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Exam Information
Official specifications published by American Petroleum Institute
Exam Format
195 min
110
70%
Professional
Registration
$575 USD
Computer-based testing centers
Validity
3 years
Pass recertification exam within 90 days before expiration; 90-day grace period available after expiration
API-571 Exam Topics and Domains
API-571 is organized into 5 weighted domains. Expect to work with Heat exchangers, Furnace tubes, High-temperature piping, Fired heaters, and more.
1
Mechanical and Metallurgical Failure Mechanisms
Brittle Fracture
Conditions Leading to Brittle FailureMaterial Susceptibility
- Identify conditions that lead to brittle fracture
- Understand material susceptibility factors
- Apply prevention methods in design and operation
Cavitation
Mechanism of Cavitation DamageMitigation Strategies
- Understand cavitation formation mechanisms
- Identify equipment susceptible to cavitation
- Apply mitigation strategies
Creep and Stress Rupture
Time-Temperature-Stress RelationshipsMaterial Selection for High-Temperature Service
- Apply Larson-Miller parameter for life assessment
- Understand creep mechanisms in refinery equipment
- Select appropriate materials for high-temperature service
Thermal Fatigue
Cyclic Thermal Stresses
- Identify thermal fatigue damage patterns
- Understand cyclic loading effects
- Apply prevention methods
Short-term Overheating and Stress Rupture
Overheating Failure Mechanisms
- Recognize short-term overheating damage
- Understand material response to temperature excursions
- Identify prevention and detection methods
Thermal Shock
Rapid Temperature Change Effects
- Understand thermal shock mechanisms
- Identify susceptible equipment and operations
- Apply mitigation through design and operations
Sigma Phase Embrittlement
Formation in Duplex and Austenitic Stainless Steels
- Understand sigma phase formation conditions
- Identify affected alloy systems
- Apply prevention and detection strategies
885°F (475°C) Embrittlement
Duplex Stainless Steel Embrittlement
- Understand 475°C embrittlement mechanism
- Identify susceptible duplex stainless steels
- Apply prevention and remediation strategies
Spheroidization (Softening)
Microstructural Changes in Carbon and Low-Alloy Steels
- Understand spheroidization process
- Identify effects on mechanical properties
- Apply inspection and monitoring techniques
Stress Relaxation Cracking (Reheat Cracking)
Post-Weld Heat Treatment Issues
- Understand reheat cracking mechanisms
- Identify susceptible materials and welds
- Apply prevention through proper PWHT
Graphitization
Carbon Steel Degradation at High Temperature
- Understand graphitization conditions
- Identify susceptible carbon steel applications
- Apply inspection and replacement strategies
Temper Embrittlement
Embrittlement of Alloy Steels
- Understand temper embrittlement mechanisms
- Apply J-factor calculations
- Identify prevention and mitigation strategies
Decarburization
Surface Carbon Loss
- Understand decarburization mechanisms
- Identify effects on material properties
- Apply detection and prevention strategies
Refractory Degradation
Types of Refractory Degradation
- Understand refractory degradation types
- Identify failure modes
- Apply inspection and maintenance strategies
2
Uniform or Localized Loss of Thickness
CO2 Corrosion
Carbonic Acid Formation and Effects
- Understand CO2 corrosion mechanisms
- Apply partial pressure calculations
- Select appropriate mitigation strategies
Cooling Water Corrosion
Water Chemistry and Treatment
- Understand cooling water corrosion mechanisms
- Apply water treatment principles
- Select corrosion-resistant materials
Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)
Temperature Ranges and Moisture Effects
- Understand CUI mechanisms and temperature ranges
- Identify high-risk locations
- Apply inspection and mitigation techniques
Microbiologically Induced Corrosion (MIC)
Bacterial Types and Environmental Conditions
- Understand MIC mechanisms
- Identify susceptible systems
- Apply detection and treatment strategies
Erosion and Erosion-Corrosion
Velocity and Particle Effects
- Understand erosion-corrosion mechanisms
- Apply velocity limits for materials
- Select erosion-resistant materials and designs
Graphitic Corrosion of Cast Irons
Selective Leaching in Cast Iron
- Understand graphitic corrosion mechanisms
- Identify susceptible cast iron applications
- Apply inspection and replacement strategies
Galvanic Corrosion
Dissimilar Metal Couples
- Understand galvanic corrosion principles
- Apply galvanic series for material selection
