CIP LEVEL 1 CORE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
2025/2026 GRADED A+
Relative humidity is
A. a measure of the amount of moisture in the air compared to saturation level
B. a measure of the amount of moisture in the air compared to the air temperature
C. the lowest temperature at which moisture forms on a steel surface
D. the highest temperature at which moisture forms on a steel surface - a measure of
the amount of moisture in the air compared to saturation level
Galvanic corrosion occurs on which of the following substrates:
A. concrete
B. fiberglass reinforced plastic
C. metal
D. wood - metal
When applying Thermal spray coatings, the specification is most likely to reference:
A. SSPC PA 2
B. NACE SP 0178
C. NACE SP 0188
D. SSPC-CS 23.00/AWS C2.23/NACE No.12 - SSPC-CS 23.00/AWS C2.23/NACE
No.12
What is the minimum recommended distance away from an edge that an inspector
should take measurement with a dial-type magnetic pull-off Dry Film Thickness (DFT)
gauge?
A. 1 cm (.39in)
B. 2.5cm (1 in)
C. 6.35cm (2.5 in)
D. 2.5 millimeters (.10 in) - 2.5cm (1 in)
Polymerization is the process of:
A. monomers telegraphing
B. monomers joining together
C. All thermoplastic coatings
D. All organic coatings - monomers joining together
An exposed area of the substrate or previous coat of a conduction coating material,
often caused by poor application technique is called:
A. cracking
B. sagging
C. holiday
D. checking - holiday
Checking is:
,A. an exposed area of the substrate or previous coat material, caused by poor
application technique
B. a fine crack in the surface of a coating that rarely reaches the substrate
C. a very small hole in a coating caused when air or solvent is trapped in porous film
and then escapes
D. surface breaks in the film that often result from grease or oil contamination and revel
the substrate - a fine crack in the surface of a coating that rarely reaches the substrate
Inspection documentation is important because:
A. it is the only deliverable item provided by the inspector
B. owners use the documentation for a variety of purposes
C. (A) only
D. (A) and (B) - owners use the documentation for a variety of purposes
An inspector's personal log book should contain:
A. subjective comments regarding the application team
B. objective comments regarding the application work
C. no comments regarding the application team
D. the inspector's personal opinions of the application team - no comments regarding
the application team
You have just received your NACE CIP Level 1 Certification when you are asked to
supervise a team of uncertified field pipeline inspectors. Your FIRST preferred course of
action is to:
A. accept the assignment without hesitation
B. advise the prospective employer that you cannot accept the position
C. meet with the prospective employer to determine the scope of your role
D. Review the NACE Attestation prior to making a decision - meet with the prospective
employer to determine the scope of your role
Good records can provide maintenance departments with detailed information about
ALL of the following EXCEPT
A. what items were coated
B. what materials were used
C. when the coating will be reapplied
D. how the item was coated - when the coating will be reapplied
Non Conformance Reports are completed by the inspector:
A. in every instance that an item does not meet the specification requirements
B. When the inspector deems it to be a significant non-conforming item
C. when the inspector and contractor deem it to be a significant non-conforming item
D. in accordance with the specification's definition of a non-conformance - when the
inspector and contractor deem it to be a significant non-conforming item
The initial steel condition is important to the NACE inspector because -
A. if the steel is pitted, more coating will be required
, B. Less abrasive is need if the mill Scale s gone
C. it affects the final appearance after blasting
D. the inspector may have to reject the steel - the inspector may have to reject the steel
The form of corrosion that has the largest potential for unexpected catastrophic failure
is:
A. general corrosion
B. atmospheric corrosion
C. galvanic corrosion
D. localized corrosion - localized corrosion
What is used to determine compressed air cleanliness?
A. needle pressure grade
B. psychrometer
C. blotter test
D. profilometer - blotter test
Osmotic blistering is most likely to occur as a result of
A. inadequate anchor pattern/surface profile
B. overcoating a surface contaminated with chemical salts
C. airless spray application
D. applying the tine coating too thin - airless spray application
When performing tests for oil and grease using an ultra-violet light, the NACE inspector
should be aware that:
A. chloride salt may produce a false positive
B. synthetic oil or grease may not be identified
C. Ultra-Violet light may contaminant the surface
D. Presence of weld splatter may produce a false positive - synthetic oil or grease may
not be identified
To achieve consistently accurate results with ALL alt test equipment:
A. wear gloves when sampling
B. wash your hands before sampling
C. avoid placing the sample discs on a surface
D. calibrate the instrument in the field - wash your hands before sampling
When holiday testing is required, the inspector is always required to enforce NACE SP
0188:
A. True
B. False - True
If the specifier does not identify a restriction level in accordance with SSPC PA 2, the
default restriction level is:
A. level 1
B. level 2
2025/2026 GRADED A+
Relative humidity is
A. a measure of the amount of moisture in the air compared to saturation level
B. a measure of the amount of moisture in the air compared to the air temperature
C. the lowest temperature at which moisture forms on a steel surface
D. the highest temperature at which moisture forms on a steel surface - a measure of
the amount of moisture in the air compared to saturation level
Galvanic corrosion occurs on which of the following substrates:
A. concrete
B. fiberglass reinforced plastic
C. metal
D. wood - metal
When applying Thermal spray coatings, the specification is most likely to reference:
A. SSPC PA 2
B. NACE SP 0178
C. NACE SP 0188
D. SSPC-CS 23.00/AWS C2.23/NACE No.12 - SSPC-CS 23.00/AWS C2.23/NACE
No.12
What is the minimum recommended distance away from an edge that an inspector
should take measurement with a dial-type magnetic pull-off Dry Film Thickness (DFT)
gauge?
