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100+ Free NBBI R Endorsement Practice Questions

Pass your NBBI Repair Inspector (R) Endorsement Examination exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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A 'tube-to-tubesheet' weld repair using explosion welding under NBIC Part 3:

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Key Facts: NBBI R Endorsement Exam

50

Multiple-Choice Questions

NB-464 body of knowledge

70%

Passing Score

NBBI R Endorsement program

4 hours

Exam Time Limit

NBBI exam catalog

$100

Endorsement Exam Fee

NBBI fee schedule

NB-23 Part 3

Primary Reference

NBIC Repairs and Alterations

3 years

R Certificate Term (Organization)

NB-415

The NBBI R Endorsement is the INDIVIDUAL inspector exam, not the company R-stamp. As of May 13, 2026, NBBI delivers the R Endorsement examination as a 50-question, 4-hour, closed-book test with a 70% passing score and a $100 fee, mapped to NB-464 (Body of Knowledge for Repair Inspectors). Candidates must already hold an active National Board IS or AI commission and complete the National Board R Endorsement course before sitting the exam. The exam is distinct from the 'R' Certificate of Authorization that organizations obtain under NB-415; the R Endorsement qualifies the human inspector who then verifies work performed at an R-certified shop or field site.

Sample NBBI R Endorsement Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NBBI R Endorsement exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1The National Board document that defines the body of knowledge for the R Endorsement examination is:
A.NB-23
B.NB-263
C.NB-415
D.NB-464
Explanation: NB-464, 'The National Board Body of Knowledge for Repair Inspectors,' lists the topics tested on the R Endorsement examination. It is published on nationalboard.org and is the official examination outline.
2Part 3 of the National Board Inspection Code (NB-23) provides rules for:
A.Original construction of boilers and pressure vessels
B.Installation of new pressure-retaining items
C.Repairs and alterations to pressure-retaining items
D.Inservice inspection only
Explanation: NBIC Part 3 is titled 'Repairs and Alterations.' It establishes rules and methods to perform, verify, and document repairs and alterations to pressure-retaining items regardless of the original code of construction.
3Per NBIC Part 3, an alteration is BEST described as:
A.Any weld repair that requires PWHT
B.A change in the item that deviates from the original design or affects the pressure-retaining capability
C.Replacement of a tube with the same size and material
D.Routine seal welding of a leaking tube end
Explanation: Part 3 defines an alteration as a change in the item described on the original Manufacturer's Data Report that affects the pressure-retaining capability of the pressure-retaining item. Nonphysical changes such as MAWP or temperature changes are also alterations.
4Per NBIC Part 3, a repair is BEST described as:
A.Any change in design conditions of the item
B.Work necessary to restore a pressure-retaining item to a safe and satisfactory operating condition
C.Only welding work performed on the pressure boundary
D.Replacement of the entire item with a new one
Explanation: NBIC Part 3 defines a repair as the work necessary to restore a pressure-retaining item to a safe and satisfactory operating condition, provided there is no deviation from the original design. Alterations change the original design.
5Which of the following is considered an alteration, NOT a repair, under NBIC Part 3?
A.Re-welding a small pinhole in a shell course using the original WPS
B.Increasing the MAWP of a vessel by reanalysis
C.Replacing a tube with one of the identical size, material, and thickness
D.Grinding out and re-welding a surface crack in a pressure-retaining weld
Explanation: An increase in MAWP, design temperature, or a decrease in minimum design temperature is a nonphysical change classified as an alteration per NBIC Part 3. The other items restore the item to original design without deviating from it.
6Per NBIC Part 3, a 'routine repair' must:
A.Always require PWHT regardless of original code requirements
B.Be limited to listed activities that do not require special design or analysis and meet the jurisdictional rules in effect
C.Be larger in scope than a standard repair
D.Be performed only by ASME 'S' stamp holders
Explanation: Routine repairs are a defined subset of repairs in NBIC Part 3 limited to specific listed activities that do not require special design or engineering analysis. Acceptance of routine repair classification is also subject to acceptance by the Jurisdiction.
7Per NBIC Part 3, which item is generally listed as eligible for the 'routine repair' category?
A.Installation of a new nozzle in a pressure vessel
B.Re-rating a vessel to a higher MAWP
C.Repair or replacement of a tube provided the size does not exceed the limits specified, when the original code did not require PWHT
D.Adding a new manway to a heat exchanger shell
Explanation: Routine repairs include repair or replacement of tubes and pipes within specified size limits when PWHT was not required by the original code of construction. Nozzle installation, manway addition, and re-rating involve design changes and are not routine.
8Per NBIC Part 3, the installation of a new nozzle in a pressure vessel shell, regardless of size, is:
A.Always a routine repair if the WPS is the same as the original
B.An alteration that requires design review and 'R' Certificate Holder controls
C.A repair that needs no Authorized Inspector involvement
D.Not subject to NBIC rules
Explanation: NBIC Part 3 explicitly excludes nozzle installation from the routine repair category. Installing a new nozzle deviates from the original design and is treated as an alteration, requiring design review, an 'R' Certificate Holder, and Inspector acceptance.
9Per NBIC Part 3, who has the authority to accept the classification of a repair as 'routine' for a specific item?
A.The R Certificate Holder alone
B.The owner-user alone
C.The Jurisdiction where the item is installed
D.The original manufacturer only
Explanation: Routine repair classification is subject to the acceptance of the Jurisdiction in which the pressure-retaining item is installed. R Certificate Holders cannot unilaterally classify work as routine.
10Per NBIC Part 3, who is responsible for selecting the repair or alteration method?
A.The Authorized Inspector
B.The Jurisdiction
C.The 'R' Certificate Holder
D.The original manufacturer
Explanation: The 'R' Certificate Holder is responsible for selecting the appropriate repair or alteration method. The Inspector verifies the method is acceptable under the NBIC but does not pick the method.

