100+ Free NBBI Authorized Inspector Supervisor (B) Practice Questions

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Question 1

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Per NB-371 / NB-381, when a procedural deviation is needed for a specific inspection situation, the AIA QMS must:

Allow the inspector to deviate verbally

Require the manufacturer to write the deviation

Prohibit any deviation regardless of cause

Define a controlled mechanism for documented deviation approval, traceable to the responsible authority

to track

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Key Facts: NBBI Authorized Inspector Supervisor (B) Exam

Exam Questions

NB-428 Candidate Handbook

35 / 50

Passing Score (70%)

NB-428 Candidate Handbook

4 hours

Time Limit

NBBI exam logistics

$100

Endorsement Exam Fee

NBBI Business Center

Open

Book Policy

NB-428

RCI-1 (NB-263)

Primary Body of Knowledge

NBBI

The NBBI B Endorsement Examination has 50 open-book multiple-choice questions and a 70% passing score (35 of 50). It is delivered on the last day of the NBBI B/O Course in person, or via Prometric for virtual students, with a $100 endorsement exam fee. The exam draws primarily from RCI-1 (NB-263) supervisor duties, NBIC oversight of installation/inspection/repairs, ASME oversight of new construction at S/H/U/UM stamp holders, AIA quality program requirements in NB-369/NB-371/NB-381, audits of Authorized Inspectors, and jurisdictional authority over installed equipment.

Sample NBBI Authorized Inspector Supervisor (B) Practice Questions

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1Under RCI-1 (NB-263), an Authorized Inspector Supervisor with a B endorsement is qualified to supervise inspectors performing which activities?

A.Repairs and alterations under NBIC R-stamp programs only

B.ASME Code new construction inspection of boilers and pressure vessels at manufacturers

C.In-service inspections of installed boilers under the NBIC

D.Owner-user inspections of process pressure equipment in operation

Explanation: The B endorsement under RCI-1 (NB-263) qualifies a National Board Commissioned Inspector to supervise Authorized Inspectors performing shop and field inspection of new construction boilers, pressure vessels, and other pressure-retaining items under the ASME Code on behalf of an Authorized Inspection Agency (AIA). The N (NS) endorsement covers in-service inspector supervision, and the I endorsement covers repair/alteration supervisor work.

2Per RCI-1, an Inspector Supervisor must hold a valid National Board Commission with which minimum endorsement before adding the B endorsement?

A.No prior endorsement is required; the B can be the first endorsement

B.The A endorsement (in-service)

C.The Authorized Inspector (AI) commission with an A or N endorsement appropriate for the work supervised

D.Only the R endorsement (repairs and alterations)

Explanation: RCI-1 requires a candidate for the B endorsement to already hold a valid National Board Commission with the endorsement appropriate to the new construction inspections being supervised. In practice this means an active Authorized Inspector (AI) commission so that the supervisor has direct knowledge of the inspections they will oversee at ASME-certified manufacturers.

3Which National Board document is the primary body of knowledge for the B Endorsement Examination?

A.NB-23, the National Board Inspection Code

B.NB-263, RCI-1, Rules for Commissioned Inspectors

C.NB-369, Accreditation of Authorized Inspection Agencies Performing In-Service Inspections

D.NB-57, Accreditation of Owner-User Inspection Organizations

Explanation: The B Endorsement Examination is based on NB-263 (RCI-1), Rules for Commissioned Inspectors. RCI-1 defines commission types, endorsement requirements, supervisor duties, audit obligations, re-examination policies, and how Inspector Supervisors interact with jurisdictions and AIAs. NB-23, NB-369, and NB-57 are supporting references for specific technical areas.

4An Inspector Supervisor reviewing an Authorized Inspector's work file finds that several Manufacturer's Data Reports were signed without evidence that the Code-required hydrostatic test was witnessed. The supervisor's first action under RCI-1 should be to:

A.Notify the jurisdiction of record immediately and request that the affected vessels be removed from service

B.Disregard the omission if the manufacturer's QC department signed the test record

C.Document the deficiency, suspend or restrict the inspector's signing authority as appropriate, and require corrective action

D.Re-witness the tests personally on the next routine visit and let the inspector continue signing

Explanation: RCI-1 requires the Inspector Supervisor to monitor and verify the work product of the inspectors they supervise. When deficiencies that affect Code compliance are identified, the supervisor must document the finding, take appropriate action ranging from retraining to suspending signing authority, and ensure corrective action is implemented through the AIA quality program before the inspector resumes that activity.

5Under RCI-1, who is responsible for ensuring that each Authorized Inspector remains current with revisions to the ASME Code, the NBIC, and the AIA quality program?

