API Certification: The Step-by-Step Application Guide

Where do I begin? Should I hire a consultant?  Do I have the time and resources to get my facility certified?  How much money will this process take? These are just a few questions that most quality managers and owners ask themselves when deciding on a quality management system standard for their business.  This can be a confusing and difficult time for anyone in leadership.  Often, this seemingly monumental task leads to inaction on what could be a great business opportunity.  Throughout these steps and available resources listed below, I will explain the process of how your oil & gas company can become certified with the American Petroleum Institute to API Q1, API Q2, ISO 9001: 2015​, OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001, API Std 18LCM (API Standard 18 for Life-Cycle Management) or an API Monogram product license.  Within this guide, you will understand the proper documentation, pricing, and resources to get your organization certified with the most prestigious oil & gas certification body in the world.

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Taking part in the American Petroleum Institute’s Certification Program is one of the most important steps in elevating your oil & gas business to the next level of quality by placing your company on the world stage via the API Composite List.

Currently, there are nearly 5000 certified facilities in over 80 countries worldwide belonging to both the API Monogram and American Petroleum Institute Quality Registrar (APIQR) programs.  These companies range from small mom-and-pop shops to large, multinational corporations.  While the process is long and seemingly unending, it is entirely possible to become one of these prestigious companies by following this guide.

Questions to Consider Before Applying

The American Petroleum Institute covers many types of standards for specific oil & gas equipment and quality registrations of varying management systems.  It is important to understand these categories and how they can help your company when making the decision to apply. Here are a few questions to consider:

1. Is my facility/company a manufacturer or a service provider?
2. Are there important environmental or health and safety requirements I want covered under a management system?
3. What products are my company currently manufacturing?  CLICK for a list of API Monogram Licenses.
4. What products or services would I like my facility to produce in the future?
5. Does my facility have a validated design package?
6. What are my suppliers requiring?
7. What are my customers requesting of me in terms of certifications?
8. Can I afford to apply for certification?  Or more importantly, can I afford not to attain a certification?
9. Where does my facility currently meet certain industry requirements?

Not only will an API Certification assist your company with global recognition and opportunities in expanding to other markets, these standards are powerful tools in organizing your manufacturing productivity.  It may seem like more paperwork but quality management systems can be written in a meaningful and easy-to-use manner that is both beneficial to your company and your customers alike.

Prerequisites to Applying

Listed below are important prerequisites to implement and follow before applying for a certification with API.  Timelines are an important component to consider when applying for certification because of audit scheduling and the extra work when implementing a quality system within your business.

1. Implementation and maintenance of a quality management system that meets the requirements of API Spec Q1, API Q2, OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001, and ISO 9001 for at least four months.
2. Conducted a full system internal audit to the applicable standard(s) within the past 12 months.
3. Conducted a management review to the applicable standards within the past 12 months.
4. Validated design package if applying for a Monogram License.
5. Own an updated copy of applicable standards. CLICK for subscription or purchasing options.
6. Completed the proper documentation:
   1. Questionnaire (these questions will be listed within the application in MyCerts).
   2. Quality Manual written to the applicable standard and its most up-to-date version.
   3. Completed Conformity Matrix CLICK.

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API Application Timeline:

The application, documentation, and fees are submitted through MyCerts and a quality associate at API reviews the material within 30 days.  If the application is accepted, it will be automatically placed in the audit set-up queue.  If there are discrepancies within the submitted documentation material, the application will be returned to the applicant with non-conformances or requests for further information.  After the application is sent to the audit-setup queue, various local auditors to the facility’s location are contacted in order to coordinate schedules and audit ability. An auditor is chosen and contacts the facility in order to schedule the audit.  

MyCerts Application Portal

From application acceptance to the actual facility audit could take from 3-5 months depending on auditor availability.  Once the audit is conducted, the facility has 60 days to respond to all findings, if any. Those responses are submitted to a quality associate at API and the associate will have 30 days to review the audit and findings in order to submit this information to the Licensing Registration Committee (LRC) for a seconding review.  Once the audit review reaches the LRC they will conduct their review within three business days and either accept or reject the report. If accepted, the facility’s account will be changed to active status within the Composite List and the physical certificates will be mailed within two weeks.

Fees for APIQR
​(plus the cost of an audit)

1. API Q1 - $3,000 for the application fee and $3,000 annual fee once certified.
2. API Q2 - $3,000 for the application fee and $3,000 annual fee once certified.
3. ISO 9001: 2015 ed. - $2,000 for the application fee and $2,000 annual fee once certified.  ISO 9001 is included with Q1 and Q2 at no additional cost.
4. ISO 14001 - $2,500 for the application fee and $2,500 annual fee once certified.  When included with another registration like API Q1, API Q2, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 9001 the fee for ISO 14001 is only $2,000.
5. OHSAS 18001 - $2,500 for the application fee and $2,500 annual fee once certified.  When included with another registration like API Q1, API Q2, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 9001 the fee for OHSAS 18001 is only $2,000.
6. API Std 18LCM - $3,000 for the application fee and $3,000 annual fee once certified.

Fees for API Monogram Licensing
​(plus the cost of an audit)

1. 1st License - $5,000 for the application fee and $5,000 annual fee once certified.
2. 2nd License - $3,500 for the application fee and $3,500 annual fee once certified.
3. Each Additional License - $2,000 for the application fee and $2,000 annual fee once certified.

These outlined steps are essential building blocks to becoming an API Certified company which brings immense benefit to you and your business.  We hope that this brief outline will assist you in your endeavor to attain a registration or product license in the near future. Feel free to ask us a question either by submitting a comment below or reaching out to us (CLICK).  

Now, show your suppliers and future customers around the globe that you meet the API Standards within your manufacturing capabilities!

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