- Exam has 85 questions (75 scored, 10 unscored pretest) in 195 minutes, closed-book.
- Passing score is 400 on a 200-500 scaled range, not a raw percentage.
- Initial fee is USD 450 (member) or USD 625 (nonmember); recert is USD 320/USD 430.
- Certification lasts three years; a six-year online quiz replaces one full re-exam cycle.
Quick Facts Snapshot
This is a condensed, print-friendly reference for candidates who already understand the basics of Refractory Personnel Certification (API 936) and just want the numbers, deadlines, and structural details in one place. If you need the full walkthrough of what this credential covers and why it exists, start with What Is API 936? or the broader API 936 Certification overview before using this sheet as a review tool.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Certifying body | American Petroleum Institute (API), Individual Certification Programs (ICP) |
| Testing delivery | Prometric test centers or ProProctor remote proctoring |
| Total questions | 85 (75 scored, 10 unscored pretest) |
| Time allowed | 195 minutes, closed-book, multiple choice |
| Passing score | 400 on a 200-500 scaled range |
| Initial fee | USD 450 member / USD 625 nonmember |
| Recertification fee | USD 320 member / USD 430 nonmember |
| Certification validity | Three years, renewable by application and fee |
| BOK/reference effectivity | April 2025-December 2026 |
Exam Format and Scoring
The Refractory Personnel Certification (API 936) exam consists of 85 total questions delivered in 195 minutes. Of those, 75 are scored and 10 are unscored pretest items used by API to evaluate future questions - you won't know which is which, so every question deserves full attention. The format is closed-book, multiple choice, though API has stated it is gradually introducing alternative item types across its ICP examinations, so don't assume every question will be a simple four-option pick.
Passing is defined by a scaled score of 400 on a 200-500 range, not a percentage of correct answers. This distinction matters because candidates sometimes try to reverse-engineer a "75% needed" target - that math doesn't apply here. For a deeper breakdown of how scaling works and why raw-percentage thinking misleads candidates, see API 936 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
If you're still deciding how difficult this exam actually is relative to your background, How Hard Is the API 936 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 covers that in more depth, and API 936 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows walks through the most recent reported outcome - 72.4% (131 of 181 candidates) from the December 2025 administration as published in API's April 30, 2026 statistics.
Fees and Registration Mechanics
Budgeting for this exam means accounting for more than the sticker price. The initial application fee is USD 450 for API members and USD 625 for nonmembers. If you need to reschedule after registering, API charges a separate reschedule application fee of USD 200, and a late application also carries a USD 200 fee. Recertification by full exam retake runs USD 320 member / USD 430 nonmember.
Key Takeaway
Lock in your test date as early as possible - the USD 200 reschedule fee and USD 200 late fee are avoidable costs that add up quickly if your schedule shifts.
One detail candidates often overlook: applicants may have any level of petroleum or petrochemical industry experience, including people entering the field for the first time, and a preparation course is not mandatory to sit for the exam. That said, "not mandatory" doesn't mean "not advisable" - the technical depth of the BOK rewards structured preparation. For a full cost breakdown including every fee scenario, see API 936 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and for eligibility specifics visit API 936 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
The Four BOK Domains at a Glance
The Body of Knowledge organizes exam content into four domains. Knowing what each one actually tests - not just its title - is the difference between passing comfortably and guessing on a third of the exam.
Domain 1: Roles and Responsibilities
Covers who does what on a refractory job - owner/operator, contractor, inspector, and engineer responsibilities - and how those roles interact during specification, installation, and inspection phases.
- Chain of responsibility across project phases
- Communication and documentation expectations between parties
Domain 2: Laboratory Testing Procedures
Tests your familiarity with the ASTM procedures used to evaluate refractory materials before and after installation, including how results are interpreted against specification limits.
- ASTM C113, C133, C181, and C704 test methods and their purposes
- What lab results indicate about material suitability
Domain 3: Materials and Installation Requirements
Focuses on refractory material types, mix and placement requirements, and the installation standards defined in API 936 and related publications.
- Material selection criteria tied to service conditions
- Installation procedures and workmanship requirements
Domain 4: Installation Inspection and Quality Control
Covers inspection checkpoints, quality control documentation, and how deviations from spec are identified and addressed during and after installation.
