Certified Coating Applicator (CCA)

Certified Coating Applicator Certification

Certified Coating Applicator (CCA)

The Certified Coating Applicator certification (CCA) is designed for experienced industrial coatings applicators. By achieving the CCA certification, candidates will have a formal, industry recognized certification demonstrating their skills and knowledge to customers and employers.

Who should get this certification?

The CCA certification is intended for an experienced industrial coatings applicator who is able to work independently. A candidate should have knowledge and experience in surface preparation, cleanliness, environmental conditions, coating mixtures, coating application, and safety.

Certification candidates have four (4) years to complete all requirements, including a successful completion of the exam, and an approved application with the required work experience and education requirements.

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Updates about the CAS and CCA programs

Current SSPC CAS and NACE Institute CCA card holders will be moved into the new AMPP CAS (Coatings Application Specialist) later this year. The program will have many of the same attributes as the CAS and CCA programs. As part of this combination, a new naming convention will be adopted to help simplify communication to the industry:
  • Basic Coatings Applicator (formally Level 1)
  • Certified Applicator Specialist (formally Level 2))
All current and active card holders will receive new certification digital badges and certificates sometime in 2022. To receive your future AMPP CAS credential, you must maintain your current CAS or CCA certification using the current renewal processes. If you hold both CAS and CCA certifications, you will only need to pay for a single renewal but will need to complete requirements for each respective program until the new AMPP CAS program is launched. If you have any questions, please visit our FAQ page or contact Customer Support.

How do I get certified?

Step 1: Create a customer profile and agree to liability and candidate agreements

Click here to create your profile or login and follow the prompts to:

  • Read and accept the Liability agreement and candidate guide.
  • Purchase the exam (you must accept the above documents before purchasing.) The cost of the exam (purchased through the store after clicking 'Get Started) is $250.

Step 2: Complete the Coating Applicator Multiple Choice (CBT) Exam

This exam is computer based and is available at any Pearson VUE testing center.

Once the exam is purchased in Step 1:

  • Log into your NACE profile and Click on “My Certification Portal”
  • Click on Schedule/Manage exams
  • Click on Resume Exam Request
  • Read and accept the Terms of Service
  • Click on Schedule/Manage exams again (to refresh the screen)
  • Click on Schedule with Pearson VUE (you will be directed to the Pearson VUE scheduling site)

Get more information in the Step by Step Guide.

You must pass the written exam prior to moving to Step 3.

Step 3: Complete the practical exam

Once you have passed the computer-based exam in Step 2, you will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule the practical exam (please allow 7-10 business days to receive this email).

  • This exam is offered at multiple locations.
  • You may choose between airless and conventional test methods, however each test site will only offer one option.
  • The cost of the exam is $550 and paid directly to the test site/provider.

Upon successful completion of requirements, the candidate will be awarded a Certified Coating Applicator Certification.

If you have any questions, please contact certificationnew@ampp.org for more details.

A Candidate Guide is available for reference. The candidate is required to review the guide prior to registering for the exam. Click here to view the guide.

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View Authorized Testing Sites

Exam Preparation Guides

Written Exam Preparation Guide

Practical Exam Preparation Guide

Resources

Authorized Test Sites - Practical Exam

About computer-based testing (CBT)

Ethics for the corrosion professional

My certification portal

Renewal requirements

An approved recertification application is required every 3 years. The work experience requirement for renewals for all certifications is one and half (1.5) years for the most recent three (3) year period. Additionally, some certifications have other requirements related to responsibility in charge.

As you prepare for renewal, please visit My Certification Portal to log and manage your work experience and Professional Development Hours (PDH's) needed. Your work experience and PDH's will be submitted as part of your renewal application but you can input PDH's at any time. See the certification renewal guide for PDH's requirements, our sample training PDH guide, and our PDH how-to videos.

Certification holders are required to pay a non-refundable processing fee for renewal.

NOTE: AMPP reserves the right to return any incomplete applications or those that do not meet the requirements. All application fees are non-refundable. To avoid processing delays or forfeiture of fees, please ensure that the application is complete, meets all the requirements and payment has been received.