The American Petroleum Institute initiated an Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector Certification Program to promote safe storage and handling of petroleum products. The program establishes uniform national standards to assist state and local regulations. To be certified, inspectors must be employed by or contracted to an authorized inspection agency and meet minimum education and experience requirements, such as having a engineering degree and one year of relevant inspection experience. The certification exam questions are based on publications listed in the application package.

1. January 2012
API 653 CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANK INSPECTOR
Introduction
The American Petroleum Institute (API) initiated an Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector
Certification Program with the issuance of Supplement 1 to API 653, Tank Inspection, Repair,
Alteration, and Reconstruction. This program promotes safe storage and material handling of
petroleum products in a manner that protects employees, the public, and the environment. The
program was developed with the participation storage tank owner/users, and establishes a
uniform national program that will assist state and local governments in aboveground storage
tank regulations.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
1. You must be employed by or under contract to an authorized inspection agency or
owner/user agency as defined in API 653.
2. You must have one of the following combinations of education and experience:
Education
Minimum
Experience
Required
Skills
BS degree in
engineering
or technology
1 year
Supervision or performance of inspection activities of
aboveground storage tanks, as described in API 653.
2-year degree
or certificate
in
engineering
or technology
2 years
Design, construction, repair, operation, or inspection of AST, of
which 1 year must be in supervision or performance of
inspection activities, as described in API 653.
High school
diploma or
equivalent
3 years
Design, construction, repair, operation, or inspection of AST, of
which 1 year must be in supervision or performance of
inspection activities, as described in API 653.
None
5 or more
years
Design, construction, repair, operation, or inspection of AST, of
which 1 year must be in supervision or performance of
inspection activities, as described in API 653.
Questions in the API 653 exam are derived from the publications listed in the effectivity sheet
included in the current application package. Please be sure to bring those documents to the
examination with you.