
AMPP-CP2 Exam Information and Outline
Cathodic Protection Technician (L2)
AMPP-CP2 Exam Syllabus & Study Guide
Before you start practicing with our exam simulator, it is essential to understand the official AMPP-CP2 exam objectives. This course outline serves as your roadmap, breaking down exactly which technical domains and skills will be tested. By reviewing the syllabus, you can identify your strengths and focus your study time on the areas where you need the most improvement.
The information below reflects the latest 2026 course contents as defined by AMPP. We provide this detailed breakdown to help you align your preparation with the actual exam format, ensuring there are no surprises on test day. Use this outline as a checklist to track your progress as you move through our practice question banks.
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
Corrosion Theory - Theory of Electrochemistry - Identify the parts of the corrosion cell and electrochemical reactions - Understand the electrochemical reaction leading to corrosion and the primary reactions at the anode surface - Understand Evans' diagram - Understand different forms of corrosion - Understand electrolyte resistivity and pH, and how they affect the corrosivity of an electrolyte - Understand the Nernst equation - Understand Faraday's Law and how it predicts corrosion weight loss - Understand the polarizing and depolarizing effects - Understand activation and concentration polarization - Understand polarization curves in aerated and deaerated solutions - Understand E log I relationship - Understand the effect of electrolyte/electrode movement on polarization - Understand the electrolyte concentration effect - Understand the effect of changing the concentration of cathodic reactants - Understand the difference between passive-acting and nonpassive-acting - CP Theory & Application - Understand how to use reference electrodes to measure the potential of a metal surface - Understand the economic benefits of CP - Understand the usage of portable and stationary reference electrodes - Apply cathodic protection current to reduce the potential difference between anodic and cathodic sites - Understand series, parallel, and series-parallel electrical circuits - Restate the definition of structure-to-electrolyte potential - Calculate reference cell conversions - Understand the relationship between CP current and corrosion rate - Understand the relationship between environmental polarization and cathodic protection - Understand the environmental issues and concerns related to deepanode CP systems - Explain the components of galvanic cathodic protection - Recognize the effect of CP on amphoteric metals - Explain the components of impressed current cathodic protection - Explain the application of impressed current cathodic protection - Calculate corrosion rate using Faraday's Law - Explain different types of impressed current cathodic protection systems - Understand applications of different types of galvanic anodes - Understand the importance of anode configurations for cathodic protection - Understand the effect of cathodic protection on reinforced concrete structures - Influencing Factors - Recognize examples of depolarizers - Understand the effect of temperature on current required for cathodic protection - Understand the effect of oxygen on current required for cathodic protection - Understand the effect of relative movement on current required for cathodic protection - Understand the effect of electrolyte resistivity - Describe stray current interference - Understand how stray current enters the pipe or other structure through the soil - Understand static and dynamic interference current - Understand inductive, conductive, and capacitive coupling - Compare and contrast AC voltage-to-ground with a DC structure-toelectrolyte potential - Recognize the effect of shielding and how it affects cathodically protected structures Equipment and Equipment Management - Equipment and Equipment Management - Perform basic equipment maintenance and repair - Recognize meter impedance requirements and select the appropriate meter - Understand how to use an ammeter, a clamp-on ammeter, and a current shunt in the field - Confirm proper operation and calibration of equipment, and troubleshoot if necessary - Maintain portable reference electrodes - Understand the importance of equipment preparation, storage, consumables, and equipment spares - Know how to use a digital multimeter (DMM) to measure voltage, current, and resistance - Determine the appropriate tools and equipment for the project - Identify and correct IR drop errors in the measurement circuit - Consult with equipment and material manufacturers and/or representatives on applications and technical issues - Select the appropriate reference cell for work conditions - Identify issues with polarity sensitive current interrupters - Assist in the evaluation of new equipment, products, and procedures Field Measurements of CP Systems - Survey Methods - Understand the use of survey methods to measure the effectiveness of cathodic protection - Measure current using an ammeter - Perform measurement of CP coupons and use ER probes - Understand how to minimize reference electrode contact resistance in different types of electrolytes - Understand what causes a voltage drop in an electrically long structure - Understand reference electrode placement relative to cathodic protection current, and its effect on the potential measurement - Describe typical test methods to measure structure-to-electrolyte potentials - Understand the purpose, limitations, and procedures of "on" and "on-off" potential surveys. - Understand the purpose and limitations of a close-interval potential survey (CIPS), and perform the technique - Understand the purpose and limitations of a direct-current voltage gradient (DCVG) survey, and perform the technique - Understand the purpose and limitations of an alternating-current voltage gradient (ACVG) survey, and perform the technique - Understand the purpose and limitations of an alternating-current-current attenuation (ACCA) survey, and perform the technique - Understand the procedures used in offshore close-interval potential surveys (CIPS) using contact measurements - Perform current requirement tests for cathodic protection - Understand the purpose and limitations of using the current response test - Understand the purpose and limitations of the voltage-drop method - Understand the purpose and limitations of the current span test - Understand the purpose and limitations of coating conductance test - Perform multiple tests of soil resistivity such as the Wenner method - Recognize the methods used to locate an electrical isolating device and test