The API-936 exam, officially titled Refractory Personnel, is the qualifying test for the Refractory Personnel Certification certification from American Petroleum Institute (API), a credential at the Professional level. Passing it proves you have the skills employers look for in certified professionals, and it can also support progress toward related credentials such as API 982 Refractory Inspector.

The API Refractory Personnel exam gives you 195 minutes to work through 85 (75 scored + 10 pretest) questions. That is a steady pace with little room for second-guessing, so train yourself to read each question once, flag the difficult ones, and keep moving. Before exam day, sit at least two full timed sessions in the PracticeVCE test engine — when the clock feels familiar, it stops being a threat.

You need Scaled score, approx. 70% correct (not publicly disclosed) to pass, and the official registration fee is $450 (API members) / $625 (non-members). Fall short and you pay that fee in full again for every retake, which makes solid preparation the cheaper option by far. Work through the PracticeVCE practice questions until you score comfortably above the passing mark, then book your seat.

No mandatory prerequisites; relevant work experience recommended Eligibility rules can change over time, so before you register, confirm the latest requirements on the official exam page: American Petroleum Institute (API) API-936 exam overview.

You can book your API-936 exam through any of these official registration channels:

• API ICP Portal
• Prometric Scheduling

The exam is delivered as In-person test centers or remote proctoring, so you can pick the option that fits your schedule when you book.

American Petroleum Institute (API) recommends the following training for API Refractory Personnel candidates:

• API Learning & Training

Pair that training with the 87 practice questions from PracticeVCE and you can check your readiness topic by topic before exam day.

Yes. PracticeVCE offers a free PDF demo for the API Refractory Personnel exam so you can judge the quality of our questions and answers before paying anything. Every purchase also comes with 365 days of free updates, and once that period expires you can extend your update service at a 50% discount.

Your purchase is protected by a 100% money-back guarantee. If you sit the corresponding API-936 exam within 60 days of buying and do not pass, send us a scan of your exam enrollment slip together with your official Score Report (PDF) within 2 days of the exam date — the candidate name must match the payer's name — and we will process your full refund within 7 days. Please note that exams taken within 3 days of purchase, materials downloaded without ever sitting the exam, free products, and expired orders are not covered. If you would rather not have a refund, you can exchange your order for two exam products of equal value, free of charge, and keep the update service on your original purchase.

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The API Refractory Personnel syllabus is organized into 5 domains. The main areas include API STD 936 Core Requirements (30%), Installation Methods & Procedures (20%), and Refractory Materials & Qualification (25%). Scroll up to the Exam Topics section above for the complete, current outline before you plan your study schedule.