Internal Audit Guidance from AMPP QP Auditors

Internal audits are a critical part of maintaining QP compliance and should be conducted annually by the Quality Control Supervisor (QCS), with the EHS Manager participating when the contractor holds QP certifications that include safety and health requirements. In addition to annual system audits, the QCS and EHS Manager should perform project-specific internal audits, particularly for large or critical projects.

A meaningful internal audit goes beyond checking boxes. Audit records should include detailed observations and references that demonstrate how the contractor's operations align with QP procedures. Simply submitting a completed checklist without supporting comments or evidence does not constitute a valid internal audit.

The goal of internal audits is to verify that systems are operating effectively, supporting safe work practices, quality workmanship, employee training, and the prevention of costly rework. When conducted thoroughly and honestly each year, internal audits help ensure audit readiness, maintain compliance, and reduce the likelihood of findings during annual AMPP audits.

Remember: You must be prepared to provide your complete internal audit documentation during your annual audit.

Get The QP Audit Checklist

QP Merit Program

A few reminders of major changes to this program that supersedes the legacy SSPC RAP (Random Audit Program) qualifications:

• Eligible Accreditation Programs include:  QP1, QP2, QP3, QP6, QP8, QP9, QP10, & QS1 (QP5 is currently not included.)
• Your organization must have completed a minimum of 3 years in ALL QP programs held to qualify.
• Companies cannot receive more than 2 “CAP” resolved minor findings for which any QP accreditation is held during the prior three (3) years to be eligible to participate in the QP Merit Program.
• This program is evaluated annually, and you must reapply by July 1^st to be eligible for the following year.
• AMPP reserves the right to perform random, announced, or unannounced audits at AMPP’s expense and discretion during non-audit years.  The Merit Program member must remain in compliance during a random audit.

If you qualified for 2025, congratulations!  If not, we will send out reminders and welcome you to apply for the QP Merit Program for 2026.  Annual applications for all must be submitted no later than July 1, 2025, to be eligible to participate on April 1, 2026.

For more information about the QP Merit Program, visit QP Merit Program Application and Program Rules.

Job Notification changes for 2025

Beginning January 1, 2025, Job Notifications will be required for ALL Accredited programs (previously only required for QP1, QP2, and QP5).

The Job Notification form for QP 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, and 9, plus QS1 and QN1 can be found here: Job Notifications. If you need to submit a Job Notification for QP 5 click here. AMPP keeps all Job Notification information in strict confidence.

Parameters for required Job Notifications:

Accredited contractors are required to submit job information on “reportable” jobs to AMPP within 15 days of contract award or project is to begin. Reportable jobs are defined as:

1. All prime contracts for public work that involve coating and related work with a dollar value of $100,000 or greater.
2. All public contracts (issued by federal, state, or local governments) for coating work in which you are the subcontractor, regardless of the contract amount.
3. All coating and related work where a QP accreditation is contract-specified or when QP is included in the contractor qualification/evaluation process.

NOTE: Changes in the schedule and scope of a project require a resubmittal of the Job Notification for that project.

2025 Audit Renewals

If you have been accepted into the QP Merit Program, your 2025 renewal invoice will only include administrative fees for the programs you currently hold. Current legacy SSPC RAP companies will be enrolled automatically in the QP Merit Program for 2025 but must reapply by July 1, 2025, for the 2026 season.

Additionally, the Maintenance Renewal Applications (for QP 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, as well as QS1 and QN1) with the appropriate documents are required and are due by December 15, 2025.

If you have not received your renewal notification by October 15^th, it is your responsibility to contact us at QPsupport@ampp.org. There will be no exceptions on the late fees if not paid by the deadline this year. (We do not wish to assess late fees; however late submittals add significantly to the cost of processing renewal applications.) Please make sure you are keeping your contact information updated by sending an email of changes to QPsupport@ampp.org.

Disciplinary Action Criteria (DAC) revisions

A task group was formed by the Accreditation Program Committee (APC) to update the Disciplinary Action Criteria (DAC) for accredited contractors and procedures for administering disciplinary action. The committee members felt that new and more stringent Disciplinary Action Criteria and administrative procedures were needed to supplement the annual and unannounced technical audits used prior to the DAC as the sole method for determining whether a contractor obtains or retains accreditation status. The new DAC has been approved by the APC and it is now in legal review.

The APC has approved the revisions, and it is now in legal review. The key changes consist of modifications to Critical Fault categories summarized below as well as editorial clarifications:

1. Adding new “Critical Fault” categories for confirmed wage and hourly worker payment violations.
2. Adding new “Severe” and “Critical Fault” language for subcontracting to a non-accredited contractor without facility owner approval on a project requiring QP accreditation
3. Reorganizing listing of “Faults” by category from Serious to Severe for easy comparison (e.g., listing safety practice faults from Serious to Very Severe in the same section)
4. Amending “Quality of Service” Category to include failure to meet project requirements at final acceptance inspection with no resolution of “outstanding” non-conformities.

Current Disciplinary Criteria

• DAC Criteria
• QP5 DAC Criteria

AMPP is committed to investigating reports alleging violations of the DAC. If you would like to learn more about the DAC process or to communicate a concern or file a complaint to the Program Administrator, please contact QPsupport@ampp.org and describe your question or concern and we will get back with you in confidence. 

Revised QP application and procedures

AMPP has revised the QP Accreditation Application and submittal procedures to simplify and streamline the application process for both initial applicants and for existing program members applying to add QP accreditations.

You can check out the new application and submittal instructions here.

QP Accreditation Program Rules update

The QP Accreditation Program Rules have been updated. The “Rules” document has been reorganized for easier understanding. While few changes to the rules were made in the update, several important clarifications were made including when Corrective Action Plans (CAPS) may be requested for ‘minor’ findings and when annual accreditation renewal applications and payments are due (being extended this year to December 31st, 2023, due to being sent late).

Please take a few minutes to review the program rules to ensure your organization is in compliance. Please contact us if you have any questions about the QP Program Rules update. 

View New Rules

New guide for job site documentation for QP 1 and QP 2

A guide is available to help with documentation requirements for QP 1 and QP 2 jobs. This guide will help with needed documentation at the job site to make sure necessary items in the areas of personnel, project documents, references, quality control, and EH&S are available.

See the Guide