How Train The Painter can kickstart a very successful career
Train the Painter is one of the world’s leading and most widely recognised training courses if you are looking to become a fully qualified surface preparation and coating application professional. However, it is only the start of the learning options available to you, where you could eventually progress achieving chartered engineer status.
The SSPC Train the painter programme is accredited internationally by Lloyds Register. The scheme has been developed by industry experts and provides operatives working in the manufacturing, highways, rail, nuclear, petro-chemical, marine, and oil and gas industries with vital training. The training has been developed by industry experts in response to the strong demand for certification within the industrial coatings industry that now requires personnel working within all of the above industries to obtain professional specified qualifications.
Start your career journey today with HC Technical, where you can access the full TTP programme. We offer industrial coating applicators, blasters and sprayers and supervisors, a comprehensive package of training modules that ensure professionalism, promote good working practice and a thorough insight into methods of surface treatment and application of protective coatings.
What career progression options are available?
In the diagram below, we illustrate the range of learning and development options that you can pursue to really stand out from the rest and develop your professional skills in the industry.
We have colour coded the diagram to make your choices very clear.
| Type of training/ accreditation |
Provider |
|---|---|
| Blue options |
Train The Painter applicators courses for thin film intumescent coatings. HC Technical |
| Orange options |
Further specialist coating training Corrodere |
| Yellow options |
Professional Membership Chartered Quality Institute Institute of Corrosion |
1. Kick off your career with Train The Painter
a. TTP Operator courses
HC Technical is an approved provider of courses within the Train the Painter (TTP) Programme. TTP is the internationally accredited coating applicator training programme created and developed by experts throughout the industry. This comprehensive and unique training programme is delivered in the classroom and onsite by our professionally accredited trainers, each trainer has a minimum of 10 years industry experience. We provide the full suite of Train The Painter training courses which include the Blue CSCS skills card. The three modular courses provide Coating Applicators, Blast Cleaning Operatives and Industrial Spray Painter students with the highest accreditation in the UK.
The Train The Painter courses are specified by Network Rail, National Highways, National Grid and many other large organisations in the UK and overseas such as Conoco Philips. They understand the higher level of education obtained with Train the Painter, therefore putting you at the forefront for job opportunities within their companies.
SSPC Train the Painter has three modules including;
Protective Coatings Applicator
Abrasive Blast Cleaner
Spray Painter
Completion of the following training results in issue of the relevant coloured card:
| GOLD CARD |
Students who successfully complete the training in: • Protective coatings application • Abrasive blast cleaning • Spay painting |
| SILVER CARD |
Students who successfully complete the training in: • Protective coatings application AND • Abrasive blast cleaning OR Spay painting |
| BRONZE CARD |
Students who successfully complete the training in: • Protective coatings application |
| ORANGE CARD |
The orange card is given to students who have completed the bronze level training but have less than 1600 hours of on-site experience. These students will log their ongoing experience through the TTP app and can request their Bronze card once they have logged 1600 hours experience. |
Delegates completing the Train The Painter courses will be able to:
· Ensure professionalism
· Promote good safe working practice
· Have a thorough insight into methods of surface treatment and application of protective coatings
· Carry out simple quality assurance testing of their work
· Recognise and rectify common faults during surface prep and coating application
· Work to specifications and understand different types of coating system
a. TTP Supervisor course
HC Technical is an approved provider of the Train the Painter Supervisor course. The Coating Supervisor’s Course has been developed to meet the requirements of the surface preparation and coating application industry which has undergone considerable changes over the years, specifically related to increased levels of Health & Safety, New Environmental Legislation and minimum requirements for Quality control.
The role and responsibilities of the Coating Supervisor has also increased which has necessitated the need for a structure and recognised training programme.
