Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Click on one of the FAQs below for more information:

1. What is the CASTI Learning Advantage?

The CASTI API 510 and 570 Exam Preparation courses have recently become the first CASTI Learning Advantage (CLA) hybrid courses. To better enhance your exam preparation experience, the CLA program now features:

What is a hybrid course?

A hybrid course combines the best features of in-classroom instructor-led teaching and online learning to promote active student learning. Hybrid courses meet the demands of your busy schedule and the industry's need for qualified workers.

CASTI is setting a new benchmark in the transfer of engineering information by teaching with technology. CLA training courses offer cognitive learning to provide the means of knowledge, understanding, and application that go well beyond the simple imitation of others.

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2. What are CASTI's exam preparation courses?

CASTI offers three courses to help candidates prepare for the API 510, 570, 571, 580, and 653 examinations. We have been providing codes and standards training since 1982 and our knowledgeable, experienced instructors can guide you through preparation for your API 510, 570, 571, 580, or 653 examination. Many exam candidates have questions about the API examinations. Our exam preparation courses can help answer questions such as:

CASTI's exam preparation courses also offer practice examinations and problem solving workshops to help ready candidates for the API examination.

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3. Is there any advance study material?

Pre-classroom online study is offered exclusively with CASTI's API 510 and API 570 Exam Preparation courses. These training courses are a part of the CASTI Learning Advantage (CLA) and includes the following online study components:

Pre-classroom online study is an integral part of this training course. Exam candidates must be prepared to complete all elements of this training course in order to maximize the chances for successfully passing the examination.

Exam candidates will be provided with online study modules. Completion of these online modules is critical to successful exam preparation. Approximately 4 weeks prior to the course start date, the online study modules are made available to individuals registered for this CASTI exam preparation course. All exam candidates are encouraged to register early and allow sufficient time to complete these online study modules.

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4. How early should I register?

Seating is limited for our popular Exam Preparation classes. It is recommended that you register as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

The pre-classroom online modules are available 4 weeks prior to the course start date. You must be registered in order to access the modules and the modules must be completed prior to attending the classroom-training program.

The amount of time needed to complete the modules is highly dependant on the registrant's experience and foundation of knowledge. CASTI recommends that you allocate at least 40 hours to complete all of the modules.

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5. I want to write an API Exam. Do I need to register with CASTI and API separately?

YES! To write an API examination you must register with API directly. CASTI courses are a completely separate entity from the API examination. CASTI courses are designed to help candidates prepare to write the API examinations. However, registering in the CASTI course does not signify registration to write an API examination.

Register with CASTI to attend an exam preparation course:

Register with API to write an API examination:

API has very strict deadlines for exam writing applications. See FAQ #20 for application deadlines for the various API examinations. The API exam application package is 15 pages long and will take some time to complete. It is to your advantage to review the application package well before the API deadline date.

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6. Where can I find information on API 510 Inspector certification?

Information on the API 510 Certification Program can be found on the API website. Click here to go directly to the API 510 Certification page on the API website where you will be able to download the qualification requirements, body of knowledge, publications effectivity sheet and other valuable information.

Additional information can be found in Appendix B of API Standard 510. Click here to view Appendix B of API Standard 510 in Adobe PDF file format.

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7. Where can I find information on API 570 Inspector certification?

Information on the API 570 Certification Program can be found on the API website. Click here to go directly to the API 570 Certification page on the API website where you will be able to download the qualification requirements, body of knowledge, publications effectivity sheet and other valuable information.

Additional information can be found in Appendix A of API Standard 570. Click here to view Appendix A of API Standard 570 in Adobe PDF file format.

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8. Where can I find information on API RP 571 Inspector certification?

Information on the API RP 571 Certification Program can be found on the API website. Click here to go directly to the API RP 571 Certification page on the API website where you will be able to download the qualification requirements, body of knowledge, publications effectivity sheet and other valuable information.

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9. Where can I find information on API RP 580 Inspector certification?

Information on the API RP 580 Certification Program can be found on the API website. Click here to go directly to the API RP 580 Certification page on the API website where you will be able to download the qualification requirements, body of knowledge, publications effectivity sheet and other valuable information.

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10. Where can I find information on API 653 Inspector certification?

Information on the API 653 Certification Program can be found on the API website. Click here to go directly to the API 653 Certification page on the API website where you will be able to download the qualification requirements, body of knowledge, publications effectivity sheet and other valuable information.

Additional information can be found in Appendix D of API Standard 653. Click here to view Appendix D of API Standard 653 in Adobe PDF file format.

