Why is API starting a Continued Professional Development (CPD) program for the recertification process for API 510, 570, and 653? This has been the most common question asked with the newly updated API 510, 570, and 653 recertification requirements.
Market fluctuations in the industry require employers to seek out a multifaceted talent pool, and the role of the inspector must develop and expand accordingly.
Free Webinar and CPD hours you may request by filling in the form and getting updates: Click Here
Introduction: CPD for API ICP Recertification.
Beginning in 2022, ICP will include Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours as part of new recertification requirements for API 510, API 570, and API 653. These will be applicable to 3 certifications coming up for renewal on or after January 1, 2023. The new CPD requirements are in addition to existing recertification requirements for continued inspection experience and the Web Quiz required every 6 years or every other recertification.
| Recertifying Year | Number of CPD Hours Required |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Recertifying candidates must submit 8 CPD hours completed within the last 3 years. |
| 2024 | Recertifying candidates must submit 16 CPD hours completed within the last 3 years. |
| 2025 | Recertifying candidates must submit 24 CPD hours completed within the last 3 years. |
Definition of CPD hour
For ICP, one CPD hour is defined as one contact hour of an activity on an industry-related topic as defined below. An “activity” is an umbrella term that ICP has deemed, in consultation with industry experts, to be acceptable for recertification purposes. Acceptable activities include training, publishing technical papers, participation in industry conferences, and other activities as outlined in this document.
Each contact hour shall have a minimum of 50 minutes of related activity.
No activities under 50 contact minutes may be submitted to ICP for CPD credit. ICP does not grant partial hours of CPD.
Examples:
• For example, a one-day activity that begins at 8 am and ends at 5 pm. This is considered 8 contact hours, with a one-hour lunch break, and ICP will accept it as 8 CPD hours.
• If that day-long activity includes multiple small breaks, at least 50 minutes of every hour needs to be spent doing the activity.
Participation in CPD related activities may be in-person or virtual. However, all must have the required documentation.
CPD Carryover
A certificate holder that completes more than the required hours for a recertification period may carry over a maximum of 12 CPD hours to the next recertification period. Carry over applies from certification period to certification period of the same program, rather than what is applicable to other certification programs coming up for renewal around the same expiration date.
43 Topics for CPD for the API ICP Recertification
Topics considered relevant by ICP must be directly related to the fields of inspection and mechanical integrity assurance. Examples are included in the list below; this is not intended to be all inclusive.
Aboveground storage tank inspection
2. Asset Integrity
3. Cathodic Protection
4. Chemical facility inspection
5. Coatings
6. Corrosion mitigation and inspection
7. Damage mechanisms: e.g., cracking, corrosion, fatigue, embrittlement
8. Drones/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
9. Failure Analysis
10. Fire heater/heat exchanger inspection
11. Fitness for service
12. Fixed Equipment Inspection
13. Flanged Joint Design
14. Hydrostatic testing
15. Incident Investigations/Root Cause Analysis
16. Inspection techniques and technologies
17. Integrity Data Management Systems
18. Integrity Operating Windows (IOWs)
19. Marine terminal inspections
20. Mechanical integrity
21. Metallurgy
22. Midstream facility inspections
23. New or emerging inspection technologies
24. Non-destructive examination (NDE)/(NDT): e.g., PT, MT, RT
25. Pipe Design
26. Piping inspection
27. Positive Material Identification (PMI)
28. Pressure Relieving Devices (PRDs)/(PRVs) inspection
29. Pressure Vessel Design
30. Pressure vessel inspection
31. Process Mapping
32. Quality Assurance (QA) or Quality Control (QC)
33. Refining and Chemical Processes34. Refining unit inspection
35. Refractory inspection
36. Remote inspection techniques (e.g., drones)
37. Risk-Based Inspection (RBI)
38. Statistical Analysis
39. Tank Design
40. Technical Writing
41. Upstream and offshore topsides inspections
42. Welding inspection
43. Welding Processes
Third-Party Training to Gain CPD Hours
ICP does not have a list of “approved” trainer’s courses or providers. Certificants must ensure that the following criteria are met to be considered for CPD hours:
1) Training is to be provided by a recognized party, as well as developed and delivered by qualified individuals not directly employed by the certificate holder’s employer.
