# QA/QC inspector careers: CSWIP 3.1, API 510, NDT (2026)

> Most QA/QC inspectors in oil and gas start in welding, NDT or mechanical work, then add certificates. CSWIP 3.1 needs 3 years of welding inspection experience and an approved course. API 510 needs 1 to 5 years of pressure vessel experience depending on education. ASNT 9712 Level II in UT needs 180 days of experience and 18 days of training.

Source: RigJobsDirect, https://rigjobsdirect.com/guides/qa-qc-inspector-careers-cswip-api-ndt
Category: Licensing. Last updated: 2026-10-16.

A QA/QC inspector checks that welds, piping, pressure vessels, tanks and equipment are built and maintained to the code. In oil and gas, the three certificates you see most in job ads are **CSWIP 3.1** (welding inspector), **API 510** (pressure vessel inspector) and **NDT Level 2** (non-destructive testing technician). None of them is a starter course: CSWIP 3.1 needs 3 years of welding inspection experience, API 510 needs 1 to 5 years of pressure vessel experience depending on your education, and NDT Level 2 needs supervised hours in the method.

This guide explains what each certificate is, who can sit it, what it costs, how long it lasts, and where QA/QC inspector jobs are. We checked each rule against the certifying body's own documents.

## What a QA/QC inspector does

QA (quality assurance) is the system: procedures, inspection and test plans, audits and records. QC (quality control) is the checking itself: inspecting welds, reviewing NDT reports, witnessing pressure tests, checking material certificates and signing off. In practice, most energy jobs combine both.

Typical QA/QC roles:

| Role | Main certificate in ads |
|---|---|
| Welding inspector, QC welding | CSWIP 3.1, AWS CWI |
| Senior welding inspector | CSWIP 3.2.1 or 3.2.2 |
| Pressure vessel or static equipment inspector | API 510 |
| Piping inspector | API 570 |
| Tank inspector | API 653 |
| NDT technician | ISO 9712 or ASNT Level II, PCN, or employer-based SNT-TC-1A |
| QA/QC engineer or manager | An engineering degree plus one or more of the above |

## CSWIP 3.1 welding inspector

CSWIP is run by TWI Certification. CSWIP 3.1 is the "Welding Inspector" level, between Visual Welding Inspector (3.0) and Senior Welding Inspector (3.2) ([CSWIP WI-6-92, 17th edition, June 2024](https://www.cswip.com/microsites/cswip/pdfs/schemes/welding-inspection/CSWIP-WI-6-92-Welding-Inspectors-17th-Edition-June-2024.pdf)).

### Who can sit CSWIP 3.1

According to the CSWIP scheme document, you need one of:

- at least **3 years of welding inspection experience** under qualified supervision, independently verified, or
- **CSWIP Visual Welding Inspector (3.0) for at least 2 years**, or
- CSWIP Welding Instructor or Welding Foreman/Supervisor for at least 1 year.

You must also attend a **CSWIP-approved training course** at the right level before the exam (unless you qualify for the mature candidate route), and send an **eyesight test** from the past 12 months. Approved courses are listed by [TWI Training](https://www.twitraining.com/).

### Validity and renewal

The certificate is valid for **5 years** from the initial exam. You can renew it for another 5 years with evidence of continuous work and a recent eyesight test. At 10 years you take a renewal exam. If you fail an exam, you get one retest within a year, not earlier than 30 days after the first attempt unless you do more approved training.

### CSWIP 3.1 course fees in India and Pakistan

Fees depend on the training centre and country, and TWI does not publish one worldwide price. Ask an approved centre for the course and exam fee in writing, and check the centre is on TWI's approved list before you pay. Our guide to [recruitment scams](https://rigjobsdirect.com/guides/avoid-recruitment-scams-gulf-oil-gas-jobs) also covers fake certificate offers.

## API 510 pressure vessel inspector

API 510 is the American Petroleum Institute's certification for in-service inspection of pressure vessels. It is valid for 3 years and accredited to ISO 17024 ([API](https://www.api.org/products-and-services/individual-certification-programs/certifications)).

