Your Path to API Q1/Q2 Certification Excellence in Oil and Gas

Certification readiness tailored to companies that strengthens QMS, reduces risk, and ensures a smoother path to compliance.

Build a Stronger Future with API Q1

In the oil and gas industry, supply chain integrity, safety, and reliability are always scrutinized by clients and regulators. This is to ensure that service providers and manufacturers are operationally efficient and follow the industry standards of quality control. API Q1/Q2 certification is that assurance.

At Kerndell, we’re specialists in helping companies prepare for API Q1/Q2 certification. Through our readiness programs, you can remove the guesswork, ensuring that you can build a compliant quality management system (QMS) that fits your operations while positioning your business for growth.

What is API Q1?

API Q1 is a quality management standard developed by the American Petroleum Institute (API) specifically for the oil and gas industry. It expands on ISO 9001 by creating stricter requirements for managing risks, supplier control, and ensuring safety and product reliability.

API Q1 certification is a signal to stakeholders that manufacturers and suppliers in oil and gas have met the industry’s highest expectations for quality and compliance. This is valuable information for companies to help in winning contracts with major operators.

What is API Q2?

API Q2 is similar to API Q1 as it is a quality management standard developed by the American Petroleum Institute (API). The major difference is that this standard is focused on service providers in the oil and gas industry. It builds upon the foundation of ISO 9001 and API Q1, adding requirements that focus on risk management, service quality, and operational consistency during critical activities such as drilling, production, and maintenance.

API Q2 certification demonstrates that a company can plan, control, and execute services safely and reliably, even in high-risk or remote environments. For oilfield service companies, it’s a mark of operational excellence and trust which is often a key differentiator when qualifying for projects with major operators and EPCs.

Why API Q1 Matters in Oil and Gas

For the stakeholders in oil and gas, such as service providers, equipment manufacturers, and contractors, API Q1/Q2 is more than a certificate. It is a license that tells the industry that a business is ready to compete.

Without it, a business faces limited opportunities, especially with larger operators and government contracts.

Here’s why API Q1/Q2 is essential for growing businesses;

Trusted by the industry: API Q1/Q2 is a globally recognized certification as the quality benchmark for oil and gas suppliers.
Demonstrates reliability: A business with this certification proves its ability to deliver safe, consistent, and high-quality products or services.
Builds client confidence: Customers and partners are more receptive to companies with this certificate. They see API Q1/Q2 as proof that the company’s operations are mature..
Reduces risks: In gaining an API Q1/Q2 certificate, companies follow standard processes that reduce the chance of errors, rework, and costly downtime.
Unlocks contracts: Many operators and OEMs require API Q1/Q2 as a condition for doing business. This unlocks contracts for smaller companies.
Strengthens competitiveness: Smaller companies can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with larger players.

Kerndell’s Approach to API Certification Readiness

At Kerndell, our approach to API certification is to simplify the path to being certified. With hands-on expertise in oil and gas operations, our specialists ensure your company is audit-ready and positioned for success.

Here’s how Kerndell prepares your business:

Our QMS development and certification readiness approach is practical, collaborative, and focused on outcomes. Our process ensures your team is not overwhelmed, with a goal of building systems that your employees can actually use.

Assess and plan: Our team conducts gap analyses and maturity assessments to understand the current state of your business. We then develop a tailored roadmap for efficient QMS implementation or certification readiness.
QMS development: We work with you to define quality KPIs and tracking systems and develop quality manuals, procedures, and process maps while establishing document control and record-keeping systems.
Implement and test: We implement the roadmap by creating and documenting processes, training employees, and ensuring operations are aligned with ISO/API standards. We also conduct internal audits, mock assessments, and get verified for any corrective actions.
Certification readiness: We coordinate mock audits and support in corrective/preventive action (CAPA) management to address any remaining gaps while providing ongoing improvement support.

Benefits of Partnering with Kerndell

Choosing Kerndell means working with a partner who understands both API Q1, Q2, and the oil and gas sector. Our approach is designed for firms looking for practical, cost-effective solutions without sacrificing rigor.

Key benefits include:

Industry Expertise: We align your daily operations specifically with oil and gas operational needs.
Tailored for specific needs: Our solutions are built to support the efforts of companies that need practical, cost-effective API Q1 or Q2 certification.
Risk reduction: By making compliance a part of your workflows, you reduce the chance of incidents, penalties, and downtime.
Competitive Advantage: Being certified also helps your business build credibility with regulators, partners, and clients in an industry that demands trust.
Efficiency Gains: Partnering with us ensures efficiency by streamlining your processes to reduce waste and costly delays.
Future-Ready Operations: We position your QMS to be flexible enough to support growth, new contracts, and long-term use.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is API Q1?

API Q1 is the American Petroleum Institute’s standard for quality management systems in oil and gas equipment manufacturing.

2. What is API Q2?

API Q2 is the American Petroleum Institute’s standard for quality management systems for service providers in in oil and gas industry.

3. Who needs API certification?

While API certification is not mandatory, it is often a contractual or prequalification requirement from major oil and gas operators. Achieving certification demonstrates that your organization follows industry-recognized practices for quality, reliability, and risk control, giving you a competitive edge in global markets.

4. How long does it take to achieve certification?

Certification timelines vary depending on your company’s readiness, structure, and scope of operations. Most organizations complete the process within 4 to 9 months, moving through stages like gap analysis, implementation, internal audit, and final certification. Kerndell’s guided process and digital tools help many clients streamline certification and reduce overall time to completion.

5. Does Kerndell issue certification?

No. Certification is issued by API. At Kerndell, our team prepares your company to meet all requirements and succeed in the audit.

6. What size companies does Kerndell support?

Kerndell works with oil and gas companies of every size—from small service providers to large global operators. Our flexible, scalable solutions adapt to your organization’s needs, whether you’re establishing your first quality system or strengthening a mature compliance program.

7. Is API Q1 and Q2 different from ISO 9001?

Yes. While ISO 9001 is a general quality management standard, API Q1 adds oil and gas–specific requirements such as risk assessment, contingency planning, and service quality. Where Q2 takes it even further and adds requirements that focus on risk management, service quality, and operational consistency