How to Prepare for API 570: A 12-Week Study Plan
A 12-week API 570 study plan: circuits and CMLs, corrosion rates and intervals, ASME B31.3 calculations, repairs, and timed open-book practice.
Written by Nilanjan SenReviewed by Deepak Rawtal
Published 19 Oct 2026Reviewed 19 Oct 20262 min read
API 570 rewards one idea above all: piping corrodes differently from point to point. Two monitoring locations on the same circuit can show very different rates, and the exam tests whether you know which reading governs the next inspection. This plan builds that, along with the B31.3 calculations and open-book speed.
Short answer: start with API 570 itself, then spend real time on circuits, CMLs, corrosion rates and inspection intervals. Learn the B31.3 thickness calculation and where it lives, and finish with full timed mocks on PDFs.
The documents
For the February and June 2027 windows, API's effectivity sheet lists the same publications as 2026: API 570, RP 574, listed RP 571 mechanisms, selected sections of RP 576, RP 577 and RP 578, ASME Sections V and IX, B16.5, B31.3 and listed articles of PCC-2. See the 2027 codebook changes for editions.
A 12-week plan
Weeks 1 and 2: API 570 itself
Definitions, responsibilities and the structure of the code. The closed-book part leans on it heavily.
Weeks 3 and 4: circuits, CMLs and corrosion rates
How circuits are defined, where CMLs go, injection points and dead legs, and how short-term and long-term rates are calculated. Work through corrosion rate and remaining life examples until they are routine.
Week 5: piping classes and inspection intervals
How the class sets the interval, and how remaining life limits it.
Weeks 6 and 7: ASME B31.3 and B16.5
Pressure design thickness, minimum required thickness, and flange ratings. Learn where the tables are; you will be finding them on screen.
Week 8: repairs, alterations and rerating
What API 570 allows, who approves it, welding requirements, and the PCC-2 repair articles listed.
Week 9: inspection practices and damage mechanisms
RP 574, buried piping, and the listed RP 571 mechanisms.
Week 10: testing, welding, NDE and material verification
Pressure testing, the welding and NDE content from RP 577 and ASME V and IX, and positive material identification under RP 578.
Weeks 11 and 12: timed practice
Full mocks under exam timing: 110 closed-book in 2 hours 45 minutes, then 60 open-book in 3 hours 45 minutes. Read API exam day, step by step before the real thing.
Habits that help
- Ask "which reading governs?" on every interval question.
- Practise on PDFs, not tabbed paper copies.
- Log mistakes by document, so you know where to spend your last two weeks.
Before you start
Check your eligibility and the windows and deadlines, then count back 12 weeks. Exam details and sample questions are in our API 570 certification guide.