### API 510 eligibility

The experience must be within the last 10 years and gained while working for, or under contract with, an authorised inspection agency.

| Education | Experience needed |
|---|---|
| BS or higher in engineering or technology, or 3+ years of technical military service | 1 year supervising or doing API 510 inspection activities |
| 2-year associate degree or certificate in engineering or technology, or 2 years of technical military service | 2 years in design, fabrication, repair, operation or inspection of pressure vessels, including 1 year of inspection |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3 years, including 1 year of inspection |
| No formal education | 5 or more years, including 1 year of inspection |

Source: [API 510 qualification table](https://www.api.org/products-and-services/individual-certification-programs/certifications).

### The API 510 exam

The exam is taken at a test centre. API describes a 7.5-hour exam day with 170 questions (140 scored): 110 closed-book questions in 2.75 hours and 60 open-book questions in 3.75 hours, with the codes provided as PDFs on screen. The [Body of Knowledge](https://www.api.org/-/media/Files/Certification/ICP/ICP-Certification-Programs/510/2026/Sept%202026%20510%20BOK_final.pdf) for the September 2026 to May 2027 exams lists the documents, including API 510, API RP 571 and API RP 572.

### API 510 test dates and fees

From API's [schedules and fees page](https://www.api.org/products-and-services/individual-certification-programs/schedules-and-fees):

| Exam window | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| 2 to 22 January 2027 | 29 October 2026 |
| 7 to 28 May 2027 | 4 March 2027 |
| 3 to 24 September 2027 | 2 July 2027 |

| Fee | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Initial certification, API member | $875 | $890 |
| Initial certification, non-member | $1,125 | $1,140 |
| Recertification, non-member | $855 | $870 |

To recertify every 3 years, you must show that at least 20% of your time was spent doing or supervising pressure vessel inspection, and complete 24 hours of continuing professional development.

### API 510 and API 570

API 570 is the matching certification for piping. Many inspectors hold both, and job ads often ask for "API 510/570". The fees and format are similar, with separate exam windows.

## NDT Level 2

NDT technicians test welds and materials without damaging them, using methods such as ultrasonic (UT), radiographic (RT), magnetic particle (MT), liquid penetrant (PT) and visual (VT) testing. Level 2 means you can set up and run tests and interpret results on your own. There are two main systems:

- **Central certification to ISO 9712**, for example ASNT 9712, PCN in the UK, and other national schemes.
- **Employer-based certification** in the US under ASNT's recommended practice SNT-TC-1A, where your employer qualifies you ([ASNT](https://certification.asnt.org/accreditation/employer-based-certification/)).

### NDT Level 2 hour requirements

For ASNT 9712 Level II, ASNT lists these minimums ([ASNT](https://certification.asnt.org/certification/asnt-9712-level-ii)):

| Method | Experience in the method | Training |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic particle (MT) | 60 days | 5 days |
| Liquid penetrant (PT) | 60 days | 5 days |
| Radiographic (RT) | 180 days | 15 days, plus radiation safety training |
| Ultrasonic (UT) | 180 days | 18 days |

ASNT counts one day as at least seven hours. For each method you pass a general exam, a specific exam, an instruction-writing exam and at least one practical exam.

### NDT Level 2 certification fees

ASNT 9712 Level II costs **$1,270** for ASNT members and **$1,345** for non-members for one method with one practical technique, or $1,620 to $2,085 for all techniques in a method. ASNT notes that Level II technicians work independently and usually earn higher hourly rates than trainees.

## QA/QC inspector salary

BLS does not have one category for QA/QC inspectors. Construction and building inspectors in the US averaged $77,730 a year in May 2025 ([BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes474011.htm)), but that group includes building control inspectors outside energy.

On RigJobsDirect on 16 October 2026, 80 of the 1,104 [QA/QC and inspection jobs](https://rigjobsdirect.com/jobs/role/quality-inspection) we listed stated a yearly salary, and most of those were between $69,000 and $166,000 a year. In Houston, the two ads with a salary offered $82,000 to $156,000.

