Qualified Coating Applicator Certification
Corrodere provides Qualified Coating Applicator (QCA) Certification, giving coating applicators formal recognition of their skills, knowledge and practical competence.
QCA Certification provides companies, contractors and asset owners with independent assurance that coating personnel have been assessed against defined industry requirements and can demonstrate the competence required to carry out their work safely, efficiently and to the required standard.
What is Qualified Coating Applicator Certification?
Qualified Coating Applicator (QCA) Certification is a practical, competency-based certification scheme for personnel working within the protective coatings industry.
Rather than simply confirming that someone has completed training, QCA Certification provides independent verification that an individual can demonstrate the knowledge and practical skills required for their role.
Candidates undertake theoretical and practical assessment, with certification awarded based on demonstrated competence.
For employers and clients, this provides an additional level of confidence when selecting and deploying coating personnel.
Lloyd's Register Accreditation
The QCA scheme is approved by Lloyd's Register, providing third-party oversight and giving employers, contractors and clients greater confidence in the competence of certified personnel.
Accredited by
Independent Assessment You Can Trust
Competence should be demonstrated, not assumed.
QCA Certification is independently assessed by approved third-party assessors, helping ensure certification decisions are based on an individual's actual knowledge and practical ability.
Benefits of QCA Certification Include:
- Demonstrate workforce competence
- Meet project and client specifications
- Strengthen quality assurance
- Support contractor and personnel pre-qualification
- Reduce risks associated with poor coating application
- Provide documented evidence of individual competence
- Maintain consistent standards across teams, projects and locations
Certification For Coating Applicators
QCA - P1
Protective Coating Applicator
Certification of the core knowledge and practical skills required for protective coating application.
Certification
QCA - P1: Protective Coating Applicator certification
Course Content
- Pre-Job Preparation – PPE, safety briefing, risk assessment
- Panel Preparation – surface contamination, irregularities/defects
- Hand/Power Tool Cleaning – use to specific standards, correct PPR/RPE
- Paint/Coating Products – pre-application – product data sheets, mixing products, environmental conditions
- Paint/Coating Products – application – correct procedures according to product data sheet, good working practices
- Housekeeping and cleaning equipment
QCA - A1
Abrasive Blast Cleaner
Independent certification of competence in abrasive blast cleaning and surface preparation.
Certification
QCA - A1: Abrasive Blast Cleaning certification
Course Content
- Pre-job preparation – safety briefing, risk assessment, PPE/RPE selection, health and safety briefing
- Panel Preparation – check for surface contamination, surface irregularities and defects
- Pre-blast inspection – check equipment, power requirements and abrasive media
- Testing blast cleaning equipment
- Abrasive Blast Cleaning
- Quality control test
- Cleaning equipment
QCA - S1
Spray Painter
Certification demonstrating the knowledge and practical competence required for spray application of protective coatings.
Certification
QCA - S1: Spray Painter certification
Course Content
- Pre-job preparation - safety briefing, risk assessment, PPE/RPE selection, health and safety briefing
- Panel preparation - check for surface contamination, surface irregularities and defects
- Airless spray equipment – set up power and equipment and safety checks
- Paint/coating products (pre-application) product data sheets, PPE/RPE, mixing of the products, environmental conditions
- Use of airless spray equipment – check equipment ready for use, application of specific products, film thickness, correct application finish, equipment shut-down
- Cleaning equipment
QCA - T1
Thin Film Intumescent Applicator
Specialist certification for personnel applying thin film intumescent coating systems.
Certification
QCA - T1: Thin Film Intumescent Applicator certification
Course Content
- Pre-job preparation - safety briefing, risk assessment, PPE/RPE selection, health and safety briefing
- Panel preparation - check for surface contamination, surface irregularities and defects
- Airless spray equipment – set up power and equipment and safety checks
- Paint/coating products (pre-application) product data sheets, PPE/RPE, mixing of the products, environmental conditions.
- Use of airless spray equipment – check equipment is ready for use, application of specific products, film thickness (wet/dry), correct application finish, equipment shut-down
- Cleaning equipment
Training and Certification are Different
Training develops competence. Certification proves it.
Corrodere's training programmes provide personnel with the knowledge and practical skills required to perform their roles effectively.
QCA Certification is a separate process that assesses whether an individual can demonstrate that competence against the requirements of the certification scheme.
This distinction is important for employers and clients who need more than evidence of course attendance. Independent certification provides objective evidence that an individual has successfully demonstrated the required knowledge and practical ability.
Experienced personnel who already have the necessary skills may also be able to progress directly to QCA assessment without first completing Corrodere training.
Certification for Companies
Demonstrate the competence of your workforce.
For companies operating in protective coatings, the ability to demonstrate workforce competence is increasingly important.
Project specifications, client requirements and quality management systems may require contractors to provide evidence that the people carrying out critical coating activities are appropriately competent.
QCA Certification provides companies with an independent route to assess and certify their workforce.
Whether you need to certify a small specialist team or establish a programme across a larger workforce, Corrodere can support certification at your facility through its network of approved independent assessors.
Give your clients confidence in the people carrying out the work.
Certification Where You Need It
QCA Certification can be delivered in-house, allowing companies to arrange assessment at their own facilities or suitable project locations.
An Approved QCA Assessor conducts the required assessments, providing an independent and practical route to workforce certification without requiring large teams to travel to a training centre.
For organisations looking to establish a longer-term certification capability, there is also the opportunity to become an Approved QCA Certification Centre.
Contact Us Regarding In-House Certification
NOTE: THIS FORM IS NON-FUNCTIONAL.
Contact Us to Become an Approved Certification Centre
NOTE: THIS FORM IS NON-FUNCTIONAL.
Why QCA Certification?
Independent
Assessment is carried out by approved assessors, providing impartial verification of competence.
Recognised
The QCA certification scheme is approved by Lloyd's Register, supporting confidence across the protective coatings industry.
Competency Based
Certification is awarded on demonstrated knowledge and practical ability, not simply attendance at a course.
Relevant to Industry
Certification focuses on practical skills required to perform coating activities safely, effectively and consistently.
Flexible
Certification can be arranged for individuals, teams and larger workforces, including assessment at company facilities.
Evidence of Competence
Companies gain a clear way to demonstrate that personnel have been independently assessed for the work they perform.
Prove Competence With Independent Certification
Whether you are an applicator looking to demonstrate your skills, an employer seeking to certify your workforce, or a client looking for greater assurance across your supply chain, QCA Certification provides an independent benchmark of coating application competence.