PCS - Protective Coatings Specialist
Learn how to qualify for and achieve certification as a Protective
Coatings Specialist under guidelines established by SSPC.
The SSPC Protective Coatings Specialist Certification Program
identifies and awards recognition to individuals who have in-depth
knowledge of the principles and practices of industrial coatings
technology. Certification attests to the professional credibility
of the industrial coatings and linings practitioner and raises
the standards of the profession through the development and dissemination
of corrosion knowledge, and the means of controlling it's effects
through the use of protective coatings. Both the individual and
industry as a whole benefit from the PCS certification process.
Who should become an SSPC Protective Coatings Specialist?
The prospective SSPC Protective Coatings Specialist has the knowledge
and experience to:
- Assess industrial coating systems service performance
- Manage or oversee coating failure analysis
- Develop coating specifications for new construction and/or
maintenance coating
- Develop industrial painting specifications that address relevant
safety and environmental regulations and facility constraints
- Evaluate field and shop coating work procedures
- Select appropriate coating systems
- Use results of coating failure analysis
Applicants should understand the mechanisms and effects of corrosion
for a variety of materials, and be knowledgeable of the role coatings
play in industrial corrosion control.
The prospective Protective Coatings Specialist should also exhibit
competence in management and planning of contracts for new construction
and maintenance painting, economic analysis, and implementation
of environmental and safety regulations and controls.
PCS Program Requirements
- 5 years coatings experience and Bachelor’s degree or
- 7 years coatings experience and Associate’s degree or
- 10 years coatings experience and high school graduation or GED
PCS Candidates that meet the above requirements must complete the following coatings education requirements:
- Pass the Fundamentals of Protective Coatings (C-1) course exam or
- Submit an alternate course that has been reviewed and approved, then pass the C-1 course exam
- Take the Specifying and Managing Protective Coatings Projects (C-2) course and pass the course exam
PCS candidates that can provide 15 years of documented coatings experience and wish to challenge the PCS exam based on their experience alone, must take and pass the C-2 course exam. SSPC highly recommends that PCS candidates in this category take the C-2 course, but it is not a requirement. PCS candidates with less than 15 years of documented coating experience must take the C-2 course.
Professional References
All PCS candidates must submit three professional references.
Exam Content
The comprehensive certification examination and calculation questions
consists of multiple choice, matching, essay, and material estimating
questions. These questions are chosen primarily from the material
covered in the C-1
and C-2 courses and from the suggested
readings. Some of the questions can be answered from knowledge
acquired by working in the coatings industry. Many of the questions
require knowledge of several different subject areas: Corrosion and Corrosion Control
Mechanisms of metal corrosion; common types of corrosion; methods
of corrosion control.
Coating Types and Their Mechanisms of Protection
Mechanisms of corrosion control by coatings; desired film properties;
coating components and their functions; mechanisms of coating film
formation; comparison of generic coating types; selection of coating
systems.
Surface Preparation for Painting
Preparing surfaces before cleaning; surface contaminants causing
early coating deterioration; surface preparation methods; recommended
removal methods for different contaminants; standards for cleaned
steel surfaces; visual aids to surface cleanliness; level of cleanliness
required for different coatings; air abrasive blasting equipment;
centrifugal blasting equipment; surface profile and blasting abrasives;
and blast cleaning procedures.
Application of Coatings
Brush, roller, and spray application; application of coatings
that cure by fusion; handling of paints; application temperatures
and humidities; achieving desired film thickness; recommended spraying
procedures; coating application defects.
Coatings for Industrial Steel Structures
Selecting surface preparation for steel; coating systems appropriate
for steel; selection of coating systems by environmental zone;
coatings for atmospheric
zones; coatings for immersion and marine service; coatings for buried steel;
coatings for high-temperature surfaces.
Coating of Concrete Surfaces
Components of concrete; similar features of all cementitious surfaces;
placement of concrete; reasons for coating concrete; pre-coating
materials applied to cementitious surfaces; coatings for cementitious
surfaces; surface preparation for coating; inspection of coating
application.
Inspection and Quality Control
The specification and its contents; responsibilities of the inspector;
monitoring the ambient conditions; pre-surface preparation inspection;
post-surface preparation inspection; pre-painting inspection; inspection
of paint application.
Management of Coatings Projects
The corporate coatings program; planning for programmed painting;
contracting for coatings work; specifying and testing coating materials;
project roles and responsibilities; quality assurance: formal systems;
quality control and coating inspection.
Standards and Specifications for Coatings Projects
Engineering standards for protective coatings; specifications
for coatings systems; preparing a coatings specification.
Achieving Economic Protection by Coatings
Corrosion and its prevention; selection of construction materials;
alternate construction materials; coatings and linings; economic
considerations in coatings system selection.
New Construction and Planned Maintenance Painting
Coordinating and scheduling new construction projects; coating
systems selection; shop and field painting; maintenance painting;
facility condition survey and analysis; selecting coating systems
for maintenance; implementation of the maintenance plan.
