API 570 Eligibility: Who Can Apply, and What Piping Experience Counts
API 570 eligibility: the education and in-service piping experience API requires, the 10-year and inspection agency rules, and common application mistakes.
Written by Nilanjan SenReviewed by Deepak Rawtal
Published 19 Oct 2026Reviewed 16 Oct 20263 min read
To sit API 570 you need a mix of education and documented experience with in-service piping systems. There is no certification that qualifies you directly. Here is what API asks for (checked against API's own pages on 16 October 2026), and how to present your experience so the application goes through first time.
Short answer: an engineering or technology degree plus 1 year of piping inspection experience. With a 2-year diploma it is 2 years, with a high school diploma 3 years, and with no formal education 5 years or more. Experience must be from the last 10 years, with an authorised inspection agency.
The requirements
| Your education | Experience needed | What the experience must cover |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or technology, or 3+ years of technical military service | 1 year | Supervising or performing inspection activities as described in API 570 |
| 2-year degree or certificate in engineering or technology, or 2 years of technical military service | 2 years | Design, construction, repair, operation or inspection of in-service piping systems, of which 1 year in supervising or performing inspection |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3 years | As above |
| No formal education | 5 years or more | As above |
Two conditions apply to every row. The experience must be from the last 10 years, and gained while employed by, or under contract with, an authorised inspection agency. API verifies the experience you document on the application. Military service does not count after a dishonourable discharge.
What piping experience looks like on paper
API 570 is about piping that is already in service, so the strongest experience is inspection of operating systems: thickness monitoring at CMLs, circuit inspection, injection points and dead legs, buried piping, and inspection of repairs and alterations. Construction-only work is accepted in the non-degree rows, but at least one year must be in supervising or performing inspection.
Pressure vessel and tank experience does not count. API treats 510, 570 and 653 as separate certifications, each with its own equipment-matched experience.
Common mistakes
- Experience older than 10 years listed as if it counts.
- Job titles without detail. Describe the piping work, not just the role.
- No inspection year in a non-degree application.
- Applying late. The deadline is about two months before the window; see API 570 exam fees and dates.
What API 570 leads to
API 570 does not automatically qualify you for another API exam, though a current API 570 is a qualifying route for API 577. Many piping inspectors take API 571 next. For how the equipment certifications compare, read API 510 vs API 570 vs API 653.
Keeping it after you pass
The certificate is valid for 3 years. To renew, API asks for three things:
- Work: at least 20% of your time over the last three years spent performing or supervising in-service piping inspection. If you have not been doing that work, you sit the full exam again.
- Continuing professional development: 24 CPD hours in each 3-year cycle.
- A web quiz every 6 years: 25 open-book questions, with four hours to complete it.
You can apply up to 90 days before expiry, with a 90-day grace period after it. Late fees apply after the expiry date.
Next step
Plan your preparation with our API 570 study plan. Exam details and sample questions are in our API 570 certification guide.
