One purchase covers the whole API-936 journey in 2026: a study PDF for reading, test engines for timed practice, 87 questions with free updates for 365 days, and a support team behind every API Refractory Personnel order at Real4Prep.
API API-936 Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Section | Objectives |
|---|---|
| Installation | - Installation equipment
|
| Inspection | - Inspection techniques
|
| Applicator and Material Qualification | - Installation methods
|
| Post-Installation | - Final verification
|
| Laboratory Testing Procedures | - Refractory test methods
|
Before You Take the API API-936 Exam: Key FAQs
Registering for the API-936 exam costs $580 USD at the official rate, and you need Scaled scoring system (official passing score not publicly disclosed) to pass. Bear in mind that an unsuccessful attempt is not discounted the second time around — a retake is charged at the full fee again. That is why experienced candidates test themselves with the 87 practice questions from Real4Prep until their results are consistently strong before spending money on the real thing.
Yes, and we encourage it. A free PDF demo of the API-936 questions is available so you can evaluate the quality and layout before buying. After purchase, your material stays current with 365 days of free updates — and if that period ever expires, you can extend the update service at a 50% discount through your member zone.
You will face 75 scored questions + 10 pretest questions questions within a time allowance of 195 minutes. Raw numbers aside, the real skill is pacing: candidates who run out of time usually spent too long on early questions. Our advice is to set a mental per-question budget, skip and revisit anything that stalls you, and complete at least two full timed runs in the Real4Prep test engine before the real appointment so the clock never rattles you.
Both situations are covered. Take the corresponding API-936 exam within 60 days of purchase without passing, and you may claim a full refund under our 100% Money Back Guarantee: submit a scanned exam enrollment slip plus the official Score Report PDF within 2 days of your exam date, and we finish processing within 7 days. The conditions are strict — an exam taken within 3 days of purchase does not qualify, the candidate's name must match the payer's, and free materials or expired orders are excluded. Would you rather keep studying? Swap the order for two other exam products of equal value free of charge while keeping updates on your original purchase. As for delivery, it is immediate: files unlock for download the moment payment clears, a copy reaches your mailbox within a minute, and there is no cap on how many computers you install it on — if 2 hours pass with nothing received, contact our support team.
Passing the API-936 exam earns you the Individual Certification Programs certification, a Professional-level credential. It is the vendor's official proof that your skills meet the standard employers look for, and it regularly appears as a requirement in job postings. The certification also relates to API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector, API 570 Piping Inspector, API 653 Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector, so it can anchor a broader certification plan rather than stand alone.
Candidates must meet API ICP experience and education requirements related to refractory inspection or industrial experience. Because vendors revise their eligibility rules from time to time, treat this as a starting point and verify the latest requirements on the official exam page — see the official API-936 exam outline before you commit to a test date.
The vendor organizes the API Refractory Personnel blueprint into 5 domains, led by Applicator and Material Qualification, Post-Installation, Inspection. Every domain contains further subtopics, and the weighting tells you where your study hours pay off most — the full outline above has the complete picture, so review it before building your study plan.
API Refractory Personnel Sample Questions:
Test results received from cast sample mock-ups will serve to qualify the:
Correct Answer:

Explanation:
mixing time
mix water levels
installation procedures
According to API Std 936 and supporting guidance from TR 980, cast sample mock-ups are used during pre-installation trials to ensure the suitability and repeatability of installation variables such as mixing procedures and water content. These mock-ups are critical to confirm that the material can be properly installed under anticipated field conditions.
From API 936:
"Mock-up cast sample trials shall be used to demonstrate the adequacy of the mixing time, water addition (mix water levels), and installation procedures prior to production installation."
- API Std 936, Section 6.3.2
This ensures that full-scale application performance is achievable using the approved methods and materials. However:
The "quality of the inspection equipment" and
"fabricator of the mock-up"
are not part of the qualification objectives defined for cast sample testing.
Correct selections:
mixing time
mix water levels
installation procedures
All newly installed air-setting, hydraulic, and chemically bonded linings should be allowed to cure at the proper temperature before initial heating for a minimum of:
- A. 18 hours
- B. 48 hours
- C. 24 hours
- D. 12 hours
Correct Answer: C 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for Real4Prep members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
Which party or individual is responsible for submitting a dryout procedure for a new lining?
- A. Inspection company
- B. Refractory manufacturer
- C. Contractor
- D. Dry-out company
Correct Answer: C 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for Real4Prep members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
In accordance with TR 980, when curing a high-purity, low-cement castable for a high-temperature unit, which of the following sequences ensures minimum cracking risk?
- A. Dryout using open flame burners after form removal
- B. Accelerated drying using forced air at 400°F for 12 hours
- C. Steam curing for 48 hours followed by firing at 1500°F
- D. Air curing for 24 hours, followed by controlled heating ramp of 50°F/h up to 600°F
Correct Answer: D 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for Real4Prep members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
Which of the following is a quality control element?
(This may have more than one correct answer; please select all answers that apply.)
- A. As-installed testing
- B. Installation monitoring
- C. Initial Inspection
- D. Report writing
Correct Answer: A,B,C 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for Real4Prep members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
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