API 570 Certification
Piping Inspector certification from API for in-service inspection of process piping systems.
About API 570 Certification
API 570 certifies Authorized Piping Inspectors under API’s Individual Certification Program (ICP), qualifying holders to oversee and perform in-service inspection, repair, alteration, and rerating of in-service metallic and fiberglass-reinforced process piping. It is a core requirement at refineries, chemical plants, and other process facilities where piping integrity is directly tied to safety, environmental protection, and mechanical-integrity programs under OSHA PSM. Eligibility follows the same API education-and-experience matrix used across the ICP (more experience required for lower formal education, qualifying time earned within the prior ten years under an authorized program). The examination is a single 7.5-hour sitting combining a closed-book portion (code recall and inspection knowledge) with an open-book portion (applying ASME B31.3 and the API documents to thickness, corrosion-rate, and remaining-life problems). Certification is valid for three years and follows the same ICP recertification model — 24 CPD hours plus a documented minimum of inspection activity per cycle, with a periodic online recertification quiz. API 570 inspectors lean heavily on corrosion-monitoring-location (CML) data, thickness-survey trending, and minimum-required-thickness calculations to set inspection intervals.
Certification Levels
Single level - API 570 Authorized Piping Inspector, certified to apply the full API 570 Piping Inspection Code to in-service systems.
Requirements
- Education-plus-experience matrix per the API ICP (more experience required for less formal education)
- Qualifying piping-inspection experience earned within the previous 10 years under an authorized program
- Pass the 7.5-hour closed-book + open-book ICP examination
- Working knowledge of ASME B31.3 Process Piping, ASME Section V, API 570, API 574, API 571, API 577, and API 579-1/ASME FFS-1
- Recertify every 3 years (CPD hours + minimum inspection activity); periodic online open-book quiz
Exam Topics
Applicable NDT Methods
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What is API 570 Certification (API 570)?
API 570 certifies Authorized Piping Inspectors under API’s Individual Certification Program (ICP), qualifying holders to oversee and perform in-service inspection, repair, alteration, and rerating of in-service metallic and fiberglass-reinforced process piping. It is a core requirement at refineries, chemical plants, and other process facilities where piping integrity is directly tied to safety, environmental protection, and mechanical-integrity programs under OSHA PSM. Eligibility follows the same API education-and-experience matrix used across the ICP (more experience required for lower formal education, qualifying time earned within the prior ten years under an authorized program). The examination is a single 7.5-hour sitting combining a closed-book portion (code recall and inspection knowledge) with an open-book portion (applying ASME B31.3 and the API documents to thickness, corrosion-rate, and remaining-life problems). Certification is valid for three years and follows the same ICP recertification model — 24 CPD hours plus a documented minimum of inspection activity per cycle, with a periodic online recertification quiz. API 570 inspectors lean heavily on corrosion-monitoring-location (CML) data, thickness-survey trending, and minimum-required-thickness calculations to set inspection intervals.
Who issues the API 570 certification?
API 570 is issued and recognised by American Petroleum Institute.
What are the requirements for API 570?
Key requirements include: Education-plus-experience matrix per the API ICP (more experience required for less formal education); Qualifying piping-inspection experience earned within the previous 10 years under an authorized program; Pass the 7.5-hour closed-book + open-book ICP examination; Working knowledge of ASME B31.3 Process Piping, ASME Section V, API 570, API 574, API 571, API 577, and API 579-1/ASME FFS-1; Recertify every 3 years (CPD hours + minimum inspection activity); periodic online open-book quiz.
What does the API 570 exam cover?
Exam topics include: API 570 Piping Inspection Code requirements; ASME B31.3 Process Piping design and allowable-stress basics; Corrosion-monitoring locations (CMLs) and thickness-survey strategy; Corrosion-rate, remaining-life, and minimum-required-thickness calculations; Piping damage mechanisms per API 571; Welding and NDE for piping repairs (API 577, ASME Section V); Repair, alteration, rerating, and temporary-repair rules.
How long is API 570 valid?
API 570 certification is valid for 3 years, after which renewal or recertification is required.
Which NDT methods does API 570 apply to?
API 570 applies to: UT, RT, MT, PT, VT, GWT.
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