The API 510 Body of Knowledge, explained section by section

The five sections

• I. Thickness measurements, inspection intervals and vessel integrity: the calculations. Corrosion rates, remaining life, intervals, minimum thickness, pressure and static head.
• II. Welding procedure and qualification evaluation: reviewing procedure specifications and qualification records against ASME Section IX, with API RP 577 for welding inspection practice. Our WPS and PQR review guide sets out the section's limits and a step order, with an invented worked review.
• III. Nondestructive examination: the examination methods and acceptance requirements, drawing on ASME Section V, Section VIII Division 1 and API 510.
• IV. Practical knowledge, general: inspection planning, repairs and alterations, rerating and pressure testing under API 510.
• V. Practical knowledge, specific: the damage mechanisms listed from API RP 571 and the inspection practices in RP 572, RP 576 and RP 578, plus the listed PCC-2 repair articles. The damage mechanisms guide lists the 15 RP 571 paragraphs on the current sheet, with where each tends to show and how it is commonly found, and the damage mechanism quiz drills naming each one from its service conditions.

API doesn't publish weights for these sections. For practice setting up the exam's calculations, see the API 510 calculations guide.

How to prepare

• Take the free 10-question check and start with whichever of section I or section V scores lowest. Those are the two broadest sections.
• Build a one-page method sheet for each calculation type and practice with fresh numbers until you don't need the sheet. For minimum thickness and MAWP, the MAWP and thickness calculator lets you check your working. For hydrostatic and pneumatic test pressure, the hydrotest pressure calculator does the same.
• Practice open-book lookups in the sections on the effectivity sheet, because those are the ones on screen on exam day.
• The BOK names the corrosion rate, remaining life and interval methods as possibly closed-book, so learn them without the book. Our closed-book guide shows how to turn each BOK line into a recall prompt.
• Apply before the window's deadline. An application is valid for 6 months from your first requested exam date.

For the hands-on side of sections IV and V (practical knowledge), our pressure vessel inspection checklist walks external, internal and on-stream inspection with the records to pull and where damage tends to form.

Find your weak sections in minutes

The free 10-question check is spread across the Body of Knowledge, needs no signup and explains every answer as you go. You finish knowing which section to open first. The Long Seam course then gives you a lesson for each domain, timed practice exams and a study plan built from your exam date.