to determine if it is functioning properly - List different ways of measuring electrolyte pH - Casings - Understand the purposes of casings - Understand structure-to-electrolyte potentials at casings - Understand what isolated and shorted casings are as well as their pros and cons - Understand the different environments that exist in the annular space between the casing and the pipe - Demonstrate the protection methods to protect the pipe inside the casing. - Interference - Detect static interference current by using a combination of multiple test methods - Understand how to detect dynamic stray currents by measuring potential differences - Understand the difficulties related to finding the source of a stray current - List specific techniques to resolve interference problems - Understand how to control the direction of stray currents through the bond - Understand how to control stray current through cathodic protection - Understand methods to detect AC currents and voltage that appear on metallic structures near AC power lines - Understand AC mitigation methods ICCP Power Sources - ICCP Power Sources - Understand different types of DC power sources and rectifiers - Understand proper safety procedures for rectifiers - Understand how to read the schematic of DC power sources - Understand three common rectifier operation modes - Understand the purpose of transformers - Understand how the rectifier can convert AC to DC voltage - Identify different types of rectifying elements - Understand how different types of circuit breakers are used - Understand the different components of operational rectifiers, such as surge/transient protection - Understand the basic structure of solar-power supply systems and how to maintain them - Compute rectifier efficiency - Perform troubleshooting operations of internal components of transformer rectifiers Field Data Interpretation and Documentation - Field Data Interpretation and Documentation - List information needed to be compiled before a field survey - Interpret alignment sheets, facility maps, and other system maps to identify accurate testing locations - Evaluate different data collection methods for documentation - Demonstrate the importance of documentation, communication, and procedures regarding equipment and troubleshooting. - Understand the importance of various monitoring requirements and data components that need to be recorded regularly - Prepare adequate documentation/illustration depicting CP components and completed fieldwork - Understand the importance of an appropriate inspection plan - Document name, model, and serial numbers of exact instruments used for readings - Document site information (such as date, time, weather, sketch of site, photos, location information) and conditions (such as ground moisture, vegetation, hazards) - Demonstrate accurate representation of polarity, magnitude, significant figures, and unit of measure on field data - Document key activities and findings in logbook, diary, and notes - Document and justify technical deviations from the procedures - Document non-standard test stations, and any other abnormal conditions/factors that could affect CP systems - Understand the importance of indirect inspection documentation in relation to the external-corrosion direct assessment (ECDA) process - Certify the accuracy of all data collected and recorded - Analyze ON/OFF potential measurements and polarity, and identify reverse shifts - Calculate and analyze layer resistivity Field Supervision and Installation - Field Supervision and Installation - Provide CP-related support for scheduling, work plan/progress, and production - Provide CP-related expertise during the installation and field operations - Coordinate with senior CP staff to ensure quality and resolve the on-site deficiencies - Provide technical supervision during CP-related installation and field operations - Support company personnel and non-company personnel in aspects of corrosion control - Inspect and verify received CP-related materials according to the Bill of Materials - Maintain and manage stock of consumables and spares - Identify, evaluate, and select relevant components and installation materials - Perform installation of test stations, bonds, anodes, and CP components according to the correct procedures Industry Practices/Requirements - Industry Practices/Requirements - Identify and apply relevant company, local, domestic, and international standard practices related to CP - Identify and apply relevant local, domestic, and international rules, codes, and regulations related to CP - Understand cathodic protection criteria for different materials, such as aluminum, copper, and concrete structures - Understand the technical importance of accurate and precision recordkeeping - Understand the purpose and which records shall be maintained for technical, historical, and legal requirements - Understand the legal implication of accurate and ethical recordkeeping Safety - Safety - Demonstrate and enforce safe working practices - Perform job safety analysis (JSA) - Comply with the company's/client's safety procedures - Understand the role of the safety officer - Identify and mitigate hazards that can be encountered in cathodic protection testing and inspection - Understand safety issues related to the CP field surveys - Recognize the importance of stop-work and apply protective measures against severe weather and environmental hazards - Understand the importance of communicating personal medical conditions (e.g., pacemaker) - Utilize appropriate PPE and site-specific safety equipment - Understand the importance of tasks per site-specific safety training (e.g., coal plants, H2S environments, gas production facilities, explosive environments, radioactive environments, confined spaces/trenches, heights/fall protection) - Acquire the permit and authorization to work - Identify hazardous materials - Follow SDS recommendations for handling disposals - Understand how lockout/tagout (LOTO) is used to ensure safety - Identify and mitigate workplace hazards encountered while working on electrical equipment - Interpret pipe/soil for indications of high AC voltage which may lead to corrosion or safety issues - Identify the risk associated with high voltage gradient with respect to step and touch potential - Apply all safety guidelines when traveling in a vehicle (e.g., wearing a seat belt in a car, wearing a seat belt and ear protection in a helicopter) - Understand the purpose of proper certification/training for all equipment (e.g., ATV/UTV/winch, loading/unloading) - Recognize special equipment for protection from wildlife (e.g., signal device, pepper spray), hazardous plants, and insects, and take appropriate preventative measures