Contracts and Documentation for Coatings Projects
Contractor qualification; competitive bidding; project management
and inspection.
Coating Failures
Causes of coating failures; consequences of coating failure;
investigating the cause of failure; laboratory analysis of coating
failures;
responsibility for failure and repairs.
Regulations and Safety for Coatings Projects
Environmental regulations affecting the coatings industry; regulating
hazardous materials; worker safety and health; OSHA general and
construction industry standards; specifying and complying with
regulation; hazard communication; hazards from toxic materials
and operations; surface preparation hazards and safety requirements;
paint application hazards and safety requirements; hazards in high,
confined, and remote places; personal protective equipment; other
safety issues.
More about the PCS Exam
Embosser program for PCS individuals
A) Eligibility
1. Every PCS Certified Individual whose certification is current is eligible
to enroll for the PCS Embosser. “Eligible” shall mean that the
individual has provided SSPC with the appropriate paperwork to maintain their
certification,
have paid
their current year PCS fee and have completed and returned this document to
SSPC along with necessary
fees
B) Fees
1. PCS individuals who wish to enroll in the program will be charged
a one-time fee of $100 for Have the Embosser produced.
2. If you loose your Embosser, you will be charged a $100 fee for replacement
of the Embosser.
C) Registration of PCS Signature
1. The official signature (on this document) of each individual
requesting the Embosser shall be on file at the offices of SSPC
prior to use.
D) PCS Embosser
1. Each individual enrolled shall be provided with an official
PCS Embosser that shall be used to authenticate the documents on
which the stamp is used.
2. Use of the Embosser is limited to a PCS Certified individuals’ review
and approval of documents.
3. Each time the Embosser is used, the PCS certified individual will
fill in the stamp of the Embosser with his/her signature and date.
4. In order to reduce the risk of unauthorized duplication of the Embosser,
use only the Embosser provided to you by SSPC.
E) Log Book
1. Each individual shall keep an accurate register of all documents
on which the PCS Embosser is
used in any appropriate log book. The log shall contain the date on
which the Embosser was affixed, the
name or title of the document on which the Embosser was used, the date
of the document, and the reason for using the PCS stamp (review and/or
approval).
2. If SSPC is contacted to verify the validity of an Embosser used
on a document, SSPC may request a copy of your log.
3. It is your responsibility to maintain the log. If a log is not maintained
and SSPC is contacted to verify the validity of an Embosser, your Embosser
may be revoked.
F) Limitations of Use
1. No individual may assign use of the Embosser to any other person.
2. Any unauthorized use of the Embosser is at the risk of the PCS
individuals’ certification
and
will jeopardize his/her certification if used improperly.
G) Surrender of Embosser
1. Should a PCS individual not renew their certification or become
de-certified for any reason, they shall return their Embosser to
the office of SSPC within 30 days.
2. If a PCS Embosser is forfeited, there is no fee refund.
H) Liability
1. SSPC assumes no liability or risk concerning the individual’s
use of the Embosser. PCS Certified individuals should consider
obtaining an individual
policy for Errors and Omissions from their insurance carrier
to cover any potential liability pertaining to the documents on
which they affix their Embosser. Please take this opportunity to
provide SSPC with a summary of your liability insurance information
(carrier, policy number, date effective, etc). Certification Status?
Want to verify the Certification status of an individual?
If you are an SSPC Member Click
here and then login to your SSPC MarketPlace
account and search the SSPC Member Directories (located
on the Members Only Tab of the SSPC MarketPlace to verify
the Certification status of an individual. Note: The
most up to date info is in the MarketPlace based searches.
Non-Members of SSPC are
invited to contact Charlene Venson at SSPC to assist
in the verification of an individual's certification
status. Updates for individuals contact information
should be sent to SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings
at 40 24th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or sent via email
to Charlene Venson
General Administrative Questions, Comments, & Suggestions:
Charlene Venson (P: 412/281-2331
x 2201, or E: venson@sspc.org)
Details of this program are listed at the following website
address http://www.sspc.org/pdfs/embosserdetails.pdf Contact Charlene
Venson at venson@sspc.org if
you are interested in enrolling in this program.
PCS Marketing
initiatives:
PCS Marketing (P: 412/281-2331, or E: training@sspc.org
)
PCS Background
SSPC's certification process for coatings specialists was
developed with the assistance of SSPC's C.6 Education & Certification
Technical Committee and authorized by SSPC's Board of Governors.
SSPC staff, the SSPC Education Committee, and a consensus
of coatings industry representatives, including facility
owners,
contractors,
consultants, academic institutions, professional societies,
and SSPC members experienced in teaching coatings courses
contributed to the design of the certification process.
A certification panel consisting of a minimum of three instructors
who are SSPC Protective Coatings Specialists, and the Board of
Governors oversee the certification process. The SSPC President
appoints the certification panel, whose primary responsibilities
are to review and validate examination grades (when required),
resolve any disputes on grading procedures, review and ratify policies,
and develop new exam material.
Additional Information:
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