ASME B31 PIPING OWNER'S INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION
Launching in the first quarter of 2027. Be the first to know.
ASME B31 PIPING OWNER'S INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION
ASME B31 PIPING OWNER'S INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION
A new standard for owner-side inspection accountability in pressure and process piping systems.
initial application
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About the Program
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The Role
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Eligibility
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Exam Overview
About the Program
ASME B31 codes specify that this obligation is met through the services of an Owner's Inspector. Yet the exact qualifications, duties, and tasks of that role have never been formally defined or consistently structured across the industry.
The American Welding Society is changing that.
The ASME B31 Piping Owner's Inspector Certification program, developed in alignment with ANSI and ISO accreditation requirements, establishes a defined framework for the Owner's Inspector role. It sets the certification standards, outlines the duties and tasks the role demands, and creates a globally recognized credential that the industry can rely on.
This is not a new requirement. It is a formal structure for a role that ASME B31 codes have always required but never fully defined.
The certification is scheduled for release in Q1 2027.
The Role
What a B31 Piping Owner's Inspector Does
A Piping Owner's Inspector (OI) is the owner's representative for inspection accountability across a B31 pressure / process piping project. The role is not tied to a single contractor, phase of work, or isolated scope. It spans the full lifecycle of a project, from design review through fabrication, assembly, erection, examination, testing, and final documentation.
A qualified OI is responsible for the following:
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Design Review
Verifying that design documentation reflects applicable B31 code requirements before fabrication begins and identifying perceived design omissions before they become field problems. -
Fabricator Controls
Reviewing the QC programs maintained by fabricators and erectors to ensure they meet applicable code requirements. -
Materials and Procurement
Confirming that materials and components meet specification and are properly documented throughout the procurement and receiving process. -
Fabrication and Welding
Providing QA oversight of fabrication activities and welding procedures, including review of welder qualification records, continuity logs, and visual examination of welds. -
Examinations and Testing
Overseeing NDE activities, reviewing examination reports, and verifying that hydrostatic and leak testing procedures and results meet code requirements. -
Assembly and Erection
Confirming that field assembly and erection activities are performed in accordance with applicable B31 code requirements. -
Record Keeping
Maintaining a complete, traceable documentation record across all project phases, including design, procurement, welding, and examination records, that clearly reflects the owner's accountability for the system.
The OI is not a replacement for existing inspection functions. It is the connective role that ensures all of those functions align with the owner's responsibility for the system as a whole.
Eligibility
| Credential | Years of Pressure Piping Experience Required |
| Experience in Pressure Piping | 1 year |
| Professional Engineer (PE) or national equivalent | 0.5 years |
| National Board Authorized Inspector (AI) | None Required |
| National Board Pressure Equipment Inspector (PEI) | None Required |
| National Board Commissioned Inspector | 0.5 years |
| AWS CWI or SCWI | 0.5 years |
| API 570 Inspector | 0.5 years |
Relevant experience is defined as time spent in the design, fabrication, or examination of industrial piping systems.
Full eligibility requirements will be published as part of the official program launch in Q1 2027. Requirements shown above reflect the current draft standard and are subject to change.
Certification Examination Prerequisites
Candidates seeking to take the certification examination leading to COI certification shall fulfill one of the following two prerequisites:
1) Pass the Fundamentals of Piping Systems exam based on the subjects contained in 7.1 of AWS B5.31, Specification for the Qualification of B31 Owner’s Inspectors.
2) Hold a current API 570 Inspector certification.
Certification Exam Overview
Candidates must pass two written examinations to achieve the ASME B31 Piping Owner's Inspector designation:
Fundamentals of Piping Systems Examination*: Covers relevant codes and standards, piping components, drawings and specifications, fabrication and welding, NDE examination, testing, and non-metallic materials.
Certification Examination: Covers piping design fundamentals, piping materials, piping fabrication, NDE examination, heat treating and testing, equipment calibration, record retention, non-metallic materials, piping assembly and erection, Category M design, high pressure design, high purity design, and ASME Section IX.
Exam structure, approved reference materials, and testing locations will be announced as part of the official program launch.
*If someone has the API 570 Inspector Certification, they have met the prerequisite of taking the Fundamentals of Piping Systems Examination.
The owner’s inspector network
The owner’s inspector network
Join a Community Built Around This Work
The network is designed to connect professionals working across this space, create a forum for sharing practical knowledge and field experience, support ongoing dialogue as the role evolves across industries and regions, and amplify the importance of structured inspection accountability at the project and organizational level.
We are currently looking for founding volunteers to help shape the network from the ground up. If you have experience working in owner-side inspection, QA/QC management, or B31 project environments and want to help build a resource the industry has needed for a long time, we want to hear from you.
Indicate your interest in volunteering when you complete the form below.
white paper - coming soon
white paper - coming soon
Go Deeper on the Problem This Certification Solves
The white paper will be available soon.
WHY AWS
WHY AWS
The ASME B31 Piping Owner's Inspector Certification extends that foundation into an area that has not previously been formally defined. The program was developed with input from B31 subject matter experts who remain actively involved in maintaining and updating the standard as codes evolve.
AWS did not create this certification because it saw a market opportunity. It created it because ASME B31 codes have always required this role and the industry has never had a consistent standard, nor certification program to support it.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the minimum industry work eligibility requirements for someone to be eligible for an ASME B31 Piping Owner’s Inspector (COI) certification?
Eligibility for the ASME B31 Piping Owner’s Inspector (COI) certification examination may be attained through various combinations of industry experience and existing credentials. Requirements are subject to change or revision by the Certification Committee before program launch.
Credential Years of Pressure Piping Experience Required Experience in Pressure Piping 1 year Professional Engineer (PE) or national equivalent 0.5 years National Board Authorized Inspector (AI) None Required National Board Pressure Equipment Inspector (PEI) None Required National Board Commissioned Inspector 0.5 years AWS CWI or SCWI 0.5 years API 570 Inspector 0.5 years -
Is there an examination prerequisite?
Yes, there is a prerequisite to take the COI exam. Eligible COI candidates shall fulfill one of the following two prerequisites:
1) Pass the Fundamentals of Piping Systems exam based on the subjects contained in 7.1 of AWS B5.31, Specification for the Qualification of B31 Owner’s Inspectors.
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2) Hold a current API 570 inspector certification. -
Do I need to take a COI seminar, training course or workshop to be eligible for the ASME B31 Piping Owner’s Inspector (COI) certification exam?
No. Candidates are not required to attend a seminar, training course, or educational workshop to be eligible to take the ASME B31 Piping Owner’s Inspector (COI) certification exam. However, candidates must meet the industry work experience eligibility requirements and satisfy one of the exam prerequisites before they can be approved to sit for the COI examination.
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How can I receive updates, launch information or any announcements about the ASME B31 Piping Owner’s Inspector (COI) Certification exam and training programs?
Simply enter your name, email address, and industry drop-downs and use the submit button to send your request to AWS.
Click here to be added to the announcement list.
Just a reminder, if you’d like to learn more about the volunteer opportunities surrounding the Owen’s Inspector Network, click the box above the submit button. -
How can I become a founding volunteer to help shape the Owner’s Inspector Community that is being formed?
Indicate your interest in volunteering here!