### QA/QC inspector salary in the UAE and Dubai

We did not find official salary statistics for QA/QC inspectors in the UAE, and Gulf ads rarely state pay. Salaries are not taxed in the UAE, and offers are split into basic salary and allowances, which affects gratuity. See our guide to [Gulf oil and gas salaries and benefits](https://rigjobsdirect.com/guides/oil-gas-salaries-benefits-gulf).

## Where the QA/QC jobs are

On RigJobsDirect on 16 October 2026:

| Location | Open QA/QC and inspection jobs |
|---|---|
| Worldwide | [1,104](https://rigjobsdirect.com/jobs/role/quality-inspection), at 103 employers |
| Abu Dhabi | [62](https://rigjobsdirect.com/jobs/role/quality-inspection/in/abu-dhabi), at 8 employers |
| Houston | [53](https://rigjobsdirect.com/jobs/role/quality-inspection/in/houston), at 20 employers |
| Dubai | [13](https://rigjobsdirect.com/jobs/role/quality-inspection/in/dubai), at 5 employers |
| Singapore | [11](https://rigjobsdirect.com/jobs/role/quality-inspection/in/singapore), at 7 employers |

Abu Dhabi had more QA/QC jobs than any other city on the board that day. Read each ad for the certificates it asks for. See also [mechanical and piping jobs](https://rigjobsdirect.com/jobs/role/mechanical), where many static equipment roles are listed.

## How to become a QA/QC inspector

1. **Start in a related trade.** Welders, fabricators, pipefitters and mechanical technicians often move into inspection. An NDT trainee job is another way in.
2. **Get a first certificate that matches your work.** NDT Level 2 in one method, or CSWIP 3.0 if you do visual weld inspection.
3. **Log your experience carefully.** CSWIP and API both verify experience, and API needs your supervisor's details.
4. **Add CSWIP 3.1 or API 510/570** once you meet the experience rules.
5. **Learn the codes.** ASME, API and project specifications matter more to employers than the certificate alone.
6. **Keep certificates valid.** Missed renewals can mean resitting the full exam.

Rules, fees and exam dates change. This guide is general information, so always check the certifying body's current documents before you pay.

## Frequently asked questions

### What qualifications do I need to be a QA/QC inspector?

It depends on the role. Welding inspectors usually need CSWIP 3.1 or AWS CWI, pressure vessel inspectors API 510, piping inspectors API 570, and NDT technicians Level 2 in their method. QA/QC engineers usually have an engineering degree as well.

### How much experience do I need for CSWIP 3.1?

At least 3 years of verified welding inspection experience, or 2 years as a CSWIP Visual Welding Inspector, plus a CSWIP-approved course and a recent eyesight test.

### How long is a CSWIP 3.1 certificate valid?

Five years. You renew it at 5 years with evidence of continuous work, and take a renewal exam at 10 years.

### Who can take the API 510 exam?

People with 1 to 5 years of pressure vessel experience, depending on education, including at least 1 year of inspection work, gained in the last 10 years with an authorised inspection agency.

### How many hours do I need for NDT Level 2?

For ASNT 9712 Level II, 60 days of experience and 5 days of training for MT or PT, and 180 days of experience for RT or UT, with 15 days of training for RT and 18 for UT.

### Can I get a QA/QC inspector job in the UAE from abroad?

Some employers hire from abroad. Read each ad for the experience and certificates it needs, and check the [apply from abroad page](https://rigjobsdirect.com/jobs/apply-from-abroad) for jobs open to international applicants.

## Sources

- https://www.cswip.com/microsites/cswip/pdfs/schemes/welding-inspection/CSWIP-WI-6-92-Welding-Inspectors-17th-Edition-June-2024.pdf
- https://www.cswip.com/microsites/cswip/certification/welding-inspection
- https://www.twitraining.com/
- https://www.api.org/products-and-services/individual-certification-programs/certifications
- https://www.api.org/products-and-services/individual-certification-programs/schedules-and-fees
- https://www.api.org/-/media/Files/Certification/ICP/ICP-Certification-Programs/510/2026/Sept%202026%20510%20BOK_final.pdf
- https://certification.asnt.org/certification/asnt-9712-level-ii
- https://certification.asnt.org/accreditation/employer-based-certification/
- https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes474011.htm
- https://www.bls.gov/developers/