents.
General Notes:
- If you hold a current API 510, 570 or 653 certification, you automatically qualify to take the API 580 Risk Based Inspection certification exam otherwise you need a BS degree with one year experience or 2 year degree with 2 years’ experience or high school diploma with 3 years’ experience. Any petrochemical industry experience acquired within the last 10 years is acceptable.
Initial exam and certification cost 440 $ and re-examination / rescheduling cost 200$. API 580 certification is valid for a three-year term and recertification cost 320 $.
The API 580 exam is 3.25 hours long.
There are 90 questions, of which only 80 are scored. The remaining 10 are pre-test, which are not scored.
Paper and reference materials are not allowed in the exams. It is a closed book exam.
You can opt for remote proctoring while registering for exam. This means you can attend the exam online from the comfort of your home or office rather that in-person at a Prometric test Center.
The exam windows for 2026 are: April 10 – May 1, 2026; August 7 – 28, 2026 and December 4 – 25, 2026. Application Deadlines are 9 weeks before the exam window. For example, for exam window April 10 – May 1, 2026; your application should have been received and approved by February 6, 2026.
Typical score card showing areas you would be questioned against
