The QP 1 accreditation was originally organized to answer an industry need voiced by contractors, owners and others who hire industrial painting contractors. At that time, the industry did not have a national standard to evaluate the primary capability of a contractor prior to a contract award. SSPC issued the first version of the QP 1 standard in September 1989, with the accreditation program being released later that same year. Since that time, the QP 1 contractor accreditation program has been consistently reviewed and improved to meet the changing quality needs of our industry. Significant QP 1 changes are made by consensus and approved by the SSPC Standards Review Committee and the SSPC Board of Governors.

QP 2 was developed by consensus to meet the industry’s need for better management and control on projects involving the removal of hazardous paint from structural steel in the field. The QP 2 standard and accreditation were designed to build on the guidelines established in QP1, and provide facility owners with a means to evaluate the primary capability of industrial paint contractors specific to the needs of hazardous paint removal projects. This expansion program was first released in 1993.

The requirements for SSPC-QP 3 are similar to those for SSPC-QP 1, except they are specifically focused on shop coating operations. SSPC QP 3 is an internationally recognized program that evaluates the practices of shop painting facilities in key areas of business. These standards are considered to be the MINIMUM level of service and quality for today’s coatings industry. The complex nature of coating systems, the specific conditions and surface preparation required by these systems, have made the QP 3 guidelines vital to the longevity of protective coatings applied in the shop.

NACE Certifications

PRT maintains a staff of NACE Certified Coatings Inspectors. Please view the following material for a description of what it means to be certified to this level of quality.

The NACE Institute was formed to manage its world-renowned certification activities. While striving to elevate the profile of the industry and building the global job market for corrosion control professionals, NACE Institute focuses on:

• Meeting industry needs for workforce certification programs
• Pursuing global consistency of certification requirements
• Raising industry and public awareness of the purpose and benefits of certification programs
• Supporting employment of certified professionals

The NACE Institute administers 23 certifications on a variety of disciplines including the industry-leading CIP (Coatings Inspector Program) endorsement.

For more than 30 years, the NACE Institute coating inspection certifications have set the global standard for inspectors in the protective coatings industry. Organizations around the world recognize and specify the NACE Institute Coating Inspector Certification Program (CIP) because its comprehensive testing methods validate an individual’s entire body of knowledge and experience.

Combining classroom study, discussion, and hands-on practice, the NACE Institute Coating Inspector Program certifications elevate the skill level of specifiers, applicators, inspectors, blasters, manufacturers, owner’s representatives, and technical sales personnel. Areas with specific focus include the basics of corrosion control, paint application and inspection, and project management.

This industry-leading program and endorsements help strengthen the entire industry and result in billions of dollars in cost savings.

Both SSPC and NACE will be merging into a new organization called AMPP. AMPP represents the largest global community of corrosion and protective coatings professionals. Their members are dedicated to advancing technical and practical expertise in corrosion prevention and control. AMPP provides members with the knowledge and resources to ensure high performance materials are used to build and maintain sustainable infrastructure.