AMPP-CP1 Exam Format | AMPP-CP1 Course Contents | AMPP-CP1 Course Outline | AMPP-CP1 Exam Syllabus | AMPP-CP1 Exam Objectives

- Fundamentals of Corrosion (30–40%)
- Electrical Fundamentals
- Understand various electric terms, such as voltage, AC/DC, current, power, and resistance
- Understand the relationship expressed by Ohm's Law
- Understand the relationship expressed by Kirchhoff's Laws
- Understand basic DC circuits, including series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits


- Electrochemical Basics
- Understand basic terms of chemistry and electrochemistry used in corrosion theory, such as ions, acidity, alkalinity, oxidation, and reduction
- Understand the composition of a basic electrochemical cell and the electrochemical reactions that allow preferential corrosion to occur at the anode
- Understand how corrosion cells are formed on metal objects that are underground or otherwise immersed in an electrolyte
- Understand how to make effective use of environmental control to reduce corrosivity on exposed metal
- Understand the causes of naturally occurring corrosion
- Understand the relationship expressed by Faraday's Law
- Recognize factors that affect the corrosion rate


- Basic CP Theory
- Understand the concept of cathodic protection and the two primary methods of applying it to metal objects underground or otherwise immersed in an electrolyte
- Understand the structures that can be cathodically protected
- Understand the purpose of DC power source in the impressed current system
- Understand the need for insulation or isolation between facilities

- CP Component
- List the components of galvanic and impressed current systems
- Understand the purpose of routinely encountered cathodic protection components
- List routinely encountered cathodic protection components

- Influencing Factors
- Understand the influence of the environment, such as moisture content, on corrosion
- Understand how the environment influences conductivity and chemical activity
- Understand how the selection of materials impacts corrosion
- Understand the effect of different types of coating materials and their quality
- Understand the concept of shielding and how it can affect metallic objects that are cathodically protected
- Understand different types of stray current and how they can impact corrosion
- Understand the most common methods used to control stray current
- Monitor the presence of stray current
- Recognize external and third-party components that could influence CP systems

- Equipment and Equipment Management (5–15%)
- Equipment Usage and Principles
- Understand verification and basic operations of voltmeters, ohmmeters, multimeters, and associated hardware
- Understand how to use an ammeter, a clamp-on ammeter, and a current shunt
- Understand the basic principles of reference electrodes
- Explain the purpose of the portable and stationary reference electrodes
- Select appropriate reference cell for work conditions (e.g., copper-sulfate, silver-chloride)
- Understand the construction and operation of reference cells and maintain them in a manner that will provide comparative readings
- Understand the types of the test stations
- Determine the appropriate tools and equipment for the project
- Understand the importance of equipment preparation, storage, consumables, and equipment spares
- Understand the importance of documentation, communication, and procedures regarding equipment and troubleshooting

- Installation and Field Measurement (40–50%)
- Potential Measurements
- Understand the importance of adequate connection by removal of corrosion or coating with tools (file, etc.), and demonstrate the process
- Conduct structure-to-electrolyte potential surveys
- Record readings from periodic surveys according to company methods
- Conduct offshore drop cell measurement
- Understand the sources of error in potential measurement
- Understand measurement indications and possible source locations to identify stray current
- Recognize potential measurements for indications of interference and protection levels/criteria
- Determine the effect of a current source at remote locations using current interrupters
- Understand how to use coupons to check the effectiveness of cathodic protection
- Install interrupters in rectifiers or bonds for the purpose of taking on/off readings

- Current Measurements
- Understand fundamental current measurement methods used in cathodic protection surveys
- Understand how current measurement can be applied in cathodic protection surveys
- Measure the mV drop with a meter, and calculate the magnitude and direction of current flowing through various size shunts
- Measure the magnitude and direction of currents through bonds
- Conduct and verify rectifier readings with internal and external meters

- Electrolyte Measurements
- Understand different types of resistance measurement methods
- Conduct a soil resistivity test using the four-pin Wenner test method
- Conduct soil resistivity measurements by using a soil box
- Conduct single-point soil resistivity readings with a "Collins Rod"
- Calculate electrolyte resistivity
- Understand how to collect electrolyte samples
- Understand the various ways of measuring electrolyte pH
- Use an antimony half-cell in comparison to a copper/copper sulfate half-cell for determining the pH of soils

- Continuity Testing
- Understand how to use conductive and inductive methods to locate structures
- Recognize the importance of AC mitigation and over-voltage protection
- Determine the location of buried metallic structures and attachments
- Verify the effectiveness of the isolation device using structure-to-electrolyte readings
- Verify the effectiveness of the isolation device using an electronic isolator instrument

- Installation Methods
- Understand basic attachments to a structure by using an exothermic welding kit and/or pin brazing
- Understand how to install test leads for test stations
- Understand how to install test station and ensure proper operation, electrically, structurally, and mechanically
- Understand how to install jumper bonds and test leads across an isolation device
- Understand how to install test leads for an mV drop configuration in order to measure the current flow in a pipeline
- Understand how to install test leads for bonds and foreign line crossings
- Understand how to install rectifiers and other power sources
- Understand how to install galvanic anodes, document the installation, and test to ensure proper operation
- Understand how to install permanent reference cells and check them periodically to ensure they are in good working order
- Understand how to perform repairs and/or splices to bond leads, header cables, and test leads

- Basic Troubleshooting
- Verify galvanic anode operation using current measurement methods
- Verify galvanic anode operation using the open circuit potential of the anode
- Verify impressed current anode operation using individual current measurement methods
- Understand how to locate shorts on structures
- Understand how to test for a metallic short using the structure-to-electrolyte potential
- Understand how to locate a short by tracing current flow
- Verify diode operation

- Industry Practices/Requirements (1–10%)
- Criteria and Documentation
- Understand and recognize recommended CP criteria
- Understand the legal implication of accurate and ethical recordkeeping
- Understand the technical importance of accurate and precision recordkeeping
- Understand the purpose of maintaining records required by regulating bodies for the life of the facility involved
- Record personal logbook, diary, and notes
- Understand the importance of various monitoring requirements and data components that need to be recorded regularly
- Interpret alignment sheets, facility maps, and other system maps to identify accurate testing locations
- Record site information (date, time, weather, sketch, photos, location) and conditions (ground moisture, vegetation, hazards)
- Document name, model, and serial numbers of exact instruments used for readings
- Record non-standard test stations and abnormal conditions affecting CP systems

- Safety (1–10%)
- Procedures and Hazards
- Know where to find company's/client's safety procedures
- Understand the role of the safety officer
- Know how to identify hazards encountered in cathodic protection testing and inspection
- Know what precautions need to be taken for safety while conducting CP measurements
- 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, explosive environments, confined spaces)
- Acquire the permit and authorization to work
- Identify hazardous materials and follow SDS recommendations for handling/disposal
- Understand how lockout/tagout (LOTO) is used to ensure safety
- Recognize workplace hazards while working on electrical equipment
- Interpret pipe/soil for indications of high AC voltage
- Apply safety guidelines when traveling in a vehicle or helicopter
- Understand the purpose of proper certification/training for all equipment (e.g., ATV/UTV/winch)
- Recognize special equipment for protection from wildlife, hazardous plants, and insects