Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

API’s Individual Certification Programs provide the petroleum and petrochemical industries with a way to evaluate the knowledge and experience of inspectors. These programs improve management control of the operation, repair, and maintenance of process units and tanks; reduce the potential for inspection delays resulting from regulatory requirements; and provide a continued high level of safety through the use of inspectors specialized in a field.

It means that the individual has the ability to work with various code books and standards, including the API standards that cover the inspection, repair, and maintenance of process equipment.

Almost always, providing the examination does take place at your chosen location. Occasionally when we have only 2 or 3 candidates for a particular location, we are forced to cancel it. In that instance you will be contacted by API staff and informed about your options.

API can organize an examination location just about anywhere in the world, providing there is sufficient interest. We are unlikely to hold a test just for one person; however, if there are at least 10 applicants interested we can almost always work it out. Please contact API staff for more information.

Approximately eight weeks after taking the examination you will receive an official Examination Score Report. If you have submitted a complete application and the appropriate certification fee and passed the examination, you will receive a wallet card and certificate from API approximately six weeks after receipt of your score report.

Yes. You may request a site change up to four weeks prior to the examination. If you contact our office by the that time and there is room available at the site you would like to change to, there is no fee. There is a charge of $150 for changes requested less than four weeks prior to the exam date. There is no guarantee that your site can be changed. API reserves the right to deny requests to change examination site. Room sizes are limited and not all requests may be accommodated. Changes must be submitted in writing by mail, fax, or e-mail.

No. Marking on a "curve" means comparing the scores of one candidate to all the other candidates who took the examination and assigning grades or passing status according to a fixed percentage. The implication is that whether an individual passes the examination or not might depend on the ability level (or preparation) of all the other candidates who took the examination. This would not be fair for a credentialing examination.

API uses a statistical method called "equating" to score the examinations. The original passing point of the examination is set by a committee of experts and it represents an absolute standard of knowledge (the minimum amount that a competent inspector should know in order to be certified). Each examination has different questions in it. The equating process then adjusts the passing point of each examination to compensate for differences in the difficulty level of those questions. Thus, the passing point always represents the minimum knowledge required and the absolute knowledge standard is held constant. The test results of candidates only reflect whether they have this minimum amount of knowledge or not. Passing the examination is not affected by any other candidate's performance.

Yes -- however, API does give you a 3-month grace period to prepare and send your application package to us. Be aware that if applying after your expiration date and within this grace period you will be charged a late fee of $150. If you do not file for recertification within three months of the expiration of your certification, you will be decertified. You will then have to take the full examination again and pay a full fee in order to get your certification back.

You have the option of signing up for the next examination or requesting a 50% refund. Requests to take the next examination or to obtain a refund must be submitted in writing by mail or by fax. (For more information please see Refunds.) If you wish to reschedule for the next examination date you must submit a reschedule fee of $150.

To ensure the continuity of your certification, you MUST submit recertification information to API by the expiration date on your wallet card and certificate. The recertification application forms are available online. You may download them, fill them out, and send them with appropriate fee to API via mail.