API 570 exam guide: format, sections, fees and windows

The exam at a glance

• Questions: 170 in total. 140 are scored and 30 are pretest questions that you can't pick out.
• Parts: 110 closed-book questions, then 60 open-book questions, 390 minutes of testing in all.
• Closed book: no papers, notes or books. You get a calculator, scratch paper and a pencil.
• Open book: PDFs of the publications on the Publications Effectivity Sheet appear on screen, and only the listed sections can be used.
• Where: in person at designated test centers. API 570 is not offered remotely.
• Result: reported as a scaled score, with 400 on a 200 to 500 scale needed to pass. Unanswered questions count as incorrect.

The five sections

• I. Calculations: thickness measurements, inspection intervals and piping integrity. Corrosion rates, remaining life and minimum thickness, which you can check with the pipe minimum thickness calculator and the piping hydrotest pressure calculator.
• II. Welding procedure and qualification evaluation: reviewing procedures and qualification records against ASME Section IX and the piping code, with RP 577 for welding inspection practice.
• III. Nondestructive examination: examination methods and acceptance requirements under ASME Section V, the piping code and API 570.
• IV. Practical knowledge, general: inspection planning, repairs, alterations and rerating of in-service piping.
• V. Practical knowledge, specific: the listed damage mechanisms from RP 571 and the inspection practices in RP 574, RP 576 and RP 578, plus the listed PCC-2 repair articles.

API publishes topics, not percentage weights, so prepare all five. Section I is the one most candidates find hardest to do fast, and it is worth practicing without a book, because the corrosion rate, remaining life and interval methods may be closed-book.

Fees, windows and eligibility

• Fees: API's 2027 fee table lists an initial exam fee of $890 for API members and $1,140 for non-members, and its 2026 table lists $875 and $1,125. A late application adds $200 and moving to a new window costs $350. To total your own fee, retakes, books and travel, use the API exam cost calculator.
• Next windows: 29 January to 19 February 2027 (apply by 26 November 2026), then 4 to 25 June 2027 (apply by 1 April 2027) and 8 to 29 October 2027 (apply by 5 August 2027). The June 2027 study plan and the API study plan builder work back from these dates.
• Eligibility: experience within the last 10 years with an authorized inspection agency. The years needed depend on your education, from 1 year with a bachelor's degree in engineering or technology to 5 or more years with no formal education. Every route and the application steps are in our API 570 certification guide.
• Staying certified: every 3 years, with at least 20% of your time on piping inspection and 24 hours of professional development, plus a 25-question open-book web quiz every 6 years. The API 510 recertification check covers the same quiz format for vessel inspectors, and the API 510 exam guide is the vessel twin of this page.

Fees and windows change, so confirm them on API's schedule and fees page before you apply. Every 2026 and 2027 window, the reschedule charges and the six-month application rule are in our API 570 exam schedule and fees guide.

How to prepare

• Take the free check and start with whichever section scores lowest, then drill terms and definitions with the free API 570 flashcards.
• Build a one-page method sheet for each calculation type and practice with fresh numbers until you don't need it.
• Practice open-book lookups only in the sections on your window's effectivity sheet.
• Compare the three API inspector exams in API 510 vs 570 vs 653 if you are choosing which to sit first.
• See three worked samples and the exam setup in the API 570 practice test guide.
• Weigh price, access, renewal and refund rules in API 570 prep options side by side.

Find your weak sections in minutes

The free 10-question check covers the five sections, 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 section, timed practice exams and a study plan built from your exam date.

FAQ

How many questions are on the API 570 exam?

170 questions in 390 minutes of testing: 110 closed-book, then 60 open-book. 140 are scored and 30 are pretest questions you can't pick out, so treat every one as if it counts.

Is the API 570 exam open book?

Partly. The first 110 questions are closed-book, with only a calculator, scratch paper and a pencil. For the last 60, PDFs of the publications on the Publications Effectivity Sheet appear on screen, and only the listed sections can be used.

What score do you need to pass API 570?

A scaled score of 400 on a 200 to 500 scale. Unanswered questions count as incorrect, so leave no blanks.

Can you take the API 570 exam online?

No. API 570 is offered in person only, at designated test centers. The next window is 29 January to 19 February 2027, and you apply by 26 November 2026.