The course has been developed to assist coating supervisors gain a thorough understanding of their role and responsibilities, improve awareness on health & safety and environmental legislation, gain an insight into coating technology, coating specifications, inspection techniques and equipment and paint related problems
1. Specialise in specific coating applications
Should you wish to continue to improve your qualifications and further your career, The Corrodere Academy, offers a range of specialist coatings training courses leading on from the TTP scheme where you can specialise in specific areas. These include the following:
a. ICorr Coating Inspector (Levels 1,2 and 3)
This course has been endorsed by the Institute of Corrosion in accordance with the ICorr Rec Doc. Achieving this qualification will enable you to work as a fully qualified coatings inspector. These courses consist of 100% flexible online core and specialist modules which will need to be completed within 12 months. A practical and theoretical assessment must then be attended to achieve the ICorr certificate.
Level 1 certified personnel are able to demonstrate the competence to set up and calibrate specific inspection or test equipment, to carry out tests and perform inspections against written criteria, to record and classify the results of tests and inspections against written criteria and to report the results.
Level 2 personnel are qualified to perform and direct inspection or testing operations according to established or recognised procedures including IMO PSPC MSC.215 (82 requirements)
Level 3 personnel must hold the ICorr level 2 Certificate and have 3 years coating inspection experience. Level 3 personnel are qualified to direct any inspection or test operation for which they are certified and assume full responsibility for an inspection or test facility and staff.
Find out more about Coating Inspector training here
b. Further specialist coating training
Corrodere also offers a range of specialist coating training courses which will help you advance your career in specific directions, the courses are listed below. Please click on each course to take you to further information about them on the Corrodere website:
· Coatings for Corrosion Control
This unique and challenging Diploma has been written and created by some of the coating industries most respected and knowledgeable professionals. Students will need a thorough understanding and background in the coatings and corrosion control industry before embarking on this challenging study programme.
· Coating Surveys
Coating surveys should be conducted by experienced personnel who can make sound judgment on the condition of an existing coating and develop information that can be used to make effective decisions on the management of the coatings. course is endorsed by ICorr and accredited by Lloyd’s Register and the Royal Society of Chemistry
· Corrosion Management
This online Corrosion Management Training Course is designed to provide a detailed understanding of corrosion as a key threat to industry. This is accomplished by establishing the fundamentals of corrosion in the first module and then building on this knowledge throughout the online interactive course.
2. Gain accreditation with a Professional Body
Professional accreditation demonstrates your commitment to superior professionalism, upholding industry standards, and continued learning. These merits can help boost your professional credibility and prestige within your own network, with your current clients, and when pursuing new career opportunities.
a. Institute of Corrosion
The Institute of Corrosion offers its members a route to Chartered Status (e.g. CEng, CSci) through its links with the Engineering Council and the Science Council. Members are also supported in their formal CPD requirements by their CPD returns process.
Wherever you are in your career, being a member of the Institute of Corrosion can help you develop the latest skills and gain industry relevant qualifications. You will be part of the UK’s biggest community of corrosion professionals, with an increasing global presence. Find out more here.
b. Chartered Quality Institute
Joining the CQI makes you part of a unique network of thousands of professionals working in quality management. Becoming a member of the CQI gives you opportunities for learning, development and networking, as well as unrivalled recognition – showing your colleagues and employers that you're serious about your profession and committed to developing your expertise. Find out more here.
3. From Higher Education to Chartered Engineer
Finally, there are options to gain a degree or higher degree in a related field in engineering, and ultimately to become a Chartered Engineer.
a. University Degree courses
There are a variety of different Universities and Colleges throughout the country running different engineering courses. As just one example, the University of Manchester offers a MSc in Corrosion Control Engineering.
b. Chartered Engineer Status
Professional registration demonstrates to your employers, colleagues, customers and the wider engineering profession that you meet globally recognised standards of competence and commitment in your field of engineering.
These profession wide standards are set out by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard of Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) and the ICTTech Standard. Find out more here.
Our final comments
Our blog shows that there is a varied and wide range of training and qualification options for anyone thinking of building their career in industrial coating application, blasting and spraying. You can start with Train the Painter and then work your way through to a degree or higher degree, and potentially gain Chartered Engineer Status.
HC Technical can help you throughout your career progression, so get in touch today and take your career and your earning potential to the next level.