SSPC Certification: Your Guide to Coating Industry Credentials

As a veteran protective coating company, we understand the critical importance of quality assurance and oversight. This is especially true when it comes to designing and executing protective coating systems that safeguard infrastructure, the environment, and the public from the long-term impacts of corrosion and coating failure. That’s where SSPC certification comes in. These industry certifications signal credibility, serving as a foundation for consistent, compliant, and high-performing coatings work across a wide range of industries.

So what exactly do these certifications cover, and why are they critical to project execution and performance? Let’s break it down.

Founded in 1950, the Steel Structures Painting Council was a non-profit professional society focused on the use of protective coatings to protect industrial steel structures. As the industry evolved, so did the organization. In the late 1990s, it became SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings, reflecting broader advancements in coating technologies and a growing focus on various materials beyond steel.

The Society for Protective Coatings developed SSPC certifications to establish consistent standards of quality, safety, and professionalism in the protective coatings industry. They help ensure that contractors, inspectors, and workers are qualified and properly trained in key areas of the coating process, including industrial painting, surface preparation, and coating inspection. SSPC certifications help provide assurances that the work meets industry-recognized standards, which is critical for long-term value, as well as in safety-sensitive and highly regulated environments.

Selecting the right company for a protective coatings project isn’t always straightforward for facility owners and specification writers. It can be challenging to determine which companies and contractors are truly qualified to handle the job with so many variables at stake, like project complexity, safety concerns, environmental conditions, and long-term performance. However, SSPC certifications can serve as a powerful qualifier by enhancing trust, ensuring regulatory compliance, and validating skill level. Why? SSPC-certified individuals, including industrial painting contractors, QA/QC inspectors, and project managers, have demonstrated that they meet the rigorous industry standards for surface preparation, coating application, safety practices, and inspection protocols, ensuring alignment with best practices and regulatory requirements.

In industries where coatings are mission-critical, like marine, pipeline, industrial infrastructure, and wastewater, SSPC certification assurance can mean the difference between long-term asset protection and costly failure.

Obtaining certification is a clear way to stand out in a competitive industry and demonstrate that your work meets the highest professional standards. While the specific requirements vary depending on the certification type, here’s a general step-by-step overview of what to expect:

1. Check the prerequisites to ensure qualification.
2. Submit your application through the certification website. (AMPP)
3. Complete the required training and documentation.
4. Pass the examination where it applies.
5. Undergo an Audit (for company certifications).
6. Maintain and renew your certifications.

In 2021, two of the leading organizations in the protective coatings and corrosion control industries, the Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC) and NACE International, officially merged to form a single, unified organization: the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). The goal of the merger? To streamline standards, training, and certification programs across the industry and create a single, globally recognized authority for coatings and corrosion professionals. As a result, AMPP now administers all certifications.

For now, your SSPC and NACE certifications are still valid under AMPP. Moving forward, AMPP is working on evolving and integrating overlapping certifications from both legacy organizations into unified programs.

SSPC certification offers real, tangible advantages in the protective coatings industry for both individuals seeking to advance their careers and companies seeking to secure more business. Obtaining certifications offers several benefits, including gaining a competitive edge, demonstrating compliance with industry standards, earning industry recognition, and enhancing professional credibility. In the protective coatings industry, SSPC Certifications are not just a credential – they are an investment in future opportunities. These globally recognized certifications build trust with clients, partners, and peers in the field.

As protective coatings specialists, we know that quality and safety are essential. That’s why we’re proud to be AMPP QS-1, QP 1, and QP 2 certified, and why many members of our team hold advanced individual certifications as well. These credentials reflect our deep commitment to delivering reliable, compliant, and high-performing coatings on every project.