API QUPA cheat sheet

API ICP credentials are earned by passing a written examination tied to a specific inspection discipline; certification is individual and does not transfer to another person or employer.

Eligibility typically combines documented inspection experience with a written exam; experience requirements vary by certification and are verified before the credential is issued.

Certification is time-limited and maintained through recertification, which generally requires demonstrating continued competence rather than a single lifetime exam.

The exam body of knowledge is published per certification, so question content maps to the stated discipline scope rather than to a general inspection syllabus.

Code-specific certifications require working knowledge of the referenced standard's inspection, examination, and acceptance criteria, not merely its scope statement.

A certification holder who changes employers retains the credential; the credential attaches to the individual, while qualification to an employer's program is separate.

Exam scoring is criterion-referenced against a passing standard set by the certifying body; there is no fixed quota of passing candidates.

Ethical and professional conduct requirements apply to certified individuals, and violations can lead to suspension or revocation independent of exam performance.

A Safety Management System (SMS) is organized around defined elements such as leadership and management commitment, risk management, and operational controls; assessment is scored against those elements.

SMS assessment evaluates whether a system is implemented and effective, not merely whether documented procedures exist; evidence of execution is required.

Assessment findings are commonly graded by severity or conformance level, and the aggregate result indicates the maturity of the operator's SMS.

Risk management element review examines hazard identification, risk evaluation, and the linkage of controls to prioritized risks.

Continuous improvement is demonstrated through monitoring, measurement, analysis, and corrective action loops that close identified gaps.

Assessment may include interviews, document review, and field verification; a single evidence source is insufficient to confirm an element is effective.

Corrective action plans are expected to address root cause, assign responsibility, and set a completion timeframe for each gap.

Management commitment is assessed by whether resources, authority, and accountability for safety are visibly assigned and exercised.