Certification Process

• Get A Quote from API or contact us at quote@api.org. API will send a quotation and an application package.
• Organizations applying for licensing under the API Monogram Program must develop and maintain a quality manual that describes their quality management system and how it conforms to the requirements of API Spec Q1. Organizations participating in the API Monogram Program must also demonstrate continued ability to meet the technical requirements identified in the applicable API product specification(s).
• Organizations applying only for ISO 9001 Registration must have quality manuals and quality management systems that conform with the ISO 9001 standard.  Companies applying for API Spec Q1 Registration or ISO/TS 29001 Registration must have quality manuals and quality management systems in conformance with API Spec Q1.
• Companies applying  for ISO 14001 Registration are not required to develop or maintain a manual but must have environmental management systems that conform with the ISO 14001 standard.
• Companies applying for OHSAS 18001 Registration are not required to develop or maintain a manual but must have OHS management systems that conform with the OHSAS 18001 standard.
• Prior to submitting an application to API, organizations must have had a quality management system in place for at least four months. This includes performing and documenting an internal audit and management review in accordance with the applicable standard.
• Submit the completed application forms, application fee, and the quality manual (if applicable). The quality manual must be written in English.
• API will review the application forms and the quality manual (if applicable) for conformance with program requirements and applicability of desired scope of certification. Should application forms be incomplete, and/or should the quality manual be out of conformance with requirements, API will provide comments.
• For those applying for an API Monogram license, once the application package and quality manual are accepted, API will schedule an on-site audit. Audits include verifying the organization’s conformance with API Spec Q1 and any applicable API product specification. The audit costs are at the organization's expense.
• For those applying for registration under API Spec Q1, ISO 9001, ISO/TS 29001, ISO 14001 or OHSAS 18001, once the application package and quality manual are accepted, API will schedule a Stage 1 audit. The audit costs are at the organization's expense.
• Stage 1 audits are generally performed offsite and require the organization to provide the auditor with documents for review. These documents may include procedures, control features, internal audit reports, management review records, staff responsibilities and facility layout. If needed, parts of the Stage 1 audit may be carried-out at the organization’s premises.
• Once the Stage 1 audit has been successfully completed, API and the assigned auditor will schedule a Stage 2 audit. The audit costs are at the organization’s expense.
• Stage 2 audits are performed on-site and include verifying the organization’s conformance with API Spec Q1, ISO 9001, ISO/TS 29001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. 
• API will make the certification decision on the basis of an evaluation of the audit findings and conclusions, and evidence of effective implementation of corrective actions by the organization (if required)*.
• Organizations licensed under the API Monogram Program will have audits scheduled every three years to ensure continued conformance with the applicable program requirements.
• Organizations registered under API Spec Q1, ISO 9001, ISO/TS 29001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 will have a full system audit every year to ensure continued conformance with the applicable program requirements.

Complaints

• API appreciates customer feedbacks, including complaints. We consider complaints as one way to improve our processes. Complaints against API or its clients may be transmitted to any API employee by letter, email, fax, phone or in person. The API personnel will attempt to resolve the issue upon receipt. In case the complaint would require further investigation, API will initiate its corrective action process to address the complaint.