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SSPC Launches PCI Level 3

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

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SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings has announced the release of the next level of its Protective Coatings Inspector (PCI) program: PCI Level 3.

PCI certification was introduced to the coatings industry in 2007. PCI Level 3 “raises the bar by providing a new goal for the most experienced inspectors,” SSPC said in a statement.

Exam and Requirements

The new level adds one more day to the PCI program for candidates who choose the take the exam. Candidates must meet certain prerequisites to qualify for the exam, must complete the test within a designated time frame, and must score 80% or better to achieve Level 3 certification.

“When SSPC designed PCI, the goal was to provide a more affordable pathway to certification for independent inspectors and professionals in emerging markets,” said SSPC president Bob McMurdy.

SSPC

SSPC’s Protective Coatings Inspector program has been approved by several global agencies.

“In our research, we discovered a great thirst for knowledge among groups of highly skilled workers. These groups already had training and experience in coatings and they wanted to be able to put that to work for them in gaining inspector certification. PCI allows them to do that.”

The PCI program has gained the approval of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Lloyd’s Reigster and RINA (Registro Italiano Navale), the 150-year-old Italian ship classification society. SSPC said PCI graduates consider the program “a high-quality and affordable education alternative that effectively teaches both core and advanced concepts of coating inspection.”

‘Deliver and Prepare’

“SSPC works hard to provide good programs that people want,” said Bill Shoup, SSPC Executive Director. “If you’re looking to improve your skills and knowledge, you want a return on your training investment. PCI Level 3 will deliver that ROI and prepare inspectors to meet the demands of the toughest specifications and the toughest projects.”

The PCI Level 3 exam will be available Sept. 1. More information will be posted at www.sspc.org.

Founded in 1950, SSPC is dedicated to the use of high-performance coatings for the protection and preservation of steel, concrete and other industrial structures. SSPC’s surface preparation and other standards are used in painting specifications worldwide.

Comment from Tom Schwerdt, (8/3/2011, 8:58 AM)

And here's what SSPC.org says under training/Inspection/PCI: "Level 3 - Inspector (Coming Soon!)"

Comment from Tom Schwerdt, (8/3/2011, 12:16 PM)

Looks like the article was corrected from August 1 to September 1.

Comment from Mike Kline, (8/3/2011, 1:11 PM)

Tom: We posted 1-August by mistake. Currently we are working on course dates and registration items so full information will be available on SSPC.org by 1-September if not earlier. If you follow SSPC on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn you'll be notified quicker. I apologize for the error and any confusion that it caused.

Comment from Mike Kline, (8/4/2011, 5:22 PM)

http://www.sspc.org/PCI-Level-3/

Comment from Tom Schwerdt, (8/8/2011, 9:01 AM)

Thanks, Mike! Will SSPC have a computer available so that the candidate has the option of typing up their essay responses? I know my handwriting was never great, and certainly has not improved over the years. It seems appropriate, as all the inspector reports I see these days are typed on a computer, not hand-written.