- Implement prevention strategies
Atmospheric Corrosion
Environmental Factors and Protective Coatings
- Understand atmospheric corrosion factors
- Select appropriate coating systems
- Apply inspection and maintenance strategies
Boiler Water Condensate Corrosion
pH and Oxygen Effects
- Understand boiler condensate corrosion mechanisms
- Apply water chemistry principles
- Select appropriate treatment programs
Flue Gas Dew Point Corrosion
Acid Condensation
- Understand flue gas dew point corrosion
- Apply dew point calculations
- Select corrosion-resistant materials
Soil Corrosion
Soil Resistivity and Cathodic Protection
- Understand soil corrosion factors
- Apply cathodic protection principles
- Select appropriate coating systems
Caustic Corrosion
Concentration and Temperature Effects
- Understand caustic corrosion mechanisms
- Apply material selection charts
- Identify temperature and concentration limits
Dealloying
Selective Dissolution
- Understand dealloying mechanisms
- Identify susceptible alloys
- Apply prevention and material selection strategies
Oxygenated Water Corrosion (Non-boiler)
Dissolved Oxygen Effects
- Understand oxygen-induced corrosion
- Apply oxygen control strategies
- Select appropriate materials
Brine Corrosion
Salt Concentration and Temperature Effects
- Understand brine corrosion mechanisms (Added in 3rd Edition 2020)
- Apply material selection criteria
- Identify mitigation strategies
Concentration Cell Corrosion
Differential Concentration Effects
- Understand concentration cell mechanisms (Added in 3rd Edition 2020)
- Identify susceptible locations
- Apply prevention through design
3
High Temperature Corrosion (>400°F/204°C)
Oxidation
High Temperature Scale Formation
- Understand oxidation mechanisms at high temperature
- Apply material selection for oxidation resistance
- Identify temperature limits for materials
Sulfidation
High Temperature Sulfur Attack
- Understand sulfidation mechanisms
- Apply McConomy curves for material selection
- Identify sulfidation-resistant alloys
Carburization
Carbon Absorption at High Temperature
- Understand carburization mechanisms
- Identify susceptible materials and processes
- Apply prevention and material selection strategies
Metal Dusting
Catastrophic Carburization
- Understand metal dusting mechanisms
- Identify high-risk processes and temperatures
- Apply mitigation through materials and coatings
Fuel Ash Corrosion
Vanadium and Sodium Attack
- Understand fuel ash corrosion mechanisms
- Identify susceptible equipment and fuel types
- Apply mitigation through fuel treatment and materials
Nitriding
Nitrogen Absorption and Hardening
- Understand nitriding mechanisms
- Identify nitriding-resistant materials
- Apply inspection and material selection
High Temperature H2/H2S Corrosion
Sulfidation in H2/H2S Environments
- Apply Nelson curves for material selection
- Understand H2/H2S corrosion mechanisms
- Determine safe operating limits
Naphthenic Acid Corrosion (NAC)
Organic Acid Attack at High Temperature
- Understand naphthenic acid corrosion mechanisms
- Apply TAN and temperature criteria
- Select NAC-resistant materials and operating conditions
4
Environment-Assisted Cracking
Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking (Cl-SCC)
Austenitic Stainless Steel Cracking
- Understand Cl-SCC mechanisms in austenitic stainless steels
- Apply prevention through material selection and environment control
- Identify high-risk locations and conditions
Caustic Stress Corrosion Cracking
Caustic SCC in Carbon and Low-Alloy Steels
- Understand caustic SCC mechanisms
- Apply PWHT to mitigate cracking
- Identify concentration and temperature limits
Ammonia Stress Corrosion Cracking
Copper Alloy Cracking
- Understand ammonia SCC in copper alloys
- Select alternative materials
- Apply prevention strategies
Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME)
Embrittlement by Molten Metals
- Understand LME mechanisms
- Identify hazardous metal combinations
- Apply prevention through material selection
Hydrogen Embrittlement (HE)
Embrittlement of High-Strength Steels
- Understand hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms
- Apply baking procedures for hydrogen removal
- Identify susceptible materials and processes
High Temperature Hydrogen Attack (HTHA)
Nelson Curves and Material Selection
- Apply Nelson curves for HTHA prediction
- Understand HTHA mechanisms
- Select materials for high-temperature hydrogen service
Hydrogen Stress Cracking in HF
HF Alkylation Unit Cracking
- Understand hydrogen stress cracking in HF
- Apply material selection and PWHT
- Identify prevention strategies
Carbonate Stress Corrosion Cracking (ACSCC)
