QP Programs

QP Programs

When you specify QP, you specify quality

The QP Program was established by coatings industry leaders who wanted an effective program that would raise quality standards for projects and recognize companies who operate at a higher level. This led to the creation of the SSPC QP (Quality Procedures) standards and the SSPC QP program and advisory committees.

Since the merger of NACE and SSPC to form AMPP, the QP program continues to lead the industry and provides tremendous value to asset owners and levels the playing field for contractors. Our advisory committee elevates the quality of the QP program by using consensus methods to set and review standards, while our Disciplinary Action Criteria (DAC) holds QP accredited contractors accountable for safety, quality, environmental, and ethical practice violations. If the standards are not met, our contractors are subject to the DAC’s penalties: warnings, probation, suspension, or revocation.

Explore QP Programs QP Corporate Benefits

QP for Contractors

Join the elite group of dedicated contractors with industry-standard capabilities, and a commitment to exceptional quality. With your QP qualifications, you will be able to bid on QP-specified projects.

Benefits for Contractors:

  • Owner specified
  • Clear quality standards definition
  • Reduce your risks
  • Proves value to customers

Get Accredited

QP for Owners

Safeguard your assets and find the best contractors for all your coatings and lining projects and use QP as a pre-qualification for your selection process.

Benefits for Asset and Facility Owners:

  • Pre-qualification for coatings contractors
  • Risk reduction with properly trained personnel
  • Contractors have the experience needed
  • Asset longevity due to properly applied coatings

Protect Your Assets With QP

QP for Inspection Companies

Help grow your business with the QP 5 Program. QP 5 provides opportunities for inspection companies and value for asset owners.

Benefits for Inspection Companies:

  • Access to higher quality jobs from specifying companies
  • Improvements to quality assurance procedures
  • Demonstrates your organization is a leading inspection provider
  • Refined internal processes through the accreditation process

Get Accredited

QP accreditation programs overview

Hear from Jim Kunkle and Dave Evans in this overview of the QP Program. They discuss the program’s mechanics and how it benefits industrial coatings contractors and asset and facility owners. Jim Kunkle is the Manager, Business Development for AMPP, and Dave Evans is the Director, QP and Coatings Credentialing for AMPP.

QP programs

QP 1 - Field application to complex industrial and marine structures

The QP 1 accreditation is an internationally recognized program that evaluates the practices of industrial painting contractors in key areas of business related to field coating application.

Program overview

QP 2 - Field removal of hazardous coatings

This accreditation is a nationally recognized program that evaluates the capabilities of industrial/marine paint contractors on their ability to safely remove and properly manage hazardous coating material in the field.

Program overview

QP 3 - Shop painting

The requirements for QP 3 are similar to those for QP 1, except they are specifically focused on shop coating operations instead of field application.

Program overview

QP 5 - Accreditation for coating and lining inspection companies

The QP 5 accreditation program is for coating inspection companies that work in the industrial coating and lining industry.

Program overview

QP 6 - Contractor metallizing

Used by facility owners or their protective coating specialists or specifying engineers to ensure that contractors hired to perform metallizing work to protect bridge, industrial or marine structures, or miscellaneous metal parts have the primary technical capabilities and organizational structure to do the work.

Program overview

QP 7 - Painting contractor introductory program

This program’s objective is to determine if a painting contractor has the personnel, organization, qualifications, procedures, knowledge, and capability to produce quality surface preparation and coating application on industrial, marine, or commercial / institutional structures.

Program overview

QP 8 - Installation of polymer coatings and surfacings on concrete and other cementitious surfaces

This accreditation is for facility owners to ensure that contractors hired to install polymer coatings or surfacings on concrete and other cementitious surfaces in commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities have the technical capabilities and organizational structure necessary for the work.

Program overview

QP 9 - Field application of architectural coatings

This is a nationally recognized accreditation program that evaluates the practices of commercial painting contractors in key areas of business, setting forth the minimum level of service and quality required for today’s coatings industry.

Program overview

QS 1 - Quality management systems

QS 1 is the standard procedure in the PCCP program that requires participating contractors to implement and document more stringent (ISO 9001-compliant) quality control and record-keeping procedures.

Program overview

QN 1 - Nuclear coating supplement

This supplemental procedure describes a method for evaluating the primary qualifications of industrial coating contractors that perform work in nuclear power plant and shop facilities.

Program overview

In-House Training Qualification - AS 3

Accreditation for employer in-house training of personnel for coating application.

Program overview

3rd Party Training Qualification - AS 3 ITO

Accreditation for training of personnel related to coating application for independent training organizations.

Program overview


The QP Corporate Benefits Program

Did you know as a corporate member and QP accredited organization, you can take advantage of a new benefits program? The program works as an add-on to your AMPP Corporate Membership and can be combined with your existing corporate membership (Affiliate, Associate, or Patron). Here is what is included in the QP Corporate Benefits Program:

  • Renewals and new accreditations – ($250 for the first accreditation, and $100 for each additional)
  • Visguides – 30% off list price
  • AMPP Courses – ((Up to $5,600 in savings depending on courses)
  • Certification renewals – $100 discount for up to (3) certification renewals

To realize these savings, simply add the QP Corporate Benefits Program to your existing corporate membership for only $750 USD for accredited organizations.

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QP Program Committees

Visit this page for information about the QP Program Committees including committee members, subcommittee chairs, AMPP QP Staff representatives, and the latest updates from committee meetings.

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