AMPP CP1 Tester study plan

List every hazard category on a CP test site (electrical, traffic, excavation, confined space, chemical) and write a control for each from memory

Assemble and explain the PPE set required before energizing or de-energizing a rectifier

Demonstrate the safe shutdown/startup sequence for an impressed current rectifier on paper, including lockout/tagout steps

Explain shock hazards of AC vs DC and state minimum approach distances and grounding practices

Describe emergency response steps for a colleague contacting an energized structure or test lead

Identify each component of a cathodic protection test station and state its function

Set up a multimeter, reference electrode, and test leads for a structure-to-electrolyte potential measurement and describe each connection

Perform and record a reference electrode calibration check against a second electrode, noting acceptance limits

Diagnose common setup faults: reversed polarity, open reference electrode, high-resistance soil contact, and stray AC pickup

Explain when and why a current interrupter is installed and how to verify synchronization between units

Trace the DC circuit of a rectifier from transformer through bridge to anode bed and structure, labeling each element

Adjust rectifier tap settings and describe the effect of each change on output current and voltage

Compare galvanic and impressed current system operating characteristics and state when each is selected

Explain how interference currents arise from foreign structures and describe a bond mitigation approach

Describe what a current interrupter does to the measured potential and how to select an interrupt cycle

Plan a structure-to-electrolyte potential survey: define test point spacing, reference electrode placement, and contact technique

Collect and record at least 20 simulated potential readings, distinguishing instant-off from native and polarized values

Apply the -850 mV and 100 mV polarization shift criteria to a data set and state which criterion each reading satisfies

Explain how IR drop enters a potential reading and describe at least three ways to reduce it

Compute soil resistivity from a four-pin Wenner spacing setup and interpret the result for anode bed design

Convert raw field readings into corrected values, applying reference electrode offset and meter calibration factors

Measure and interpret close interval survey data to locate a coating holiday or current pickup zone

Calculate current requirement from structure surface area and current density, and compare it to measured rectifier output

Explain how coating quality, soil resistivity, and temperature affect measured potentials and measurement confidence

Identify out-of-tolerance measurements and state the retest or verification step for each

Compile a survey record set that a second tester could reproduce: date, weather, soil conditions, instrument IDs, calibration status, and reading locations

Write test method descriptions for potential survey, soil resistivity, and rectifier output checks in your own words

Organize field notes and photos into a report structure with an executive summary, methods, results, and conclusions

Document a non-conformance or anomalous reading with the observation, likely cause, and recommended follow-up

Verify that all recorded values carry correct units, significant figures, and reference electrode identification

Re-derive the safety controls for the three highest-risk tasks and compare them against your week 1 hazard form, correcting any gaps

Review reporting requirements and rewrite any conclusions that are unsupported by the recorded data

Explain the tester's scope of work and when to escalate an out-of-scope condition to a certified specialist

Produce concise written explanations of 10 core concepts suitable for a field apprentice

Work through full-length practice sets for all six domains under timed conditions

Tabulate wrong answers by domain and re-study the two weakest domains with focused drills

Recite the protection criteria, calibration acceptance limits, and safety shutdown sequence from memory without notes

Rehearse explaining a complete CP test from setup to report in under 10 minutes