FCC Unit Cracking
- Understand ACSCC mechanisms in FCC units
- Identify susceptible conditions
- Apply mitigation strategies
Polythionic Acid Stress Corrosion Cracking (PASCC)
Sensitized Stainless Steel Cracking
- Understand PASCC mechanisms
- Apply neutralization during shutdowns
- Select non-sensitizing materials or stabilized grades
Amine Stress Corrosion Cracking
Amine Treating Unit Cracking
- Understand amine SCC mechanisms
- Apply PWHT to prevent cracking
- Identify high-risk locations in amine units
Wet H2S Damage (Blistering/HIC/SOHIC/SSC)
Hydrogen-Induced Cracking Forms
- Understand wet H2S damage mechanisms
- Select HIC-resistant materials
- Apply hardness limits to prevent SSC
Ethanol Stress Corrosion Cracking (ESCC)
Fuel-Grade Ethanol Cracking
- Understand ESCC mechanisms
- Identify susceptible materials
- Apply water content control
Sulfate Stress Corrosion Cracking
Sulfate SCC in Industrial Environments
- Understand sulfate SCC mechanisms
- Select resistant materials
- Apply mitigation strategies
Hydrofluoric Acid Stress Corrosion of Nickel Alloys
HF Alkylation Nickel Alloy Cracking
- Understand HF SCC of nickel alloys (Added in 3rd Edition 2020)
- Identify susceptible alloys and conditions
- Apply material selection and operating limits
5
Other Mechanisms
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) Corrosion
Crude Unit Overhead Corrosion
- Understand HCl formation and corrosion mechanisms
- Apply neutralization strategies
- Select materials for HCl service
Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) Corrosion
HF Alkylation Unit Corrosion
- Understand HF corrosion mechanisms
- Apply material selection for HF service
- Identify safe operating conditions
Sulfuric Acid Corrosion
Concentration and Temperature Effects
- Apply sulfuric acid isocorrosion curves
- Understand concentration and temperature effects
- Select appropriate materials for H2SO4 service
Phosphoric Acid Corrosion
Phosphoric Acid Material Selection
- Understand phosphoric acid corrosion
- Select materials for phosphoric acid service
- Consider impurity effects on corrosion
Organic Acid Corrosion
Acetic and Formic Acid Corrosion
- Understand organic acid corrosion mechanisms
- Select materials for organic acid service
- Apply temperature and oxygen control
Sour Water Corrosion (Acidic)
H2S and NH3 Effects on pH
- Understand sour water corrosion mechanisms
- Apply pH calculations for H2S/NH3 systems
- Select materials and control velocity
Amine Corrosion
MEA, DEA, MDEA Corrosion
- Understand amine corrosion mechanisms
- Apply velocity limits for amine systems
- Manage heat stable salts
Ammonium Bisulfide Corrosion
Hydroprocessing Overhead Corrosion
- Understand NH4HS corrosion mechanisms
- Apply Kp calculations for corrosion prediction
- Implement velocity control and water washing
Ammonium Chloride Corrosion
Salt Deposition and Under-Deposit Corrosion
- Understand NH4Cl corrosion mechanisms
- Predict salt deposition temperatures
- Design effective water wash systems
Phenol (Carbolic Acid) Corrosion
Phenol Concentration and Temperature Effects
- Understand phenol corrosion mechanisms
- Select compatible materials
- Apply concentration and temperature limits
Methanol Corrosion
Purity and Temperature Effects
- Understand methanol corrosion mechanisms
- Select materials for methanol service
- Control purity to minimize corrosion
How do I earn this certification?
Passing API-571 earns the API 571 Corrosion and Materials certification. It sits in the Asset Integrity and Inspection track.
Alternative Paths
- API-936 - Refractory Personnel Specialized knowledge in refractory materials and degradation
- NACE-Senior-Corrosion-Technologist - Senior Corrosion Technologist Advanced corrosion expertise with broader scope
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
Use the official PlanetCert Practice Test alongside the study plan below to prepare efficiently for API-571.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2020
Updates
- Advanced Corrosion Monitoring Systems IoT-enabled real-time monitoring Understanding of monitoring techniques complements damage mechanism knowledge • Release date: 2023-ongoing
- Digital Twin for Asset Integrity Emerging technology Digital modeling requires accurate damage mechanism input data • Release date: 2022-ongoing
- Machine Learning for Damage Prediction AI/ML applications AI models trained on API 571 damage mechanism data • Release date: 2023-ongoing
Who should take this exam?
- Understanding of refinery operations
- Knowledge of corrosion principles
- Familiarity with materials science
- Experience with inspection techniques