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11. Who can notarize the Employment Reference Form (ERF) on my API Exam Application?

You are required to submit documentation of employment history as part of the API ICP exam application. API requires that all paperwork documenting work experience MUST be original documents. Photocopied, scanned, or faxed documents will not be accepted by API. For Canadian applicants, a Commissioner of Oaths may sign the Employment Reference Form (ERF) in lieu of the notary, but API requires proof of the Commissioner's license. Refer to your API ICP exam application for more information or contact API directly (see FAQ #22).

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12. Can I register for a CASTI course by telephone and reserve my place at the course?

No, seating at CASTI courses is held on a first paid, first reserved basis. Your registration is not complete until CASTI has received your online registration and payment for the course. (If you plan to pay for the CASTI course fee with a Purchase Order you will need to register earlier than if you pay with a check or credit card. Check with your accounting department and be sure to accomodate your company's Purchase Order processing time. A purchase order is not a payment; it is a bookkeeping tool for the company issuing the purchase order.)

All training course registrations must be completed online. CASTI cannot take training course registrations by telephone.

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13. What is the cost of a CASTI course?

CASTI offers three different API exam preparation courses as described below:

Course
Length
Cost
API 510 Exam Preparation
Distance Learning + 6 Days Classroom Training
$1,995 + GST
API 570 Exam Preparation
Distance Learning + 6 Days Classroom Training
$1,995 + GST
API 653 Exam Preparation
Distance Learning + 6 Days Classroom Training
$1,995 + GST

Please note that there are additional costs associated with the API certification process as listed below.  CASTI is not involved with the transaction of these additional costs.  (The information listed below is purely for the convenience of CASTI course registrants.)

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14. When and where are CASTI courses held?

API 510 and API 570 exam preparation courses are scheduled by CASTI twice per year in May and October. Please check the course listings on the CASTI website for the date of the course you wish to attend.

CASTI holds API exam preparation courses in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. Courses will be held at one of the following locations. Please check the course listings on the CASTI website for the location of the course you wish to attend.

If you are registered for a CASTI course be sure to request the CASTI room rate when making your hotel reservation.

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15. What documents do I need?

API publishes "Effectivity Sheets" for each examination.  These "Effectivity Sheets" list the documents that are needed to write each particular API exam.  It is your responsibility to make sure you have the correct documents, as required by API, for the particular exam session you are writing.  For the convenience of CASTI course registrants we offer the following information as specified in the API Effectivity Sheets:

API's response is that the exam questions are based on the edition of code that is listed on the API Effectivity Sheet. Candidates may use other document editions, however, they run the risk of having Code revisions that may cause them to make errors in answering examination questions. Under no circumstances will photocopies of Code documents be allowed in the examination.

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16. Does the cost of the CASTI course include documents?

No, if you do not have the required documents you must purchased them separately. Please be sure you have the specific editions of these documents that are required for the examination that you are writting. This information is listed in the API Effectivity Sheets in FAQ #15. The editions required for the examination are not necessarily the newest editions.

See FAQ #15 for list of required documents. See FAQ #17 for purchase information.

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17. Where can I purchase the documents?

CASTI offers exam document packages to CASTI course registrants at a special discounted package price. CASTI is only licenced to sell the specific documents required for each exam and only to individuals who are registered in our exam preparation courses. You may purchase the exam document packages online at the CASTI website. Please note that only the specific documents required for each exam are supplied by CASTI in the document packages.

See FAQ #12 for list of required documents.

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18. Can I earn CEUs or PDHs?

YES! Completing the pre-classroom modules and attending all of the classroom training will award you a possible 13 CEUs. 1 CEU = 10 APEGGA PDHs.

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19. What time does the class start?

CASTI classes begin at 8 a.m. each day for the duration of the scheduled course dates.

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20. When do I write the exam?

API Program
API Exam Date
API Application Deadline
API 510
June 6, 2012
Mar. 21, 2012
API 570
June 6, 2012
Mar. 21, 2012
API 653
Sep. 26, 2012
Jul. 11, 2012
API 571
Sep. 26, 2012
Jul. 11, 2012
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21. Where can I get more information?

For more information about the API Individual Certification Program please visit these links:

Registration with API to write certification examinations:

22. How do I contact API?

Contact API regarding the Individual Certification Program:

mail:

 American Petroleum Institute
 Individual Certification Programs
 1220 L Street, N.W.
 Washington, DC 20005-4070
 U.S.A.

phone:  202-682-8064

fax:  202-682-8348

e-mail:  inspector@api.org or icp@api.org

website:  www.api.org


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