Study the body of knowledge given to you on the certification section of the API website. The more you study and learn the easier the test will be simple as that. Prior experience with piping and pressure vessels will help you. FWIW between the AWS CWI and API 510/570 tests I'd say the API tests are more difficult but thats me. Ive seen 20-30 year refinery inspectors fail the API tests where I missed only 13 questions the first go around. Do I know more than they do? Probably not. Maybe i'm just better at taking tests who knows. This is why YOU determine how hard a test is. Drink, hang with the friends, watch the game, don't study and you'll most likely fail. Throw yourself into 110% and you'll most likely pass, its up to you.
I have seen on the internet a prep school for API 510 and 570.It is called code west located west of
Houston Texas.I know on the internet NDT.ORG and INSPECTIONJOBS.COM they are always looking for
API 510 and API 570 inspectors[some jobs 40 to 45 dollars an hour plus per diem].
DON KUMPUNEN
I hear Codewest is pricey. I've seen guys take that course and fail for the same reasons I posted above. Some self study and pass with flying colors. Again its what you put into it and how bad you want it. API forecasts a min. of $50/hr for API inspectors in 2008-2010 according to info from the API inspector summit.
Let me throw a kink in the subject. If you've Navy QA specialist experience, you may want to investigate comercial nuclear QA contracting.
If you are a ship fitter and are versed in the fitting and welding of heavy plate, I would like to recommend API 653. If you look at the number of certified people on the API web site, you will see the 653's are the smallest of the AI groups. If most of your experience is in the steam piping and containment side of the ship then the 570/510 would be the way to go. What ever you do if you want to inspect in this industry, get the CWI to go along with it. Good Luck
BABRT's
I absolutely agree. Nukies are making a come back and the old f*rts who did it the last time around are mostly retired or the few that are still left out there will be coming back as mega $$$$ contractor's... this highlights the general shortage of skilled and knowledgable trades and technical people in our country and around the world... can you say "third world...?"
i agree with rander, the api tests were harder for me than the cwi or icbo. to me it was closer to the cwi. being familiar with the layout of the codes helps a lot. it's not so much that you need to know what the code say as much as where to find it quickly.
Worked with a fellow at Browns Ferry U1 restart, the man was 87 and still kicking it. For that matter, the QA/QC department as a whole looked like an ad for AARP. Something companies should start keeping in mind; those guys may have been able to keep going then, but sooner or later they are going to have to train some new ones. It's a fools errand not to pair that young inspector with one of the seasoned ones while they still can.
"It's a fools errand not to pair that young inspector with one of the seasoned ones while they still can."-quote
AMEN!!!!!!
Absolutely!!! By the way, this "old, seasoned, AARP ad looking inspector" still hasn't committed to any new assignments yet, with my present employment ending November 30th, so anyone knowing of a good company looking for one of the "seasoned ones" please let me know! ;-)
Don,
Basically "Rander" hit the nail on the head as you will get out of it what you put into it. Based on your location, I could consider checking with Tech Weld here in Pascagoula as they provide the training you need to get through the examination. Send me some contact information and I'll see what I can do as I live local to you!
David
To me, API 510 was easy to pass than SCWI or 653. Rander is correct "study the Body of knowledge". Many said API 570 is the easiest compare to 510 & 653. Hope to get it in near future.
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