AMPP Combines Legacy Certification Programs to Launch Protective Coatings Specialist (PCS) Certification
PROTECTIVE COATINGS · CERTIFICATION
Houston, Texas and Pittsburgh, Pa. — Nov. 4, 2024
The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) announced the launch of its Protective Coatings Specialist (PCS) certification, creating a unified credential for professionals who design, specify, manage, and oversee protective coatings projects.
The certification brought together elements of the legacy SSPC and NACE PCS pathways while establishing a single AMPP credential focused on protective coating systems, project performance, and corrosion prevention.
CERTIFICATION LAUNCH · 2024
This article reflects the PCS certification requirements and program information announced at launch in November 2024. Candidates should review the current AMPP PCS certification page for the latest eligibility, course, examination, and application requirements.
A Unified Protective Coatings Credential
The PCS certification was designed to connect the different stakeholders involved in protective coatings projects, including contractors, engineers, owners, inspectors, and specifiers.
By consolidating the legacy SSPC and NACE PCS programs, AMPP created a single pathway intended to reflect current industry needs while providing continuity for professionals who had already participated in the previous certification programs.
AT A GLANCE
What the PCS certification focuses on
- Protective coating technologies and systems
- Coating failure analysis
- Project and quality management
- Specification review
- Application considerations
- Inspection and coating-system performance
Bridging the Gaps Across Coatings Projects
Protective coating projects often involve multiple disciplines and organizations, each responsible for different parts of the coating system’s performance.
The PCS credential was created for professionals working across those interfaces—where coating selection, specification, preparation, application, inspection, quality management, and long-term asset performance come together.
Owners & Engineers
Connect coating-system decisions with asset requirements, specifications, lifecycle performance, and project goals.
Contractors & Inspectors
Bring application, quality-control, inspection, and field-performance considerations into the broader coating project.
THE PCS PERSPECTIVE
Protective coatings performance depends on more than choosing a product.
Specifications, surface preparation, application, inspection, project management, environmental conditions, and ongoing maintenance all influence how a coating system performs over its intended service life.
Technical and Project-Level Knowledge
The PCS program was developed to recognize professionals with knowledge extending beyond individual coating inspection tasks into the broader technical and managerial decisions involved in protective coatings projects.
AREAS OF PROFICIENCY
The launch announcement identified technical coatings knowledge, failure analysis, project management, specification review, application, and inspection among the areas addressed by the certification.
Certification Requirements at Launch
When AMPP introduced the PCS certification in 2024, the program included work-experience and educational prerequisites in addition to an examination.
The launch requirements included holding an active Certified Coatings Inspector (CIP Level 2) certification or higher, completing required coursework, meeting applicable experience requirements, and passing the AMPP PCS Certification Exam.
PLANNING TO PURSUE PCS?
Certification requirements can change over time. Review the current PCS certification page before making decisions about courses, prerequisites, experience documentation, or exam preparation.
“We are excited to offer a certification that addresses the evolving needs of the protective coatings industry. The new AMPP PCS certification combines the best elements of the legacy SSPC and NACE PCS programs, focusing on industry needs while providing a path forward for current and future PCS-certified professionals.”
— Keenan Loubser, Senior Director of Credentialing and Operations at AMPP
A Path for Protective Coatings Professionals
At launch, candidates could access the certification through AMPP’s certification system to apply, track their progress, and register for required examinations.
The program expanded AMPP’s protective coatings certification pathway for professionals whose work requires a broader understanding of coating-system design, specification, application, inspection, failure analysis, and project oversight.
PROTECTIVE COATINGS SPECIALIST
Explore the AMPP PCS Certification
Review current eligibility requirements, certification details, required education, and application information directly from AMPP.
ABOUT AMPP
The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is a global community of professionals focused on protecting assets and improving the performance of industrial and natural materials.
AMPP was established in 2021 through the combination of NACE International and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings, bringing together decades of corrosion-control and protective-coatings expertise.
EXPLORE MORE
Protective Coatings Resources
Protective Coatings Specialist Certification →
AMPP Education →
AMPP Standards →
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