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AMPP (Association for Materials Protection and Performance)

AMPP Coating Inspector Program — Basic Coatings Inspector (CIP Level 1) and Certified Coatings Inspector (CIP Level 2)

The most widely recognized coating inspector credential — environmental readings, surface prep, film thickness, holidays and the paperwork that proves the job was done right.

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Protecting buried steel too? AMPP Cathodic Protection (CP1 & CP2) → · Inspecting piping? API 570 Piping Inspector → · Tank linings and coatings? API 653 Storage Tank Inspector →

LevelsLevel 1 Basic Coatings Inspector · Level 2 Certified Coatings Inspector · Level 3 Senior Certified Coatings Inspector (oral peer review)
Questions120 multiple-choice per theory exam — 100 scored, 20 unscored
Time3 hours of seat time: 10 minutes of tutorial and agreement, then 2 h 50 min for the exam
WhereTheory on computer at a Pearson VUE test center; practical on the last day of the AMPP course
PracticalLevel 1: 8 instrument stations worth 100 points, up to 10 minutes each
Who sits itLevel 1: the course + AMPP Ethics course · Level 2: Level 1 certification, the Level 2 course and 2 years of coatings work experience
PassingPass/fail at the end of the exam; AMPP publishes no percent cut score

About the exam

AMPP's Coating Inspector Program (CIP), formerly NACE CIP, still has three levels: CIP Level 1 is the Basic Coatings Inspector, Level 2 the Certified Coatings Inspector and Level 3 the Senior Certified Coatings Inspector, which is earned through an in-person oral peer review. This page covers CIP Level 1 and Level 2 knowledge: inspection process and specifications, corrosion basics, environmental conditions, surface preparation standards, coating types and application, film thickness, holiday and adhesion testing, documentation, safety and ethics.

AMPP requires its course for both Level 1 and Level 2. Each level has a hands-on practical exam on the last day of the course and a written theory exam on computer at a Pearson VUE test center: 120 questions (100 scored) in just under 3 hours. Level 2 also needs Level 1 certification and two years of coatings work experience. AMPP updated the Level 2 course and practical in 2025–2026 and issued a new Level 2 written exam guide for courses ending after June 29, 2026.

Our practice supplements AMPP's course. It does not replace it. Items are original job-site scenarios written to the domains in AMPP's CIP Level 1 and Level 2 exam preparation guides. They test the concepts and public calculations inspectors use every day, such as dew point margin, WFT/DFT, SSPC-PA 2 spot averages and surface-prep grades. They are not recalled exam questions, course-manual text or the wording of SSPC, NACE or ASTM standards.

How we track your progress

Every blueprint domain moves through five levels as you study:

  1. Not startedNo questions answered in this domain yet.
  2. Getting startedFirst questions answered — not enough yet to judge.
  3. DevelopingAt least 5 answered and 50% or better on your recent questions.
  4. ProficientAt least 15 answered and 70% or better on your recent questions.
  5. Exam readyAt least 25 answered, 80% or better recently, and holding up on hard questions.

The exam blueprint

AMPP Basic Coatings Inspector (CIP Level 1) Exam Preparation Guide, March 2026, and Certified Coatings Inspector (CIP Level 2) Written Exam Preparation Guide, July 2026 — 120 items (100 scored + 20 unscored) modeled on the CIP Level 1 and Level 2 theory exams across 8 areas; weights blend AMPP's published L1/L2 percentages. Tap a domain to see its topics.

1 Inspection process, roles and specifications about 15% (est.) of the exam
The inspector's role and authorityReading the coating specification and product data sheetsPre-job conferences and hold pointsInspection and test plans (ITPs)Nonconformances and how to report themInspection sequence: before, during and after applicationQuality control versus quality assurance

36 practice questions in this domain so far

2 Corrosion and coating fundamentals about 8% (est.) of the exam
The corrosion cell and why steel rustsForms of corrosion inspectors seeHow coatings protect: barrier, inhibitive, sacrificialCoatings and cathodic protection togetherCoating failure modes: blistering, cracking, delaminationSoluble salts and osmotic blistering

18 practice questions in this domain so far

3 Environmental conditions about 7% (est.) of the exam
Dew point, relative humidity and air temperatureSurface temperature ≥ 5 °F (3 °C) above dew pointSling psychrometers and electronic gaugesSurface temperature thermometersWhen and how often to take readingsDehumidification and environmental controls

16 practice questions in this domain so far

4 Surface preparation and inspection about 19% (est.) of the exam
Solvent, hand-tool and power-tool cleaning (SP 1, SP 2, SP 3)Power tool to bare metal and commercial grade (SP 11, SP 15)White metal and near-white blast (SP 5/NACE 1, SP 10/NACE 2)Commercial, industrial and brush-off blast (SP 6, SP 14, SP 7)Waterjetting cleanliness (WJ standards) and flash rustVisual standards and reference photographsSurface profile: comparator, depth micrometer, replica tapeAbrasives: types, cleanliness and profileSoluble salt testing and chloride limitsCompressed air cleanliness (blotter test)

46 practice questions in this domain so far

5 Coating types, application and cure about 15% (est.) of the exam
Generic coating types: epoxy, zinc-rich, urethane, alkydCuring mechanisms: evaporation, oxidation, chemical curePot life, induction time and mixingThinning per the product data sheetSpray application: conventional, airless, plural-componentBrush and roller application and stripe coatsRecoat windows and cure testingApplication defects: runs, sags, dry spray, pinholes

