SkillsReady by API
The American Petroleum Institute (API) is committed to preparing the next generation of energy workers for a rewarding career in the natural gas and oil industry.
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Service & Supply Companies
Program Highlights
SkillsReady by API combines industry fundamentals with practical training to help prepare participants for entry-level operational roles. The curriculum covers:
- Natural gas and oil fundamentals
- Industry segments and the energy supply chain
- Facility operations and processes
- Essential safety practices
- Critical industry equipment
- Core operational skills used across the industry
Select lessons also feature virtual reality (VR) simulations that reinforce key concepts through immersive, scenario-based learning.
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Build foundational industry knowledge and earn a SkillsReady by API certificate.
Program Advantages for Course Participants
- Curriculum designed and supported by leading energy companies
- Instruction and insight from experts in energy operations
- Immersive VR simulations that reinforce select safety concepts and enhance the learning experience
- Industry-recognized API Certificate of Completion endorsing participants’ knowledge of natural gas and oil operations
Please see the following updates to the curriculum names:
Built with input from experts across all segments of the oil and gas industry, the curriculum provides the essential knowledge and training for individuals seeking or beginning entry-level positions. With the main objective of building a culture of safety from day one on the job, SkillsReady by API is the orientation to the industry that will set new employees for success.
The full curriculum is broken down into 6 modules: (1) Foundations of the Oil and Gas Industry; (2) Basic Safety; (3) Equipment Identification, Usage, and Maintenance; (4) Basic Systems Principles; (5) Inspection, and (6) Quality Management Systems. Each module contains 5-8 lessons. Those lessons include:
Module 1 – Fundamentals of Oil and Natural Gas
| Lesson | Description |
|---|---|
| Lesson 1 | The Role of Oil and Natural Gas in Society and the Value and Benefits of Fossil Fuels |
| Lesson 2 | Introduction to Hydrocarbons |
| Lesson 3 | History of Production, Transportation, and Refining |
| Lesson 4 | Oil and Natural Gas Production – Core Segments |
| Lesson 5 | Exploration, Production Risks, and Cybersecurity |
| Lesson 6 | Oil and Natural Gas Supply, Demand, Energy Consumption, and Price |
Module 2 – Basic Safety Training
| Lesson | Description |
|---|---|
| Lesson 1 | Safety Culture (Past, Present, and Future) |
| Lesson 2 | General Safety Rules |
| Lesson 3 | Behavioral Safety |
| Lesson 4 | Personal and Process Safety |
| Lesson 5 | 5 × 5 Job Safety Analysis (JSA) – VR |
| Lesson 6 | Trapped Energy |
| Lesson 7 | Energy Isolation |
| Lesson 8 | Lockout/Tagout – VR |
| Lesson 9 | Environmental Impacts |
Module 3 – Equipment Identification and Operation
| Lesson | Description |
|---|---|
| Lesson 1 | Introduction to Maintenance Philosophy |
| Lesson 2 | Basics of Piping, Valves, and Fittings |
| Lesson 3 | Plant Equipment |
| Lesson 4 | Diagrams for Maintenance Application |
| Lesson 5 | Introduction to Process Control and Automation |
Module 4 – Basic System Principles
| Lesson | Description |
|---|---|
| Lesson 1 | Introduction to Basic Electrical Systems |
| Lesson 2 | Principles of Pressure in Oil and Natural Gas Systems |
| Lesson 3.1 | Pressure Measurement Instruments |
| Lesson 3.2 | Electrical, Ultrasonic, Radar, and Laser Level Instruments and Differential Pressure Flowmeters |
| Lesson 4 | Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) |
| Lesson 5 | Cybersecurity Framework for Oil and Natural Gas Operations |
Module 5 – Nondestructive Testing
| Lesson | Description |
|---|---|
| Lesson 1 | Basics of Nondestructive Testing (NDT) |
| Lesson 2 | The Eight Most Common Nondestructive Testing Methods |
| Lesson 3 | The Future of Nondestructive Testing (NDT) and Inspection |
Module 6 – Quality Management Systems
| Lesson | Description |
|---|---|
| Lesson 1 | Introduction to Quality Management Systems |
| Lesson 2 | Risk Assessment |
| Lesson 2.1 | Risk Management |
| Lesson 3 | Introduction to Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Actions |
| Lesson 4 | Technical Reporting and Effective Communication |
Explore selected course content and lesson samples to get a better understanding of the SkillsReady program. These previews provide prospective host organizations and students with an overview of the topics, learning approach, practical exercises, and industry-focused content included in the courses.
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Module 1.1 – The Role of Oil and Gas in Society (Economics and Necessity)
This lesson explores the role of oil and natural gas in energy security, economic development, employment, essential products, and community infrastructure. Using real-world examples and a petrochemical hub scenario, learners examine how the industry supports interconnected economic sectors while also contributing to the energy transition. The lesson also considers the practical challenges of balancing energy access, economic development, environmental priorities, and a responsible transition to lower-carbon energy.
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Module 2.1 – Understanding a Safety Culture
This lesson introduces the principles of safety culture and explores how leadership, employee engagement, training, reporting, procedures, and technology contribute to safer operations in high-risk industries. Through real-world examples and practical exercises, learners examine how to identify unsafe practices, respond to hazards, investigate incidents, and apply effective corrective actions. The lesson also highlights the critical role of site managers and supervisors in maintaining safety, compliance, and accountability on site.
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Module 3.1 – Introduction to Maintenance Philosophy
This lesson introduces maintenance philosophies and strategies used to improve asset reliability, safety, performance, and cost-effectiveness in oil and gas operations. Learners explore corrective, preventive, predictive, condition-based, reliability-centered, and total productive maintenance, examining the consequences of missed or ineffective maintenance through real-world incidents. Practical exercises reinforce how to develop preventive and condition-based maintenance plans that reduce unplanned downtime, manage risk, and extend equipment life.
Standardized training | Faster onboarding | Workforce-ready talent
Looking for workforce training for your organization?
License the SkillsReady curriculum to support job readiness, onboarding, and workforce development within your organization.
Want to bring SkillsReady to your community?
Workforce organizations, and eligible community partners can bring SkillsReady training to local learners and job seekers to expand access to industry-informed career preparation. Qualifying community partners may receive access to SkillsReady curriculum and resources to support local workforce development efforts.
SkillsReady is designed for instructor-led delivery, giving community hosts flexibility to incorporate the program into their existing workforce development or educational programming.
Community hosts identify a facilitator who can deliver the SkillsReady curriculum using the materials and resources provided by API.
What's Next?
Learn More
- Learn about the array of jobs that make up the oil and gas industry
- SkillsReady by API Featured in Industry News Publications
- Quality Matters Podcast hosted by Texas Quality Assurance
- Preparing Youth for a Career in Oil and Gas with Sean Thomas, Director of Training and Development at API
- Power to Empower: Watch a short video on API’s additional workforce development initiatives