About the NBBI R Endorsement Exam

The NBBI Repair Inspector (R) Endorsement Examination is the INDIVIDUAL credential exam that adds the 'R' Endorsement to an inspector's existing National Board commission. It is a 50-question, 4-hour, closed-book exam with a 70% passing score and a $100 fee. The endorsement authorizes a commissioned inspector to perform and verify NBIC Part 3 repair and alteration inspection duties. This is NOT the company-level 'R' Certificate of Authorization (the 'R-stamp' for organizations under NB-415); the R Endorsement is the personal-inspector qualification that complements an R-stamped shop's quality system.

Assessment

Single closed-book session with 50 multiple-choice questions covering NB-464 topic areas: NBIC Part 3 repair/alteration rules, R-stamp organizational requirements (NB-415), Forms R-1/R-2/R-3 (NB-66), welding procedure and welder qualification review, PWHT, replacement parts, and jurisdictional acceptance.

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$100 endorsement exam fee (National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI), delivered through Prometric / SMT test centers (remote proctoring also offered))

NBBI R Endorsement Exam Content Outline

24% topic emphasis

NBIC Part 3 - Repairs and Alterations

Repair vs. alteration definitions, routine vs. non-routine categories, methods of repair, testing, stamping, and Inspector duties under NB-23 Part 3.

14% topic emphasis

R-Stamp Organizational Requirements (NB-415)

Accreditation of R Repair Organizations, Quality System Manual scope, joint review and audit, certificate validity, scope expansion, and 'R' stamp control rules.

14% topic emphasis

Forms R-1, R-2, R-3 (NB-66)

When and how to complete Form R-1 (Repair), R-2 (Alteration), and R-3 (Fabricated Parts), including required entries, certifications, attachments, and distribution.

14% topic emphasis

Welding Procedure and Welder Qualification

Review of WPS, PQR, essential variables, P-Numbers and F-Numbers, welder/operator qualification ranges, continuity rules, NDE personnel qualification, and consumable control per ASME Section IX.

10% topic emphasis

Specific Repair Scenarios

Crack repair, weld build-up, flush patch (insert plate), tube and tube bundle replacement, nozzle modification, head replacement, temporary repairs, and graphite/non-metallic equipment.

