NACE CIP Level 1 Exam 2026: Complete 250 Practice
Questions with Verified Answers – Graded A+ Study Guide
1. A carbon steel pipeline is buried in soil with a resistivity of 2,500 ohm-cm. The pipeline's
native potential is -0.55 V vs. Cu/CuSO4. A CP system is installed, and the polarized potential at
a test station reads -0.85 V vs. Cu/CuSO4. According to the NACE SP0169 criteria, which of the
following BEST describes the status of this pipeline's CP effectiveness?
A. The CP is adequate because the polarized potential meets the -0.85 V criterion.
B. The CP is inadequate because the potential is not negative enough for high-corrosivity soil.
C. The CP is adequate because the IR drop is excluded from the measurement.
D. The CP is inadequate because the native potential is too positive.
Answer: A. The CP is adequate because the polarized potential meets the -0.85 V criterion.
2. During a CP survey, a technician measures a structure-to-electrolyte potential of -0.95 V vs.
Cu/CuSO4 using a portable reference electrode placed directly on the soil surface over the
pipeline. No IR drop compensation is performed. Which of the following statements is TRUE
regarding this measurement?
A. The reading is a polarized potential and directly comparable to the -0.85 V criterion.
B. The reading includes an IR drop and may be more negative than the true polarized potential, so it
overstates CP.
C. The reading is invalid because the reference electrode must be placed in a wetted soil coupon.
D. The reading should be corrected by subtracting 100 mV to account for the IR drop.
Answer: B. The reading includes an IR drop and may be more negative than the true polarized
potential, so it overstates CP.
3. A CP rectifier system on a well-coated pipeline is producing a current output of 2 A, and the
structure-to-electrolyte potential at the drainage point is -1.20 V vs. Cu/CuSO4. At a distance of
2 km, the potential is -0.80 V. Which of the following is the MOST LIKELY cause of this potential
attenuation?
A. The CP system is under-powered and cannot protect the entire pipeline.
B. There is a coating defect that is consuming most of the CP current near the drainage point.
C. The soil resistivity is too high, limiting current flow to the remote pipeline sections.
D. The potential attenuation is normal due to the resistance of the pipeline steel and coating.
Answer: D. The potential attenuation is normal due to the resistance of the pipeline steel and
coating.
4. An impressed current CP system for a water tank is designed with a current density of 10 mA
per square foot of submerged surface. The tank has 2,000 square feet of submerged surface. If
the rectifier operates at 12 V and the circuit resistance is 0.5 ohm, what is the total current
required (in amperes) and what is the actual current output?
A. Required 20 A, actual 24 A, so the system is slightly oversized.
B. Required 20 A, actual 6 A, so the system is underpowered.
C. Required 2,000 A, actual 24 A, so the system is severely underpowered.
D. Required 20 A, actual 12 A, so the system is exactly matched.
Answer: A. Required 20 A, actual 24 A, so the system is slightly oversized.
,5. In a cathodic protection system, a sacrificial anode is coupled to a steel structure. The anode
is made of magnesium with a potential of -1.55 V vs. Cu/CuSO4, and the steel structure has a
potential of -0.70 V vs. Cu/CuSO4. Which of the following statements accurately describes the
driving voltage and the direction of current flow?
A. The driving voltage is 0.85 V, and current flows from the magnesium anode to the steel structure through
the soil.
B. The driving voltage is 0.85 V, and current flows from the steel structure to the magnesium anode through
the soil.
C. The driving voltage is 2.25 V, and current flows from the magnesium anode to the steel structure.
D. The driving voltage is 2.25 V, and current flows from the steel structure to the magnesium anode.
Answer: A. The driving voltage is 0.85 V, and current flows from the magnesium anode to the
steel structure through the soil.
6. A CP rectifier is set to deliver a constant current of 10 A to a well-coated pipeline. Over time,
the structure-to-electrolyte potential at a test point becomes more negative, from -0.90 V to
-1.10 V vs. Cu/CuSO4. Which of the following is the MOST LIKELY explanation for this change?
A. The coating is deteriorating, causing a higher current demand and thus more negative potential.
B. The soil resistivity has increased, reducing current spread and creating a localized overprotection.
C. The pipeline is becoming polarized, and the protection current is being used to build up polarization.
D. The rectifier is malfunctioning and producing a higher current than set.
Answer: C. The pipeline is becoming polarized, and the protection current is being used to
build up polarization.