A.The ASME standards committee that publishes the Code

B.The National Board enforcement department

C.The Inspector Supervisor employed by the AIA, working through the AIA's training program

D.The individual inspector, with no AIA involvement required

Explanation: The Inspector Supervisor is responsible for keeping the inspectors assigned to them current with the editions, addenda, and Code Cases that affect their work. This includes scheduled training on Code revisions, NBIC changes, jurisdictional updates, and the AIA's internal procedures. Documentation of that training is part of each inspector's qualification record reviewed during the AIA audit.

6An AI Supervisor assigns inspectors to ASME-certified shops. Per RCI-1, the assignment decision must primarily consider:

A.Travel cost from the inspector's home to the shop

B.The inspector's commission, endorsements, and demonstrated competence for the products being built

C.The inspector's personal preference for product type

D.The shop's preferred inspector based on past assignments

Explanation: RCI-1 requires the supervisor to assign only inspectors whose commission and endorsements match the scope of work and who have demonstrated competence with the specific product categories. For example, an inspector without nuclear endorsement cannot be assigned to Section III work, and an inspector with no Section VIII experience should not be sole inspector at a complex pressure vessel shop.

7Per RCI-1, how often, at minimum, must an Inspector Supervisor perform a documented review of each Authorized Inspector under their supervision?

A.At least once every six months

B.At least annually

C.Only when the inspector requests a review

D.Only when the AIA undergoes its triennial audit

Explanation: RCI-1 establishes a minimum annual documented performance review for each Authorized Inspector. The review evaluates technical performance, adherence to the AIA quality program, training completion, and any audit findings related to that inspector. The record becomes part of the inspector's personnel file kept by the AIA.

8An Inspector Supervisor learns that one of the inspectors has accepted a part-time consulting role at an ASME-certified manufacturer where the inspector also performs Authorized Inspections. Under RCI-1, the supervisor must:

A.Approve the consulting role if the manufacturer pays the AIA directly

B.Recognize the activity as a conflict of interest and require it to be terminated or remove the inspector from that shop's assignments

C.Allow it because RCI-1 does not address outside employment

D.Refer the matter to the ASME Conformity Assessment department for a ruling

Explanation: RCI-1 prohibits inspectors and their supervisors from having any direct or indirect employment, financial interest, or consulting relationship with the Certificate Holder being inspected because it compromises independence. The supervisor must remove the inspector from those assignments or require the outside relationship to be terminated, and must document the resolution.

9Per RCI-1, the Inspector Supervisor's monitoring of an Authorized Inspector at a manufacturer's shop should include direct observation:

A.Only during the inspector's first month of assignment

B.On a documented, periodic basis appropriate to the activity and the inspector's experience

C.Only when the manufacturer requests it

D.Never; supervision is administrative only

Explanation: RCI-1 requires direct observation as part of supervision, with the frequency tailored to risk: more often for new inspectors, complex products, or where prior audits identified concerns; less often for experienced inspectors at simple shops with clean audit history. The observation must be documented in the inspector's file.

10Which of the following best describes the Inspector Supervisor's responsibility when an inspector's National Board Commission is about to expire?

A.Allow the inspector to keep working; expiration is the National Board's concern

B.Track expiration dates, ensure timely renewal documentation, and prohibit Code inspections after expiration until renewal is granted

C.Issue a temporary commission under the AIA's authority

D.Have the inspector self-certify continued competence in lieu of renewal

Explanation: The supervisor is responsible for tracking the commission status of each inspector. If a commission lapses, the inspector loses the legal authority to perform Code inspections; the supervisor must prohibit such work until renewal is reinstated and must document the gap. AIAs cannot issue their own commissions.

About the NBBI Authorized Inspector Supervisor (B) Exam

The NBBI Authorized Inspector Supervisor (B) Endorsement Examination qualifies a National Board Commissioned Inspector to supervise Authorized Inspectors performing ASME Code new construction inspections of boilers, pressure vessels, and other pressure-retaining items on behalf of an Authorized Inspection Agency (AIA). The 50-question open-book test is administered on the last day of the NBBI Inspector Supervisor (B/O) Course in person, or on demand through Prometric for virtual students. The body of knowledge is RCI-1 (NB-263), supported by the NBIC, ASME Sections I/IV/VIII, and the AIA accreditation documents NB-369, NB-371, and NB-381.

Assessment

50 multiple-choice questions; minimum 35 correct to pass (70%). Open-book using RCI-1, the NBIC, applicable ASME sections, and NB-369/NB-371/NB-381 references as permitted in the B/O Course reference list.

