The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors

Examination Information

Print Date: 10/23/2024 8:32:07 PM

National Board Inservice Inspector Commission Examination

The Inservice Inspector Commission examination reflects inspection situations related to installation and inservice. The examination consists of 85 questions and is administered in one day. NB-331-I, Body of Knowledge for Inservice Inspectors, provides the inspector candidate with specific areas of knowledge that may be included on the Inservice Inspector Commission Examination.

The Inservice Inspector Commission examination is offered as follows:

National Board
The examination is administered on the last day of the National Board Inservice Inspector Commission (IS) two-week course. See NB-461, Candidate Handbook for the Inservice Inspector Commission Examination.
Prometric (SMT)
The National Board has partnered with Prometric to administer our commission and endorsement exams via their on-demand computer-based platform, with locations in over 180 countries around the world. Registration for examinations is completed through the National Board's Business Center. For more information, please visit the Education Center/Exam Registration page.

Member Jurisdictions
Some National Board member jurisdictions administer the examination on the first Wednesday in March, June, September and December of each year. It will be necessary for candidates to contact the member jurisdiction to make arrangements for the examination.

National Board Authorized Inspector Commission Examination

The Authorized Inspector Commission examination reflects inspection situations related to boilers, pressure vessels and other pressure equipment being constructed in accordance with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME BPV Code). The examination consists of 85 questions and is administered on the last day of the Authorized Inspector Commission Course (AI).

A candidate for a National Board Authorized Inspector Commission must attend the National Board Authorized Inspector Commission Course (AI) and receive a passing grade on the examination. The schedule for AI classes may be found on the Classroom Training Courses page. NB-331-NC, Body of Knowledge for Authorized Inspectors, provides the inspector candidate with specific areas of knowledge that will be included on the "AI" Commission Examination, and NB-424, Candidate Handbook for the Authorized Inspector Commission Examination can be found on the Business Center under the Education Center's Classroom Catalog.

National Board Commission Endorsement Examinations

A candidate for a Commission endorsement must attend the appropriate course and receive a passing grade on the examination. The agendas for endorsement courses, Candidate Handbooks, and a Bodies of Knowledge may be found on the Classroom Training Courses page.