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  1. Programs
  2. Welding Inspection and Metallurgy

Welding Inspection and Metallurgy

American Petroleum Institute

Certification

Become a contributor for free to openly demonstrate student outcomes, industry alignment & eligibility criteria.

API welcomes highly specialized inspectors, welding engineers, metallurgists and other professionals across the entire petrochemical industry to obtain the API 577 Welding Inspection and Metallurgy certification as a validation of their profound knowledge of welding processes and metallurgy.

Format

Hybrid

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Program Pathways

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Program Details

Detailed information about this program

This exam can now be scheduled either at in-person test centers or through remote proctoring. API welcomes highly specialized inspectors, welding engineers, metallurgists and other professionals across the entire petrochemical industry to obtain the API 577 Welding Inspection and Metallurgy certification as a validation of their profound knowledge of welding processes and metallurgy. The API 577 certification will add significant value to your professional credentials, demonstrating to your employers and clients that you have obtained a high level of proficiency and understanding in this important field. API 577 certification is valid for a three-year term. Are you qualified to take the API 577 exam? If you hold a current API 510, 570 or 653 certification, you automatically qualify to take the API 577 Welding Inspection and Metallurgy certification exam. If you do not hold a current API 510, 570 or 653 certification, then qualification is based on a combination of your level of education and industry experience acquired within the last 10 years. Prior to submitting an application, please use the table below to determine if you qualify to take the API 577 exam. The minimum experience required MUST be documented on your application.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

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Scholarships

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Locations

Where this program is offered

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Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

  • Apply welding inspection and metallurgy terms, definitions, and acronyms in refinery and petrochemical plant contexts
  • Identify and describe common welding processes including SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, FCAW, and SAW used in fabrication and repair of refinery equipment and piping
  • Select and apply welding materials including filler metals and consumables appropriate for welding applications in refinery and petrochemical plant equipment
  • Develop and review welding procedure specifications and procedure qualification records for compliance with applicable codes and standards
  • Evaluate welder performance qualifications and determine compliance with ASME Section IX requirements
  • Apply nondestructive examination methods including radiographic, ultrasonic, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, and visual examination techniques to weld inspection
Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

  • Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers51-4121.00
  • Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters47-2152.00
  • Construction and Building Inspectors47-4011.00
  • Environmental Compliance Inspectors13-1041.01
  • Gas Plant Operators51-8092.00
What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populated·from NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: developing (Level 2)(based on Certification)

  • Safety equipment and lockout/tagout procedures — apply independently and verify compliance before beginning welding operations on a production line.
  • Shielded metal arc and gas metal arc welding equipment — set up, adjust, and operate with reduced oversight across routine fabrication assignments.
  • Weld joints in flat, vertical, and overhead positions — complete to specification on standard structural or sheet-metal components with occasional quality checks.
  • Straightedges, squares, and weld inspection gauges — use routinely to confirm workpiece conformance to dimensional tolerances on familiar job types.
  • Torches, torch tips, and filler materials — select and install independently by reading welding procedure specifications for common metal types and thicknesses.
  • Equipment malfunctions and material defects — diagnose recurring issues, document findings, and notify supervisors with clear written or verbal descriptions.
  • Job traveler tags and piece-mark systems — complete accurately and consistently to support production tracking on multi-piece fabrication orders.
  • Welding method selection for common carbon and stainless steel applications — apply working knowledge of geometry and basic metallurgy with limited supervisor input.
  • Weld quality and bead appearance — monitor in-process using visual inspection and basic destructive test results to catch non-conformances early.
  • Production schedules and job priorities — interpret and follow using shop floor work orders and, when available, ERP system task lists.

Some details on this page are auto-populated from public workforce data sources: O*NET (opens in new tab), BLS (opens in new tab), College Scorecard (opens in new tab), DOL Training Provider Results (opens in new tab), NSX (opens in new tab). Provided in partnership with LER.me Career Intelligence.

Student Outcomes

Performance metrics for this program

Completion Rate
Not reported
Placement Rate
Not reported