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

70% (35 of 50)

Exam Fee

$100 endorsement exam fee (National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI) / Prometric / SMT)

NBBI Authorized Inspector Supervisor (B) Exam Content Outline

22%

Supervisor Duties per RCI-1 (NB-263)

Assignments, monitoring, performance reviews, documentation, disciplinary action, conflict-of-interest, and supervisor independence.

16%

AIA Quality Program (NB-369 / NB-371 / NB-381)

Document control, corrective action, internal audits, training records, deviation control, management review, and records retention.

16%

NBIC Oversight (Parts 1, 2, 3)

Installation, in-service inspection intervals, repairs and alterations, R-stamp forms, hydro test factors, fitness-for-service.

14%

ASME BPV Code Oversight (Sec I, IV, VIII Div 1)

AI duties at S/H/U/UM stamp holders, hold points, Data Reports, hydrostatic test factors, WPS/PQR, UM inspection plans.

12%

Auditing Inspectors

Audit scope, methodology, observation, classification of findings, corrective action closure, trending, and auditor independence.

10%

Jurisdictional Authority

Adoption-by-reference, rule hierarchy, jurisdiction vs NBIC default, multi-jurisdiction work, US/Canadian provincial commissioning.

10%

New Construction Supervisory Oversight

QC system reviews, ASME Joint Reviews, scope expansions, field-assembly responsibility, suspended Certificate Holders.

How to Pass the NBBI Authorized Inspector Supervisor (B) Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70% (35 of 50)
Assessment: 50 multiple-choice questions; minimum 35 correct to pass (70%). Open-book using RCI-1, the NBIC, applicable ASME sections, and NB-369/NB-371/NB-381 references as permitted in the B/O Course reference list.
Time limit: 4 hours
Exam fee: $100 endorsement exam fee

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NBBI Authorized Inspector Supervisor (B) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read RCI-1 (NB-263) cover-to-cover and tab the supervisor-duty paragraphs before the exam.

2Memorize the trio of AIA quality documents: NB-369 (accreditation), NB-371 (application/renewal), NB-381 (quality program).

3Practice navigating the NBIC quickly between Parts 1 (installation), 2 (inspection), and 3 (repairs and alterations).

4Know the ASME hydrostatic test factor (1.3 times MAWP, post-2001 Section VIII Div 1) and Section I PG-67 safety-valve rules cold.

5Build a mental flowchart for handling inspector findings: independent review, document, corrective action, root cause, follow-up.

6Drill jurisdictional hierarchy: jurisdiction over NBIC default, NBIC default over manufacturer/owner preference.

7Use audit-classification scenarios (Severe/Major/Minor/Observation) to test your judgment on real findings.

8Practice supervisor-independence scenarios: never overrule an inspector's Code-based rejection on commercial grounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NBBI B Endorsement Examination?

The Authorized Inspector Supervisor (B) Endorsement Examination is the National Board test that authorizes a commissioned inspector to supervise Authorized Inspectors performing ASME Code new construction inspections at AIA-accredited shops. The 50-question open-book exam is administered on the last day of the NBBI Inspector Supervisor (B/O) Course in person or via Prometric for virtual students.

How many questions are on the exam and what is the passing score?

The exam has 50 multiple-choice questions with a minimum of 35 correct to pass (70%). Per the NB-428 candidate handbook, candidates who fail three times in a 12-month period must wait at least 12 months before the next attempt.

How much does the B endorsement exam cost?

The endorsement exam fee is $100. The NBBI Inspector Supervisor (B/O) Course is a separate tuition charged by NBBI; current rates are listed in the NBBI Business Center.

What are the prerequisites for the B endorsement?

You must hold a valid National Board Commission with the AI endorsement (or O endorsement), complete the NBBI Inspector Supervisor (B/O) Course, meet the supervisor experience required by RCI-1 (NB-263) Table 3, and be employed by a National Board member jurisdiction or an accredited/accepted AIA.

Is the B endorsement exam open-book?

Yes. The exam is open-book per the NB-428 candidate handbook. The B/O Course reference-material list defines which documents you may bring. Tabs that reference paragraph numbers or names are allowed; blank tabs and any insert pages, notations, or crib sheets are prohibited.

What is the body of knowledge?

RCI-1 (NB-263) is the primary body of knowledge. It is supported by the NBIC (NB-23) for installation, inspection, and repairs/alterations oversight; ASME Sections I, IV, and VIII Div 1 for new construction; and NB-369, NB-371, and NB-381 for the AIA quality program.

What does a B endorsement let me do?

The B endorsement authorizes you to supervise Authorized Inspectors performing ASME Code new construction inspections on behalf of an AIA. The N (NS) endorsement covers supervision of in-service inspectors under the NBIC, and the I endorsement covers supervision of repair/alteration inspectors. Many supervisors hold multiple endorsements.