API 510 exam windows, fees and the 6-month application rule

Published exam windows and application deadlines

API lists these API 510 dates. The earlier windows remain here for reference; they have already passed as of this page's check date.

• ✓ 2–23 January 2026: apply by 31 October 2025.
• ✓ 8–29 May 2026: apply by 13 March 2026.
• ✓ 4–25 September 2026: apply by 3 July 2026.
• ✓ 2–22 January 2027: apply by 29 October 2026.
• ✓ 7–28 May 2027: apply by 4 March 2027.
• ✓ 3–24 September 2027: apply by 2 July 2027.

These dates are from API's Schedules & Fees. Recheck that page before applying. Do not use the end of the testing window as the application deadline.

Initial exam fees

The same page shows two fee tables, in page order 2026 then 2027 (the tables themselves carry no year label, so confirm on the page before paying):

• ✓ 2026 initial certification: $875 API member; $1,125 non-member.
• ✓ 2027 initial certification: $890 API member; $1,140 non-member.
• ✓ Reschedule application: $350 for either membership category in both years.
• ✓ Late application: $200 for either membership category in both years.

All amounts are in U.S. dollars. Confirm the fee applied to your application before paying, especially when applying in the calendar year before the exam. A listed late fee should not be treated as a promise that a late application will be accepted.

Budget separately for authorized references, preparation, travel and accommodation. Write down which costs your employer will reimburse and whether study time is covered. Keep those amounts separate from API's fee so that you can compare preparation options on the same basis.

What the six-month rule means

✓ Under ICP Policies, a new application remains valid for 6 months from the first exam date requested. It expires regardless of how many exams you schedule or take. If you have not obtained certification within that period and still want it, API requires a new application and the full fee again.

Track that validity period alongside the window deadline and your actual appointment. Do not assume changing a booking restarts it. Keep your authorization and application correspondence together so you can check the dates against API's record.

The policy also says certification waits until application deficiencies are cleared, even after a passing exam result. Plan time to assemble your experience evidence before choosing a window. Passing the examination and completing the application review are separate steps.

Appointment changes and window changes

Prometric appointment charges are separate from API's reschedule-application fee. API's policy lists $35 for changes or cancellations 30–60 calendar days before the appointment, and $70 at 5–29 days. Changes or cancellations are unavailable less than 5 days before the appointment.

API also says you cannot move an already scheduled exam into another testing window through the existing appointment. Another application and additional fees are required. Failing to book during your selected window also requires another application and additional fees. Check your circumstances against the policy before treating any fee as the complete cost of postponement.

Choose a workable study window

The API 510 certification page specifies in-person testing at designated centers. Include travel and work-release arrangements in your plan. A date that fits the application calendar may still be impractical around an outage or shift rotation.

Check the effectivity-sheet guide before changing windows, then use the Body of Knowledge guide to organize preparation. Return to the site overview, or try the API 510 diagnostic to identify topics needing work before you choose an appointment.

Sources

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• ICP Schedules & Fees, 2026 and 2027 schedules and fee panels, American Petroleum Institute. Retrieved 17 Oct 2026.
• ICP Policies: Applications & Exams and Payment Policy, American Petroleum Institute. Retrieved 17 Oct 2026.
• API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector, American Petroleum Institute. Retrieved 17 Oct 2026.