36 practice questions in this domain so far

6 Coating inspection: thickness, holidays and adhesion about 17% (est.) of the exam
Wet film thickness gauges and when to read themDFT = WFT × volume solids, with thinner adjustmentMagnetic pull-off (Type 1) and electronic (Type 2) DFT gaugesGauge verification and adjustmentSSPC-PA 2: gauge readings, spots and area averagesLow-voltage wet sponge holiday detectionHigh-voltage spark holiday detectionAdhesion: tape knife and pull-off testsDestructive tests and the paint inspection gauge

40 practice questions in this domain so far

7 Documentation and standards about 12% (est.) of the exam
Daily inspection reportsRecording instrument readings and locationsUsing SSPC, NACE, AMPP, ASTM and ISO standardsStandard numbering after the NACE/SSPC mergerSpecification conflicts and who resolves themRecords, photographs and traceability

28 practice questions in this domain so far

8 Safety, ethics and teamwork about 8% (est.) of the exam
Abrasive blasting and spray hazardsConfined space and fall protectionSolvents, flammability and ventilationPPE and respiratory protectionInspector ethics and conflicts of interestCommunication and teamwork on the job

20 practice questions in this domain so far

What you get when you access this exam

Free with your QuizMe account.

Field scenarios aligned to AMPP's exam guides

Every question is tagged to one of the 8 areas and its topics — surface prep grades, dew point, WFT/DFT, SSPC-PA 2, holidays, adhesion, documentation and safety.

Exam-critical hints

Reveal the concept that unlocks the question — the formula, the criterion, the standard that applies. Every answer comes with the full rationale and worked solution.

Adaptive testing

Questions steer toward your weakest areas, weighted by our estimate of how much each counts on the real exam, and get harder as you get stronger.

Timed practice exams

Full-length exams at the real pace — 120 questions in 2 h 50 min — with a live pacing indicator and a full review.

Flashcards, case simulations and guides

100 flashcards for surface-prep standards, instruments, formulas and coating terms, 6 cases where a blast-and-paint job's readings, nonconformances and inspector decisions unfold step by step, and interactive illustrated guides you explore hotspot by hotspot.

Progress for every blueprint area

Each area moves from Not started to Getting started, Developing, Proficient and Exam ready — so you know exactly what to study next.

Test at home or at a center

Register for the CIP Level 1 or Level 2 course, apply in AMPP's Certification Portal, take the practical on the course's final day, then schedule the theory exam with Pearson VUE. You have four years from applying to complete every requirement.

At a Pearson VUE test center

  • The theory exam is computer-based at a Pearson VUE center.
  • Bring government-issued photo ID that matches your AMPP profile.
  • A calculator is built into the exam (standard or scientific); a hand-held one can be provided on request.
  • Results are pass/fail at the end, with performance shown by domain.

Before you book

  • Complete AMPP's Ethics for the Corrosion Professional course (or an equivalent); every level requires it.
  • Use the exam prep guide that matches your course dates. Level 2 has separate guides for courses ending before and after June 30, 2026.
  • For Level 2, document two years of coatings work experience before you apply.
  • Try AMPP's official Level 1 or Level 2 practice exam to get used to the item style.

Exam-day game plan

How to walk in ready — and how to pace 120 questions in 2 h 50 min.

Pacing checkpoints

Hit these and you finish with time to revisit your flagged questions. Our timed practice exams run at this same pace.

30questions0:43
60questions1:25
90questions2:08
120questions2:50

The week before

  • Take one full-length timed practice exam 3–5 days out, then rest.
  • Spend your last sessions on the heaviest areas — surface preparation, coating inspection and the inspection process — plus anything still below Proficient.
  • Rework the core calculations from a blank page: dew point margin, WFT from DFT with and without thinner, and SSPC-PA 2 spot and area averages.
  • Drill the surface-prep standard numbers and their joint SSPC/NACE designations until they're automatic.

Exam morning

  • Eat a real breakfast; seat time is 3 hours.
  • Arrive 30 minutes early at the Pearson VUE center with matching photo ID.
  • Use the restroom right before you start.

During the exam

  • Read what the specification in the stem says first — on the job and on the exam, the spec governs.
  • Check units: mils versus microns, °F versus °C, and percent volume solids versus weight solids.
  • Separate gauge readings, spot measurements and area averages before you judge a DFT question.
  • Answer every question — 20 are unscored and you can't tell which.
  • Flag long scenario items and come back once the quick ones are done.

Keep your head

  • A few nerves sharpen focus. If you freeze, take three slow breaths and reread the stem.
  • You're measured against a fixed standard, not other test-takers.
  • Change an answer only when you find a real reason in the stem.

Keeping your AMPP CIP certification

  • CIP Level 1 and Level 2 are each valid for 3 years.
  • To renew, submit Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and work history covering at least 18 months of the last 3 years, and pay the renewal fee.
  • The Ethics for the Corrosion Professional course is required if you haven't already completed it.
  • Level 3 (Senior Certified Coatings Inspector) requires an active Level 2, 5 years of coatings work and an in-person oral peer review.
  • Renew in AMPP's Certification Portal. Check AMPP's renewal guide for the current PDH total and fees.

Official sources and further reading

Ready to start?

240 questions and scenarios across the blueprint — and growing.

Enroll free

The Coating Inspector Program (CIP) is a certification program of AMPP (Association for Materials Protection and Performance), formed from NACE International and SSPC. QuizMe and thinQtank Learning are not affiliated with or endorsed by AMPP, NACE, SSPC, ASTM or Pearson VUE. SSPC, NACE, AMPP, ASTM and ISO standards are copyrighted — use your own copies — and our practice items are original, not recalled exam questions or course-manual content. Exam details are summarized from AMPP's published program pages and exam preparation guides; formats, fees and requirements change — always confirm at ampp.org before you apply. Our domain weights are estimates that blend AMPP's published Level 1 and Level 2 percentages.