API-570 Exam Information and Outline
Certified API 570 Piping inspectors
API-570 Exam Syllabus & Study Guide
Before you start practicing with our exam simulator, it is essential to understand the official API-570 exam objectives. This course outline serves as your roadmap, breaking down exactly which technical domains and skills will be tested. By reviewing the syllabus, you can identify your strengths and focus your study time on the areas where you need the most improvement.
The information below reflects the latest 2026 course contents as defined by API. We provide this detailed breakdown to help you align your preparation with the actual exam format, ensuring there are no surprises on test day. Use this outline as a checklist to track your progress as you move through our practice question banks.
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
Calculations for Evaluating Thickness Measurements, Inspection Intervals, and Piping Integrity
- Corrosion Rates and Remaining Life
- Calculate average corrosion rate using initial and subsequent thickness readings (API 570, 7.1.2).
- Calculate short-term and long-term corrosion rates when multiple measurements exist.
- Determine remaining life based on current thickness, minimum required thickness, and corrosion rate (API 570, 7.2).
- Apply rules for corroded areas and local thin areas.
- Inspection Intervals
- Determine external visual inspection intervals and thickness measurement intervals for Class 1, 2, and 3 piping (API 570, 6.3.3 & Table 1).
- Understand factors influencing interval adjustments (e.g., corrosion rate trends, RBI if applicable).
- Set next inspection date based on remaining life and safety factors.
- Weld Joint Quality Factors (Ej) and Casting Quality Factors (Ec)
- Select weld joint quality factor Ej from ASME B31.3 Table A-1B for different weld types and joint efficiencies.
- Select casting quality factor Ec from ASME B31.3 Table A-1A.
- Increase joint quality factors (up to 1.0) by performing supplemental NDE as per ASME B31.3 Table 302.3.4 (e.g., 100% RT for seamless to welded transitions).
- Internal Pressure / Minimum Thickness Calculations
- Calculate pressure design thickness (minimum required thickness) for straight pipe under internal pressure (ASME B31.3, 304.1.1 and 304.1.2 formulas).
- Determine minimum thickness for permanent blanks (blanks, spectacle blinds) (ASME B31.3, 304.5.3).
- Calculate MAWP of corroded piping, including future corrosion allowance (API 570, 7.5).
- Adjust calculations for corrosion allowance addition/subtraction and mill tolerance.
- Pressure Testing Requirements
- Calculate hydrostatic leak test pressure (ASME B31.3, 345.4).
- Calculate pneumatic leak test pressure (ASME B31.3, 345.5).
- Understand test medium considerations, safety precautions, and acceptance criteria.
Welding and Brazing
- General Welding Requirements
- Understand ASME B31.3 Chapter V rules for welded joints, sizes, restrictions, reinforcement, preheating, PWHT, and inspection.
- Apply API 570 welding rules (which take precedence over B31.3 in conflicts for in-service work).
- Welding Processes, Inspection, and Metallurgy
- Identify common welding processes, advantages/disadvantages, and typical defects (API RP 577 – full coverage).
- Understand weld imperfection acceptance criteria and repair welding.
- Qualification Requirements
- Differentiate essential, nonessential, and supplementary essential variables for WPS/PQR (ASME Section IX).
- Review and qualify Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), Procedure Qualification Records (PQR), and Welder Performance Qualifications (WPQ/Welder Qualification).
- Understand welder continuity, retesting, and performance essential variables.
Nondestructive Examination (NDE)
- NDE Methods and Procedures
- Understand requirements and techniques for RT, UT, MT, PT, VT, and other methods (ASME BPVC Section V – Articles 1–10, mandatory appendices).
- Know personnel qualification and certification (ASNT SNT-TC-1A or equivalent referenced).
- Interpret NDE results, acceptance criteria, and documentation.
- Application to Piping
- Select appropriate NDE for weld joints, thickness measurements, and defect detection in in-service piping.
Inspection, Examination, and Pressure Testing Practices
- API 570 Core Rules
- Inspection types (external visual, thickness measurement, injection points, deadlegs, auxiliary piping).
- Frequency and extent of inspections (Class 1/2/3 piping).
- Data evaluation, recordkeeping, and CML (Condition Monitoring Location)/TML management.
- Repair, alteration, and rerating procedures (including authorization, documentation, and pressure testing after repairs).
- Piping System Components
- Inspection practices for pipe, valves, fittings, flanges, supports, and special components (API RP 574 – full coverage).
- Identify common degradation modes and inspection techniques for each component.
- Pressure-Relieving Devices
- Inspection, testing, and repair of PRDs (pressure relief valves, rupture disks) (API RP 576 – full coverage).
Material Verification Program
- PMI and Material Control
- Apply PMI techniques, extent, and acceptance criteria for new and existing assets (API RP 578 – full coverage).
- Understand alloy verification, positive material identification methods, and documentation.
Damage Mechanisms (from API RP 571 – specific mechanisms only)
- Common Mechanisms in Piping
- General/localized corrosion (atmospheric, galvanic, soil, microbiologically influenced – MIC).
- Corrosion under insulation (CUI), pitting, crevice corrosion.
- Erosion/erosion-corrosion.
- High-temperature mechanisms: sulfidation, high-temperature hydrogen attack (HTHA), carburization.
- Cracking mechanisms: chloride SCC, caustic cracking/embrittlement, amine cracking, sulfide stress cracking (SSC).
- Other: dew-point corrosion, boiler water/condensate corrosion, oxygen pitting, vibration-induced fatigue, mechanical fatigue.
- Critical Factors and Appearance
- Identify susceptible materials, environments, temperature/pressure ranges, and mitigation strategies for each mechanism.
Additional Supporting Topics
- Flanges and Bolting
- Flange ratings, dimensions, facing, and assembly practices (ASME B16.5).
- Repair Methods
- Post-construction repair techniques (ASME PCC-2 – relevant articles for piping repairs, e.g., welded sleeves, composite wraps).
- General Concepts
- Key terms: MAWP, CML/TML, injection point circuit, deadleg, rerating, alteration vs. repair, fitness-for-service basics.
- Buried piping inspection considerations.
- Overall application of codes to real-world in-service scenarios.