Education

Courses and Programs : Department of Defense

CP 3 - Cathodic Protection Technologist

6-Day Classroom Course

1st day 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
2nd - 5th days 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
6th day 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted)

Description
The CP 3–Cathodic Protection Technologist Course is an intensive 6-day course that presents CP technology to prepare students for the NACE Cathodic Protection Technologist Certification Examination. The CP 3–Cathodic Protection Technologist Course builds on the technology presented in the CP 2–Cathodic Protection Technician Course covering both theoretical concepts and practical application of cathodic protection with a strong focus on interpretation of CP data, CP troubleshooting and mitigation of problems that might arise in both galvanic and impressed current systems. The course is presented in a format of lecture, discussion and hands-on, in-class experiments and group exercises. There is a written examination at the conclusion of the course.

Who Should Attend
This course is designed for persons who have extensive CP field experience and a strong technical background in cathodic protection. Students must complete a preliminary application for certification at least 60 days in advance so that education and prerequisites can be verified.

Prerequisites
For each path, all prerequisites must be met in order to apply for the CP 3–Cathodic Protection Technologist Course

Course Highlights (including but not limited to) 

• CP Theory
• CP Criteria
• CP Interference
• Detecting Stray Current, AC Interference, and Telluric Current Interference
• CP Design Fundam entals
• Design Calculations (circuit resistances, system capacity and life, number of anodes, driving voltage)
• Evaluation of System Performance
• Troubleshooting Cathodic Protection Systems 

Skill Assessment
Upon successful completion of the CP Technologist Examination, a Certified NACE Cathodic Protection Technologist will have passed a written examination with a grade of 70% or greater that will include various levels of assessment of the following skill and knowledge factors:

• Understand activation, concentration and resistance polarization and the mathematical expressions of these concepts.
• Understand the factors that affect polarization (area, temperature, relative movement, ion concentration, oxygen concentration).
• Understand the NACE criteria for CP and be able to apply the criteria and make adjustments as necessary to CP systems in order to comply with the criteria defined by the company where the technologist is employed.
• Understand the concept of current distribution and be able to determine ideal current distribution for a CP system taking into account the factors affecting current distribution (anode-to-cathode separation distance, electrolyte and structure resistivity variation, current attenuation).
• Perform advanced cathodic protection testing using correct measurement techniques to monitor CP system performance and accurately interpret the data collected to ensure optimum CP system performance. Based on data collected, determine if correction/modifications to system components are necessary.
• Identify errors in data collection/CP measurements including contact resistance errors, voltage drop errors and, reference electrode errors.
• Conduct and document interference tests where stray currents are suspected to determine if interference exists and identify the source of the interference.
• Upon determination of interference, identify and implement a method of control that will mitigate the effects of the stray current.
• Design and install simplistic forms of galvanic and impressed current cathodic protection facilities and perform the necessary mathematical calculations.