What Is the Deadline for Passing an API Certification Examination?
API allows candidates 12 consecutive months to successfully pass a certification examination, starting from the first examination window selected on the application. During this 12-month period, you may be eligible to attempt the examination up to four consecutive times, subject to API’s current retesting policies.
If you do not pass the examination within this 12-month period—for example, because you failed the exam, missed a scheduled appointment, did not schedule an examination, or were otherwise unable to complete an attempt—you will generally be required to submit a new application and pay the full application fee to begin the certification process again.
Book Your Exam as Early as Possible
Once you receive your API Examination Authorization Notice, we strongly recommend that you schedule your examination immediately at your preferred Prometric test centre.
Prometric appointments are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Delaying your booking may result in your preferred test centre becoming fully booked, leaving you with fewer options for examination dates or locations.
For example, one of our candidates received an API Examination Authorization Notice several months before the examination window but waited until shortly before the exam window to schedule the appointment. By that time, the nearest Prometric test centre had no remaining availability, and the candidate had to travel to another country to take the examination.
While individual experiences vary, this illustrates why early scheduling is highly recommended.
Planning for Core API Examinations
This is particularly important for the core API certifications—API 510, API 570, and API 653—which are typically full-day examinations and tend to have higher demand. Because these appointments are longer, available seats may fill more quickly than for shorter examinations.
To maximize your chances of securing your preferred examination date and location, book your appointment as soon as you receive your API Examination Authorization Notice rather than waiting until the examination window approaches.
