Inspection

API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector Practice Test and Exam Guide

Six complete API 510 practice tests with 1,020 original, blueprint-aligned questions for the September 2026 through May 2027 effectivity window.

Published 6 September 2026 · Last updated 9 September 2026

What does the API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector assessment cover?

The preparation material covers the documented assessment facts listed below. The question bank reinforces those facts without presenting a practice product as an official exam or reproducing assessment content.

• 170 questions: 140 scored and 30 unscored pretest items.
• 110 closed-book questions in 2 hours 45 minutes, then a 45-minute break, then 60 open-book questions in 3 hours 45 minutes.
• Passing is a scaled 400 on a 200-500 scale, not a published percentage.
• The September 4-25, 2026, January 2-22, 2027 and May 7-28, 2027 windows all use the September 2026 effectivity sheet.
• That sheet lists API 510 as 11th Edition with Errata 1 and 2, and the 2025 editions of ASME BPVC Sections V, VIII Division 1 and IX.
• The exam is administered in person at Prometric with on-screen references.

Which domains should you study?

Use these supplied brief-backed domains as the study map. They are coverage areas, not invented percentage predictions.

Domain	Preparation focus
I. Thickness Measurements, Inspection Intervals and Vessel Integrity	Review explanations after related questions and record the specific gap.
II. Welding Procedure and Qualification Evaluation	Review explanations after related questions and record the specific gap.
III. Nondestructive Examination	Review explanations after related questions and record the specific gap.
IV. Practical Knowledge - General	Review explanations after related questions and record the specific gap.
V. Practical Knowledge - Specific	Review explanations after related questions and record the specific gap.

How should you use these practice tests?

Start with the Test 1 sample, then use domain labels and explanations to choose what to review. Retake missed questions after studying the underlying objective, and reserve the final test for timed practice where the brief provides assessment timing.

1. Take the sample without looking up answers.
2. Group misses by domain, not just by score.
3. Review each explanation and the governing study material.
4. Repeat under documented assessment conditions when available.

What is a practical API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector study plan?

1. Phase 1: establish working knowledge of vessel integrity, thickness measurements, inspection intervals, damage mechanisms, NDE, welding evaluation, repairs, alterations and records.
2. Phase 2: rehearse the exact in-scope reference set and practise finding requirements in the on-screen references. Do not train around personal paper books, because the exam supplies references on screen.
3. Phase 3: run closed-book calculation blocks using both US customary and SI units, followed by open-book application blocks. Keep an error log by facet: calculation, code requirement, field decision, diagnosis, acceptance, authorisation and records, or selection under constraint.
4. Phase 4: complete full practice tests with the 2:45 / 0:45 break / 3:45 rhythm and review every explanation, including the ones you answered correctly.

API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector FAQ

Is the API 510 exam scored as a percentage?

No. The pass standard is a scaled score of 400 on a 200-500 scale. API publishes no raw percentage or per-form raw cut score, so a claim that you need 70% or 80% is not supported.

Are API 510 exams available remotely?

No. API 510 is administered in person at Prometric. It is not available for remote testing.

Which ASME editions apply to the target windows?

For the September 2026, January 2027 and May 2027 windows, the effectivity sheet lists the 2025 editions of ASME BPVC Sections V, VIII Division 1 and IX.

How many questions are scored?

The exam has 170 questions, but only 140 are scored. The remaining 30 are unscored pretest items, and they are not identified, so answer every question.

How long is the API 510 exam?

A 2-hour-45-minute closed-book session, a 45-minute break, then a 3-hour-45-minute open-book session. The split is deliberately uneven: the longer open-book block is for locating and applying requirements.

Which references should you study?

API 510, API RP 571, 572, 576, 577 and 578, ASME BPVC Sections V, VIII Division 1 and IX, and the specified ASME PCC-2 articles, in the editions listed for your target sheet. The in-scope portions matter as much as the document names.