7. A coating inspector is evaluating a pipeline coating that has been in service for 5 years. The
coating is a three-layer polyethylene (3LPE) system. Which of the following coating types is
considered a 'barrier coating' and is typically applied as a liquid?
A. Fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE)
B. Polyurethane
C. Coal tar enamel
D. Polyethylene (PE) tape
Answer: B. Polyurethane
8. During a coating inspection of a new tank, the spec requires a DFT of 8-12 mils. The
inspector measures the following DFTs: 9, 10, 11, 8, 13, 7. Which of the following BEST
describes the conformance to specification?
A. All readings are within the specified range.
B. Three readings are out of spec, so the coating fails.
C. The average is 9.7 mils, which is within spec, so the coating passes.
D. Two readings are out of spec, but the average is within tolerance, so it may pass depending on the spec's
allowable range.
Answer: D. Two readings are out of spec, but the average is within tolerance, so it may pass
depending on the spec's allowable range.
9. A coating specification requires surface preparation to SSPC-SP 10/NACE No. 2 (Near-White
Metal Blast Cleaning). During inspection, the abrasive blasted surface appears to have only 5%
of the area with light shadows or slight discoloration. Which of the following BEST describes
the compliance?
A. The surface does not meet SP10 because SP10 requires no visible residues except light shadows on no
, more than 5% of the surface.
B. The surface meets SP10 because 5% light shadows are allowed.
C. The surface meets SP10 only if the shadows are not visible from 3 feet.
D. The surface does not meet SP10 because SP10 requires 100% bare metal.
Answer: A. The surface does not meet SP10 because SP10 requires no visible residues except
light shadows on no more than 5% of the surface.
10. A contractor has prepared a steel surface using wet abrasive blasting to achieve an
SSPC-SP 10 condition. The inspector notes that the surface has a flash rust appearance before
the coating is applied. According to NACE standards, which of the following is the BEST
action?
A. Apply the coating immediately as the flash rust will be encapsulated and is acceptable.
B. Re-blast the surface to remove all flash rust.
C. Evaluate the degree of flash rust using ASTM D610 and accept if it is light.
D. Allow the flash rust to remain and coat over it, as it is typical for wet blasting.
Answer: C. Evaluate the degree of flash rust using ASTM D610 and accept if it is light.
11. A coating applicator is using a conventional air spray gun to apply an epoxy coating. The
specification requires a DFT of 6-10 mils. The applicator is moving the gun too fast, resulting in
a thin, uneven film. Which of the following is the BEST corrective action for the applicator to
take?
A. Increase the fluid pressure to apply more coating.
B. Slow down the gun speed to allow a thicker film to be applied.
C. Move the gun closer to the surface to increase deposition.
D. Use a narrower fan pattern to concentrate the coating.
Answer: B. Slow down the gun speed to allow a thicker film to be applied.
12. During the application of a high-solids polyurethane coating, the painter is using an airless
spray pump. The spray pattern shows 'tails' - heavier coating at the top and bottom of the fan.
Which of the following is the MOST LIKELY cause and remedy?
A. The fluid pressure is too high; reduce pressure.
B. The spray tip is partially clogged or worn; clean or replace the tip.
C. The gun is being held too far from the surface; move closer.
D. The coating viscosity is too high; thin the coating.
Answer: B. The spray tip is partially clogged or worn; clean or replace the tip.
13. A coating inspector needs to measure the dry film thickness (DFT) of a fast-drying coating
on a metal substrate. The coating manufacturer specifies a DFT of 10-15 mils. Which of the
following instruments is the MOST appropriate for this measurement?
A. A Type 1 magnetic pull-off gauge.
B. A Type 2 electronic eddy-current gauge.
C. A Type 3 ultrasonic gauge.
D. A type 4 destructive gauge.
Answer: B. A Type 2 electronic eddy-current gauge.
14. An inspector is using a wet film thickness (WFT) gauge to measure the wet film of a coating.
The gauge has a range of 1-40 mils. The reading shows a wet film thickness of 15 mils, but the
spec requires a DFT of 8-12 mils after the coating has cured, with a solids by volume of 70%.
