NACE Is Now AMPP: What Happened to NACE Certifications, and What Job Ads Mean

Search Gulf job boards for coating or corrosion roles and you will still see "NACE CIP Level 2 required" or "NACE CP2 preferred". Yet NACE International has not existed as a separate body since 2021. Engineers reasonably ask: is my NACE card still valid? Do I need to re-sit something? What do I write on my CV?

This guide explains what changed, what did not, and how to describe your credentials so that both recruiters and their keyword filters recognise them.

What happened, and when

NACE was founded in 1943 as the National Association of Corrosion Engineers. SSPC began in 1950 as the Steel Structures Painting Council. Over decades each built its own certifications and standards, some of them overlapping. In 2021 the two merged to form AMPP, and from June 2021 their standards programmes were combined into one. AMPP has since rebuilt and relaunched several programmes, including the Coating Inspector Program in 2022 and the Internal Corrosion Specialist certification in August 2026.

What happened to NACE certifications

AMPP took over the NACE and SSPC certifications. Where the two organisations had competing programmes, AMPP combined them. Coating inspection is the clearest example.

• Coating inspectors. AMPP relaunched its Coating Inspector Program in April 2022, combining the best of NACE's CIP and SSPC's Protective Coatings Inspector (PCI) programme. The levels became Basic Coatings Inspector (Level 1), Certified Coatings Inspector (Level 2) and Senior Certified Coatings Inspector (Level 3). Existing cardholders were moved to the matching level. AMPP said the legacy NACE CIP and SSPC PCI credentials would remain active until industry fully adopts the AMPP credentials.
• Cathodic protection, corrosion and internal corrosion. The familiar ladders continue under AMPP: CP1 to CP4, Corrosion Technician to Corrosion Technologist (CTech) and Senior Corrosion Technologist (SCT), and Internal Corrosion Technologist (ICT) to Senior Internal Corrosion Technologist (SICT).
• Renewal. Certifications are renewed through AMPP's certification portal, under AMPP's renewal requirements.

What happened to NACE standards

AMPP chose not to renumber standards that industry documents already reference. Published NACE and SSPC standards keep their original designations, even when revised; a revised edition simply carries AMPP's logo and copyright with an updated date. NACE MR0175/ISO 15156, NACE SP0169 and SSPC-SP 10/NACE No. 2 are still called exactly that. Standards developed after the merger use an AMPP designation, such as AMPP TM21510.

So a specification that calls for "NACE SP0775" is not out of date because it says NACE. Check the year instead: the edition matters more than the name on the cover.

Reading job adverts that say "NACE"

Recruiters and applicant tracking systems often search for the exact words in the advert. Three practical points:

• "NACE CIP Level 2" means AMPP Certified Coatings Inspector (CIP Level 2). It is the same credential lineage under its current name.
• "NACE certified" on its own is vague. It could mean coating inspection, cathodic protection or corrosion technology. Read the duties, or ask which credential the client specifies.
• "SSPC PCI" is a legacy coating inspector credential, now folded into AMPP's Coating Inspector Program. Do not confuse it with AMPP's Pipeline Coating Inspector (PCI) specialty, which adds pipeline coatings to an active CIP level.

How to write it on your CV and LinkedIn

Use both names on first mention, so a human reader and a keyword filter both find it. Then add the certification number and expiry date, because many employers verify credentials online through AMPP's directory of certified professionals.

Examples

AMPP Certified Coatings Inspector, CIP Level 2 (formerly NACE CIP Level 2). Cert. No. 000000, valid to 06/2028.

AMPP Cathodic Protection Technician, CP2 (NACE CP2). Cert. No. 000000, valid to 03/2027.

Our Career Navigator service rebuilds inspector CVs and LinkedIn profiles, including how credentials are listed.

Which AMPP certification next?

The AMPP ladders most relevant to oil and gas are cathodic protection (CP1 Tester, CP2 Technician, CP3 Technologist, CP4 Specialist), coating inspection (CIP Levels 1 to 3, with specialties), general corrosion (Corrosion Technician, CTech, SCT) and internal corrosion (ICT, SICT, ICS). For two of them in detail, read our guides to ICT vs SICT and CIP Levels 1, 2 and 3.

EIM is an independent training provider; the certifications belong to AMPP. EIM's exam pages explain 13 AMPP certifications, and self-paced preparation is built for CTech, SCT, ICT, SICT, CP3 and CIP Level 3, each with one year of access.

Frequently asked questions

Is my NACE certification still valid?

AMPP took over NACE certifications, and AMPP said that during the transition, certified individuals keep their certifications as long as they meet the renewal requirements. Check your current status and renewal date in AMPP's certification portal.

Does NACE still exist?

Not as a separate association. NACE International merged with SSPC to form AMPP in 2021. The NACE name lives on in legacy standards and in many specifications.

Is AMPP CIP Level 2 the same as NACE CIP Level 2?

Yes, it is the same credential lineage. AMPP named Level 2 "Certified Coatings Inspector" when it relaunched the programme in 2022, and existing holders moved to the matching level.

Do I need to retake an exam because of the merger?

No. The merger did not require re-examination. Normal renewal rules still apply.

Have NACE standards been replaced by AMPP standards?

No. Legacy NACE and SSPC standards keep their designations when revised. Only new standards get AMPP designations.

Sources

• AMPP news: Coating Inspector Certification Program gets a refresh (April 2022)
• AMPP notice in Materials Performance: Standards designations (June 2022)
• AMPP news: SSPC and NACE standards programmes merge (June 2021)
• AMPP news: Certification considerations Q&A (January 2020)
• AMPP news: Internal Corrosion Specialist relaunched (August 2026)
• All checked 7 October 2026.