- Inspection hold points and acceptance criteria
- Quality control records and nonconformance handling
Each domain draws directly from the required references discussed below, so mastering the domains and mastering the reference documents are really the same task viewed from two angles. For a domain-by-domain study breakdown with more detail than fits on a cheat sheet, see API 936 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
Required References Checklist
The exam draws from a defined set of publications, and knowing which document covers which topic helps you study efficiently instead of rereading everything cover to cover.
- API Standard 936, fifth edition (March 2024) - the core installation and material standard underpinning Domains 3 and 4
- API 975, first edition (November 2021) - supporting practice referenced for installation and inspection context
- API 976, first edition (March 2018) - additional supporting practice
- ASTM C113-14 (2019) - reheat change of refractory brick
- ASTM C133-97 (2021) - crushing strength and modulus of rupture
- ASTM C181-11 (2018) - workability index of fireclay and high-alumina refractory plastics
- ASTM C704-15 (2022) - abrasion resistance testing
Renewal and Recertification Timeline
Certification is valid for three years. Renewal is handled by submitting a renewal application and fee - there is no employment verification step required. Every six years, instead of a full retake, certificate holders complete an online, open-book recertification quiz: 25 questions, a four-hour window, with up to three pauses allowed and one retry if needed.
- Apply for renewal starting 90 days before your certification's expiration date
- A 90-day grace period follows expiration, though a late fee applies during that window
- After the grace period closes, you must submit a brand-new application and sit for the full examination again
Key Takeaway
Mark your renewal date 90 days out on your calendar - missing the grace period entirely means starting over with a full application and the 195-minute exam.
For exact testing windows and how scheduling interacts with these deadlines, check API 936 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Final-Week Review Plan
A cheat sheet is only useful in the final stretch if you sequence your review deliberately rather than skimming everything at once. In the last week before your exam, rotate focus across the four domains rather than re-reading the standards linearly - this mirrors how the exam mixes topics rather than blocking them by document.
Roles and Responsibilities + Materials and Installation Requirements
- Review API 936 fifth edition sections on responsibilities and installation procedures
- Drill terminology distinguishing owner, contractor, and inspector duties
Laboratory Testing Procedures
- Memorize what each ASTM method measures (C113, C133, C181, C704) and why it's used
- Practice interpreting sample test results against acceptance criteria
Installation Inspection and Quality Control
- Review inspection hold points and documentation requirements from API 975 and API 976
- Run full-length timed practice sets to build stamina for the 195-minute session
Mixed Review and Logistics
- Take a full mixed-domain practice exam under timed conditions
- Confirm Prometric or ProProctor logistics, ID requirements, and system check if testing remotely
If you want a more comprehensive week-by-week plan that starts further out than seven days, API 936 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt lays out a longer preparation arc. You can also build exam-day comfort with timed practice questions at our practice test platform before committing to a real test date.
Who This Credential Serves
Refractory Personnel Certification (API 936) is generally pursued by professionals working around refractory materials in refineries, petrochemical plants, and related industrial settings - inspectors, engineers, and contractors who need a recognized way to demonstrate knowledge of installation standards and testing procedures. Since any level of industry experience is accepted for the application, both newer entrants and experienced field personnel sit for the same exam. If you're weighing whether pursuing it fits your career plans, Is the API 936 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and API 936 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis cover that angle, while API 936 Jobs looks at where the credential shows up in job postings.
For those still clarifying terminology before diving into prep, API 936 Meaning, What Does API 936 Stand For?, and What Is API 936 Certification? answer the foundational questions this cheat sheet assumes you've already covered.
FAQ
Of the 85 total questions, 75 are scored and 10 are unscored pretest items used to evaluate future exam content. You won't be told which questions fall into which category.
No. The initial certification exam is closed-book. Candidate papers and outside references are prohibited; only a calculator and scratch paper (or their digital equivalents for remote testing) are provided. The recertification quiz taken every six years, by contrast, is open-book.
If you miss the 90-day grace period after your three-year certification expires, you must submit a completely new application and pass the full 195-minute examination again - the six-year recertification quiz option is no longer available to you.
No. Applicants may have any level of petroleum or petrochemical industry experience, including no prior experience, and a preparation course is not required to apply or sit for the exam.
API publishes the current BOK and effectivity documents directly on its Individual Certification Programs pages, covering the April 2025-December 2026 period, alongside the required API 936, API 975, API 976, and ASTM references.