A. 1 cm (.39in)
B. 2.5cm (1 in)
C. 6.35cm (2.5 in)
D. 2.5 millimeters (.10 in) - 2.5cm (1 in)
Polymerization is the process of:
A. monomers telegraphing
B. monomers joining together
C. All thermoplastic coatings
D. All organic coatings - monomers joining together
An exposed area of the substrate or previous coat of a conduction coating material,
often caused by poor application technique is called:
A. cracking
B. sagging
C. holiday
D. checking - holiday
Checking is:
,A. an exposed area of the substrate or previous coat material, caused by poor
application technique
B. a fine crack in the surface of a coating that rarely reaches the substrate
C. a very small hole in a coating caused when air or solvent is trapped in porous film
and then escapes
D. surface breaks in the film that often result from grease or oil contamination and revel
the substrate - a fine crack in the surface of a coating that rarely reaches the substrate
Inspection documentation is important because:
A. it is the only deliverable item provided by the inspector
B. owners use the documentation for a variety of purposes
C. (A) only
D. (A) and (B) - owners use the documentation for a variety of purposes
An inspector's personal log book should contain:
A. subjective comments regarding the application team
B. objective comments regarding the application work
C. no comments regarding the application team
D. the inspector's personal opinions of the application team - no comments regarding
the application team
You have just received your NACE CIP Level 1 Certification when you are asked to
supervise a team of uncertified field pipeline inspectors. Your FIRST preferred course of
action is to:
A. accept the assignment without hesitation
B. advise the prospective employer that you cannot accept the position
C. meet with the prospective employer to determine the scope of your role
D. Review the NACE Attestation prior to making a decision - meet with the prospective
employer to determine the scope of your role
Good records can provide maintenance departments with detailed information about
ALL of the following EXCEPT
A. what items were coated
B. what materials were used
C. when the coating will be reapplied
D. how the item was coated - when the coating will be reapplied
Non Conformance Reports are completed by the inspector:
A. in every instance that an item does not meet the specification requirements
B. When the inspector deems it to be a significant non-conforming item
C. when the inspector and contractor deem it to be a significant non-conforming item
D. in accordance with the specification's definition of a non-conformance - when the
inspector and contractor deem it to be a significant non-conforming item
The initial steel condition is important to the NACE inspector because -
A. if the steel is pitted, more coating will be required
, B. Less abrasive is need if the mill Scale s gone
C. it affects the final appearance after blasting
D. the inspector may have to reject the steel - the inspector may have to reject the steel
The form of corrosion that has the largest potential for unexpected catastrophic failure
is:
A. general corrosion
B. atmospheric corrosion
C. galvanic corrosion
D. localized corrosion - localized corrosion
What is used to determine compressed air cleanliness?
A. needle pressure grade
B. psychrometer
C. blotter test
D. profilometer - blotter test
Osmotic blistering is most likely to occur as a result of
A. inadequate anchor pattern/surface profile
B. overcoating a surface contaminated with chemical salts
C. airless spray application
D. applying the tine coating too thin - airless spray application
When performing tests for oil and grease using an ultra-violet light, the NACE inspector
should be aware that:
A. chloride salt may produce a false positive
B. synthetic oil or grease may not be identified
C. Ultra-Violet light may contaminant the surface
D. Presence of weld splatter may produce a false positive - synthetic oil or grease may
not be identified
To achieve consistently accurate results with ALL alt test equipment:
A. wear gloves when sampling
B. wash your hands before sampling
C. avoid placing the sample discs on a surface
D. calibrate the instrument in the field - wash your hands before sampling
When holiday testing is required, the inspector is always required to enforce NACE SP
0188:
A. True
B. False - True
If the specifier does not identify a restriction level in accordance with SSPC PA 2, the
default restriction level is:
A. level 1
B. level 2