8% topic emphasis

Postweld Heat Treatment (PWHT)

When PWHT is required by the original code, ASME UCS-56 exemption thresholds, hold temperature and time, local PWHT controls, and qualified temperbead controlled-deposition alternatives.

8% topic emphasis

Replacement Parts and Materials

Material certifications, marking transfer, reuse, PP/R-stamped fabricated parts, Form R-3 attachment to R-1/R-2, and traceability requirements.

8% topic emphasis

Jurisdictional Acceptance and Inspector Duties

Jurisdiction notification and acceptance, NBIC edition adoption, dispute resolution, National Board registration of forms, and non-conformance handling.

How to Pass the NBBI R Endorsement Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Assessment: Single closed-book session with 50 multiple-choice questions covering NB-464 topic areas: NBIC Part 3 repair/alteration rules, R-stamp organizational requirements (NB-415), Forms R-1/R-2/R-3 (NB-66), welding procedure and welder qualification review, PWHT, replacement parts, and jurisdictional acceptance.
  • 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 R Endorsement Study Tips from Top Performers

1Anchor everything to the central question: 'Is this a repair or an alteration?' Most exam items collapse to this distinction and the correct form (R-1 vs. R-2).
2Memorize the routine-repair list in NBIC Part 3 and the specific exclusions (nozzle installations, MAWP changes, head geometry changes) that force the work into the alteration column.
3Practice naming the correct form for any scenario: R-1 for repairs, R-2 for alterations, R-3 for parts fabricated by welding for later use.
4Drill the Inspector's pre-work and pre-stamping verification checklist: WPS, PQR, welder qualification, material identity, NDE, PWHT, and pressure test conditions.
5Study ASME Section IX essential variables (P-No., F-No., thickness, position, preheat, PWHT) because welder/procedure qualification questions appear repeatedly.
6Learn UCS-56 PWHT thresholds for P-No. 1 carbon steel and the NBIC Part 3 temperbead alternative because PWHT and its exemptions show up frequently.
7Walk through Form R-1 and Form R-2 block-by-block once during prep so you can answer 'which block contains what' questions without hesitation.
8Memorize NB-415 essentials: 3-year certificate, written QSM with scope/locations/materials, joint review with Jurisdiction or NB representative, stamp owned by the National Board.
9Practice jurisdictional acceptance and emergency notification scenarios because they reflect actual field decisions Inspectors face daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the NBBI R Endorsement the same as an R-stamp?

No. The R Endorsement is an INDIVIDUAL inspector credential added to a National Board IS or AI commission. The 'R' Certificate of Authorization (commonly called the R-stamp) is a company-level accreditation issued under NB-415 to a repair organization that meets quality-system requirements. The R Endorsement qualifies the human inspector who then verifies work performed at an R-stamped shop or field site.

How many questions are on the NBBI R Endorsement exam?

The exam contains 50 multiple-choice questions delivered in a single closed-book session, with a 4-hour time limit and a 70% passing score per the NB-464 body of knowledge.

What does the exam cost?

The current NBBI fee is $100 for the R Endorsement examination. Plan for additional costs related to the required National Board R Endorsement course and any travel to a Prometric or SMT test center.

What are the prerequisites?

You must hold an active National Board Inservice (IS) or Authorized Inspector (AI) commission and complete the National Board Repair Inspector (R) Course before sitting the R Endorsement examination.

What documents should I master before the exam?

Study NBIC NB-23 Part 3 (Repairs and Alterations), NB-415 (Accreditation of R Repair Organizations), NB-66 (Form R-1 and guide), NB-263/RCI-1 (Rules for Commissioned Inspectors), and the NB-464 body of knowledge. ASME Section IX welding and pressure-equipment original codes (Section I, VIII Div. 1) are also tested.

Where do I take the exam?

NBBI delivers the R Endorsement examination through Prometric / SMT test centers; remote proctored online testing is also available depending on candidate eligibility. Scheduling is handled through the NBBI Business Center exam catalog.

How long is the R Endorsement valid?

The endorsement remains active as long as the inspector maintains the underlying IS or AI commission. National Board commissions are subject to annual renewal and continuing-conduct requirements under NB-263 (RCI-1).