What Are the Prerequisites for Taking an API Certification Examination?
Eligibility for API certification is based on a combination of your education, industry experience, and the specific certification you wish to obtain.
For most API certification programs, the required inspection or industry experience must have been gained within the previous 10 years. An exception is API 1169 – Pipeline Construction Inspector, where qualifying experience may generally be claimed over the previous 20 years, subject to API’s eligibility requirements.
Some certifications have additional qualification pathways:
- API SIFE (Source Inspector – Fixed Equipment) and API SIRE (Source Inspector – Rotating Equipment) do not require prior API certification as a prerequisite.
- For several non-core API certifications, holding one of the core API certifications—API 510, API 570, or API 653—may satisfy the experience requirement or provide an alternative eligibility pathway, in accordance with the current API Individual Certification Program (ICP) requirements.
Before submitting your application, we recommend reviewing the API ICP Qualification Requirements to confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria for your chosen certification.
If you are unsure whether you qualify, our free lessons explain the qualification requirements in detail and provide guidance on the application process. If you still have questions, feel free to contact our WhatsApp Technical Support team. We’ll be happy to help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the pre-qualification and registration process.