2) The subject is directly relevant to the petrochemical industry and the ICP certification.
3) The training is to have clear and relevant learning objectives and not be related to commercial marketing activity.
4) For one-day or multi-day courses, there should be a maximum of 10 contact hours in a 24-hour period.
5) CEU equivalent hours should not exceed the time needed to complete the subject materials.
6) must evaluate the participant’s knowledge through some assessment mechanism (i.e., quiz or test at the end of a module or course).
7) must provide documentation showing completion or mastery of the course (certificate or transcript)
Employer-Provided Training to Gain CPD Hours
An employee may choose to provide in-house training or bring a third-party expert to train employees in industry-related topics. ICP will accept CPD hours for such training equivalents.
to contact hours attended.
The employer-provided training should meet the following criteria.
1) Training is to be developed and delivered by qualified individuals (trainers) employed or contracted by the certificate holder’s employer.
2) The subject of the training is related to industry-related topics within the refining or chemical manufacturing industry.
3) The training is to have a clear and relevant learning objective. The purpose of the training is not to be related to commercial marketing activity.
4) No more than 10 contact hours may be credited in a 24-hour period.
5) Credit for CPD hours is dependent on the issue of a statement from the trainer that the candidate has met the requirements of attendance. This certifying statement should identify the subject, number of hours, and date of completion, with the trainer’s identification.
Verification of Employer-Provided Training:
Certificants must provide ICP with documentation of completed training, which includes the name of the company, the name of the trainer, the trainer’s company if they’re a third-party, a summary of training, and the number of contact hours. If the trainer does not provide an official certificate or transcript, the candidate shall use the API CPD Activities form, found on the website, and have the trainer complete it.
College/University Courses for gaining CPD hours
Certificants that complete a college or university course in an industry-related topic or directly applicable to the field or industry operations, may receive a maximum of 30 CPD hours per quarter credit hour and a maximum of 45 CPD hours per semester credit hour. Certificants must receive a passing grade in their course. If Certificant receives a failing grade, that will be considered as not having demonstrated the required knowledge for the course.
Verification for University Courses:
Certificants must provide a transcript with their name, educational institution, and identification of whether this was a “quarter” or a “semester” course, and a final passing grade. If the course title does not show a direct linkage to an industry-related topic, candidates should provide a copy of the class syllabus.
Participation in industry events
ICP encourages Certificants to participate in events on industry-related topics coordinated by technical and professional organizations or attend industry events to stay familiar with current and emerging inspection topics.
Relevant technical or professional organizations include, but are not limited to:
1. Alberta Boiler Safety Association (ABSA)
2. Association for Material Protection and Performance (AMPP/NACE)
3. American Petroleum Institute (API)
4. American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
5. American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT)
6. American Welding Society (AWS)
7. Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB)
8. Inspectioneering
9. International Pressure Equipment Integrity Association (IPEIA)
10. National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBIC)
11. Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI)
12. Training and Examination Services Worldwide (TWI)
To be accepted by ICP, the meeting must last at least 50 minutes, which is equal to one ICP CPD hour.
Verification for participation in industry events:
Applicants will provide ICP with a copy of their registration or other documentation as proof of attendance. If the industry meeting does not collect attendance, the Certificant may use the API CPD Activities form, found on the website, and ask the speaker, presenter, or a panelist to complete the form.
Webinars
Certificate holders may watch webinars on industry-related topics and receive CPD hours for the duration of the webinar. The webinar must be a minimum of 50 minutes to be granted 1 CPD hour.
Verification for Webinars:
- Certificants will provide ICP with proof of registration for the webinar.
- Certificants may not complete the same webinar for two different recertification periods.
for more information please visit the recertification requirements for your program at www.api.org/icpprograms to review the guide.
