API 1169

Background Info

The boards of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, the INGAA Foundation Inc., the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association and the CEPA Foundation – major pipeline trade associations in the U.S. and Canada, respectively – have voted to endorse a program to ensure all pipeline inspectors doing work for their member companies are certified by 2018.

The Pipeline Inspector Certification Program is part of the continuous improvement process to enhance the operational reliability and safety of pipelines. By standardizing the baseline certification of pipeline inspectors across the industry, we can enhance the quality of new construction.

Reasons to have a certification program:

• Availability of Experienced and Qualified in-house inspection personnel is limited – many contract inspectors are performing inspection work without direct owner/operator supervision and oversight.
• Uncertainty and difficulty regarding contractor/inspector qualifications
• Pipeline Inspectors represent the industry and are expected to make significant decisions
• Public safety frequently rides on their decisions. At the time there were no uniform requirements to determine the knowledge and skills required to perform inspection activities
• API’s 3rd party certification process would be unbiased and uniform in nature

Potential Benefits:

• Provides industry with a method for centralized, independent, unbiased, legally-defensible certification
• Provides industry with a readily-accessible program to identify qualified inspectors
• Professional credential is industry-designed and industry-accepted
• Demonstrates industry support for minimum inspector competence
• Promotes industry safety, personnel and process management, and environmentally-sound performance
• Reduces the time and resources necessary for industry to qualify inspectors in-house or to screen/ pre-qualify contractors
• Demonstrates to authorities a proactive approach to training/qualifying industry personnel and directly addresses recent concerns regarding new construction inspections.

For more information, please visit this link.

2022 & 2023 Test Dates

API 1169 Pipeline Inspector Certification

December 2 - 23, 2022 - which closes without late fees on September 30, 2022

April 7 - 28, 2023 - which closes for registration without late fees on February 3, 2023

August 11 - September 1, 2023 which closes for registration without late fees on June 9, 2023

December 1 - 22, 2023 which closes for registration without late fees on September 29, 2023

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

The qualification requirements for API 1169 are based on a combination of the number of years of experience acquired within the last 20 years, plus education, and in some cases, other certifications. The first step in the process is determining and verifying your qualifications.

• You can review the qualification requirements on the API website.
• API released their August 2017 ad entitled, Do You Qualify for the API 1169 Pipeline Inspector Certification?

Summary/Additional Info

In summary, Operators are beginning to require the API 1169 Certification for future projects.  The first of the Operators are going to require it later this year, and several others are indicating they “prefer” inspectors who have it.  Avoid the rush and start preparing now!  If a situation presents itself where the Operator you are interested in working for requires the certification, it could take from 3 to 6 months to get it.

Steps to follow:

1.) Certifications - View certification info, qualification requirements and study materials.

2.) Apply - Submit new, reschedule and recertification applications.

3.) Schedule Exam - Schedule a test and learn about exam day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q: Where do I start the process for registering for the API 1169?

A: Api.org is where your journey to becoming 1169 certified will start, under the tab products and services, click on Individual Certification Programs (ICP). Once there you will see tabs on the left hand side of the page going over all the information you will need.

Q: Is there a discount available to QIS inspectors to take the exam?

A: As a member of API, all QIS inspectors are eligible for a discount.  When you're enrolling to take the exam, you can place QIS as your place of employment which will give you a $100 discount to take the exam.  For more information about this, please call API and they will direct you how to apply this discount.

Q:  How long is the test?

 A: 100 question, multiple choice exam.

Q: How much time do I have to complete the exam?

A: 3 Hours

Q: Where can I take the exam?

A: Once your registered through API and the ICP portal you will have the option to pick your testing location based off of where you are currently located and where ProMetric Testing facilities are offered. Below is the link to find an exam location closest to you.

https://securereg3.prometric.com/Welcome.aspx

Q: What, if any qualifications do I need to have?

A: On api.org they have a qualifications page to verify if you met the minimum requirements of API to take the 1169, you can also refer to our qualifications page on this website.

For a more extensive list of FAQs, please visit API's website for more information.

Q: If I need additional assistance, who can I contact?

A: Call our offices and speak to Frank Hensley @ 405-604-9500 at our OKC office.  If he's unavailable, call Dominic DeJoseph @ 580-468-6601 at our Guymon office.  

Training Resources

The following are various paid training resources that inspectors can utilize to get prepared to take the American Petroleum Institue (API) API 1169 Certification Exam:

• PBOK’s Centre for Pipeline Knowledge:  This training comprehensively prepares individuals for the American Petroleum Institute (API) 1169 certification exam by reviewing all information in the API Recommended Practice 1169 and API 1169 Body of Knowledge. The training features U.S.-specific study material including key highlights, recommended reading, terminology, scenario-based assessments, self-assessments, and practice questions organized by topic. The course concludes with a practice exam that has been developed to mimic the style and content of the API 1169 multiple choice exam. The practice exam can be repeated, as the question bank includes over 200 practice questions.
  • For a 20% discount, enter the coupon code QISAPI.
  • Please click this link to view the course outline.

• Velocity Training:  This Online Training course focuses on better preparing individuals for the API 1169 exam and covers the information outlined in the Body of Knowledge; including codes, standards, best practices, and required areas of inspector proficiency. The course covers the information from the basics to the less understood quality and environmental principles that are heavily tested on during the exam. Included within the course, there are several practice exams formatted like the API multiple choice exam. The question bank includes over 800 practices questions to test inspectors on code reference and general knowledge categories.  
  • Please click this link to view their product flyer.