Questions with Verified Answers – Graded A+ Study Guide
1. A carbon steel pipeline is buried in soil with a resistivity of 2,500 ohm-cm. The pipeline's
native potential is -0.55 V vs. Cu/CuSO4. A CP system is installed, and the polarized potential at
a test station reads -0.85 V vs. Cu/CuSO4. According to the NACE SP0169 criteria, which of the
following BEST describes the status of this pipeline's CP effectiveness?
A. The CP is adequate because the polarized potential meets the -0.85 V criterion.
B. The CP is inadequate because the potential is not negative enough for high-corrosivity soil.
C. The CP is adequate because the IR drop is excluded from the measurement.
D. The CP is inadequate because the native potential is too positive.
Answer: A. The CP is adequate because the polarized potential meets the -0.85 V criterion.
2. During a CP survey, a technician measures a structure-to-electrolyte potential of -0.95 V vs.
Cu/CuSO4 using a portable reference electrode placed directly on the soil surface over the
pipeline. No IR drop compensation is performed. Which of the following statements is TRUE
regarding this measurement?
A. The reading is a polarized potential and directly comparable to the -0.85 V criterion.
B. The reading includes an IR drop and may be more negative than the true polarized potential, so it
overstates CP.
C. The reading is invalid because the reference electrode must be placed in a wetted soil coupon.
D. The reading should be corrected by subtracting 100 mV to account for the IR drop.
Answer: B. The reading includes an IR drop and may be more negative than the true polarized
potential, so it overstates CP.
3. A CP rectifier system on a well-coated pipeline is producing a current output of 2 A, and the
structure-to-electrolyte potential at the drainage point is -1.20 V vs. Cu/CuSO4. At a distance of
2 km, the potential is -0.80 V. Which of the following is the MOST LIKELY cause of this potential
attenuation?
A. The CP system is under-powered and cannot protect the entire pipeline.
B. There is a coating defect that is consuming most of the CP current near the drainage point.
C. The soil resistivity is too high, limiting current flow to the remote pipeline sections.
D. The potential attenuation is normal due to the resistance of the pipeline steel and coating.
Answer: D. The potential attenuation is normal due to the resistance of the pipeline steel and
coating.
4. An impressed current CP system for a water tank is designed with a current density of 10 mA
per square foot of submerged surface. The tank has 2,000 square feet of submerged surface. If
the rectifier operates at 12 V and the circuit resistance is 0.5 ohm, what is the total current
required (in amperes) and what is the actual current output?
A. Required 20 A, actual 24 A, so the system is slightly oversized.
B. Required 20 A, actual 6 A, so the system is underpowered.
C. Required 2,000 A, actual 24 A, so the system is severely underpowered.
D. Required 20 A, actual 12 A, so the system is exactly matched.
Answer: A. Required 20 A, actual 24 A, so the system is slightly oversized.
,5. In a cathodic protection system, a sacrificial anode is coupled to a steel structure. The anode
is made of magnesium with a potential of -1.55 V vs. Cu/CuSO4, and the steel structure has a
potential of -0.70 V vs. Cu/CuSO4. Which of the following statements accurately describes the
driving voltage and the direction of current flow?
A. The driving voltage is 0.85 V, and current flows from the magnesium anode to the steel structure through
the soil.
B. The driving voltage is 0.85 V, and current flows from the steel structure to the magnesium anode through
the soil.
C. The driving voltage is 2.25 V, and current flows from the magnesium anode to the steel structure.
D. The driving voltage is 2.25 V, and current flows from the steel structure to the magnesium anode.
Answer: A. The driving voltage is 0.85 V, and current flows from the magnesium anode to the
steel structure through the soil.
6. A CP rectifier is set to deliver a constant current of 10 A to a well-coated pipeline. Over time,
the structure-to-electrolyte potential at a test point becomes more negative, from -0.90 V to
-1.10 V vs. Cu/CuSO4. Which of the following is the MOST LIKELY explanation for this change?
A. The coating is deteriorating, causing a higher current demand and thus more negative potential.
B. The soil resistivity has increased, reducing current spread and creating a localized overprotection.
C. The pipeline is becoming polarized, and the protection current is being used to build up polarization.
D. The rectifier is malfunctioning and producing a higher current than set.
Answer: C. The pipeline is becoming polarized, and the protection current is being used to
build up polarization.
