Protective Coating Technician

CERTIFICATION

Protective Coatings Technician Certification

Strengthen your professional credibility in protective coatings with our Protective Coatings Technician Certification. Designed for early-career coatings professionals, this certification validates your technical knowledge in coating systems, surface prep, application, and inspection.

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Protective Coatings Technician Certification
Course Delivery

In-Person

Languages

English

Certification

Valid for 3 years

Overview

The PCS-1 Basic Principles Certification is intended for professionals who already have 1–2 years of industry experience or a combination of experience and a relevant degree. It verifies your understanding of key protective-coating concepts including coating system selection, surface preparation standards, application methods, quality control practices, inspection techniques, and instrument use.

Certified individuals demonstrate the technical competence and professional judgment needed to contribute effectively to industrial coating projects.

Who it's for

  • Maintenance Planners
  • Engineers
  • Supervisors / Foreman
  • Project Engineers
  • Project Managers

Steps to Protective Coatings Technician Certification

Three steps to earn your Protective Coatings Technician credential — check eligibility, submit the application, prepare, and sit for the exam.
1
Check eligibility

Review the requirements for one of two pathways.

2
Submit your application

Submit any required documents and certification application

3
Prepare and take your exam

Review exam prep guides and sit for the written Protective Coatings Technician exam at the location you’ve selected.

STEP 1

Check your eligibility

There are two ways to qualify for the Protective Coatings Technician certification exam. Choose the path that best matches your education, work history, and training.

PATH
A
Experience

Best for experienced professionals.

EXPERIENCE

2 years of verifiable work experience in the protective coatings field 

PREREQUISITE

Active Corrosion Foundations Micro-Credential

Ethics for the Corrosion Professional course or an equivalent training

PATH
B
Education + experience

Best for professionals with a relevant degree.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree in physical sciences or engineering

EXPERIENCE

1 year of verifiable work experience in the protective coatings field

PREREQUISITE

Active Corrosion Foundations Micro-Credential

Ethics for the Corrosion Professional course or an equivalent training

STEP 2

Submit your application

Log in to your certification portal to submit any needed documentation and your certification application.

Submit Application
STEP 3

Prepare and take your exam

Find information about the certification exam as well as helpful study guides and resources to excel on your certification exam. 

FORMAT

1 Exam | Written (Theory) Exam 

LANGUAGE

English

PREP MATERIALS

Written (theory) Exam Preparation Guide

RE-CERTIFICATION

Every 3 years

Looking to renew your certification? Get started here. 

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.

Schedule Exam In Certification Portal

Guides and resources

Looking for Exam Preparation Guides?

To help you prepare for your exam, we have a library of Exam Preparation Guides to support your specific exam.

View Exam Prep Guides

Certification resources

Ethics for the corrosion professional

See what others are saying

Need help finding something?

Can’t find the course you’re looking for, or have questions, you can connect with our Customer Support team via email or phone to get dedicated help!

Email customer support

Send us an email and one of our friendly Customer Support team members will connect with you soon.

Please note that we have a limited number of Spanish/Chinese-speaking representatives.

Email customer support

Give us a call

We are available Monday - Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. US Central Standard Time (CST) and Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. US Central Standard Time (CST).

US: 1-800-797-6223
International: +1-281-228-6200

Looking for something specific, please visit the AMPP Knowledge Base.