7. A coating inspector is evaluating a pipeline coating that has been in service for 5 years. The
coating is a three-layer polyethylene (3LPE) system. Which of the following coating types is
considered a 'barrier coating' and is typically applied as a liquid?
A. Fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE)
B. Polyurethane
C. Coal tar enamel
D. Polyethylene (PE) tape
Answer: B. Polyurethane
8. During a coating inspection of a new tank, the spec requires a DFT of 8-12 mils. The
inspector measures the following DFTs: 9, 10, 11, 8, 13, 7. Which of the following BEST
describes the conformance to specification?
A. All readings are within the specified range.
B. Three readings are out of spec, so the coating fails.
C. The average is 9.7 mils, which is within spec, so the coating passes.
D. Two readings are out of spec, but the average is within tolerance, so it may pass depending on the spec's
allowable range.
Answer: D. Two readings are out of spec, but the average is within tolerance, so it may pass
depending on the spec's allowable range.
9. A coating specification requires surface preparation to SSPC-SP 10/NACE No. 2 (Near-White
Metal Blast Cleaning). During inspection, the abrasive blasted surface appears to have only 5%
of the area with light shadows or slight discoloration. Which of the following BEST describes
the compliance?
A. The surface does not meet SP10 because SP10 requires no visible residues except light shadows on no
, more than 5% of the surface.
B. The surface meets SP10 because 5% light shadows are allowed.
C. The surface meets SP10 only if the shadows are not visible from 3 feet.
D. The surface does not meet SP10 because SP10 requires 100% bare metal.
Answer: A. The surface does not meet SP10 because SP10 requires no visible residues except
light shadows on no more than 5% of the surface.
10. A contractor has prepared a steel surface using wet abrasive blasting to achieve an
SSPC-SP 10 condition. The inspector notes that the surface has a flash rust appearance before
the coating is applied. According to NACE standards, which of the following is the BEST
action?
A. Apply the coating immediately as the flash rust will be encapsulated and is acceptable.
B. Re-blast the surface to remove all flash rust.
C. Evaluate the degree of flash rust using ASTM D610 and accept if it is light.
D. Allow the flash rust to remain and coat over it, as it is typical for wet blasting.
Answer: C. Evaluate the degree of flash rust using ASTM D610 and accept if it is light.
11. A coating applicator is using a conventional air spray gun to apply an epoxy coating. The
specification requires a DFT of 6-10 mils. The applicator is moving the gun too fast, resulting in
a thin, uneven film. Which of the following is the BEST corrective action for the applicator to
take?
A. Increase the fluid pressure to apply more coating.
B. Slow down the gun speed to allow a thicker film to be applied.
C. Move the gun closer to the surface to increase deposition.
D. Use a narrower fan pattern to concentrate the coating.
Answer: B. Slow down the gun speed to allow a thicker film to be applied.
12. During the application of a high-solids polyurethane coating, the painter is using an airless
spray pump. The spray pattern shows 'tails' - heavier coating at the top and bottom of the fan.
Which of the following is the MOST LIKELY cause and remedy?
A. The fluid pressure is too high; reduce pressure.
B. The spray tip is partially clogged or worn; clean or replace the tip.
C. The gun is being held too far from the surface; move closer.
D. The coating viscosity is too high; thin the coating.
Answer: B. The spray tip is partially clogged or worn; clean or replace the tip.
13. A coating inspector needs to measure the dry film thickness (DFT) of a fast-drying coating
on a metal substrate. The coating manufacturer specifies a DFT of 10-15 mils. Which of the
following instruments is the MOST appropriate for this measurement?
A. A Type 1 magnetic pull-off gauge.
B. A Type 2 electronic eddy-current gauge.
C. A Type 3 ultrasonic gauge.
D. A type 4 destructive gauge.
Answer: B. A Type 2 electronic eddy-current gauge.
14. An inspector is using a wet film thickness (WFT) gauge to measure the wet film of a coating.
The gauge has a range of 1-40 mils. The reading shows a wet film thickness of 15 mils, but the
spec requires a DFT of 8-12 mils after the coating has cured, with a solids by volume of 70%.
