Skip to content

Coating Application Specialist

ABOUT

An Industrial/Bridge Painter (CAS – Coating Application Specialist) paints walls, equipment, buildings, bridges and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers and spray guns. They may remove old paint to prepare surface prior to painting, mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency, or use specialized techniques to prepare substrates for coating and lining steel and concrete structures. Techniques may include removal of rust, mill scale and previously applied hazardous coatings utilizing industry‐specific tools and techniques.

Painting

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE

Students will learn to apply their theoretical knowledge and skills to the corrosion protection of steel and concrete on complex industrial structures through course work in Health and Safety Awareness for Application Specialists, surface preparation and coating materials properties and application. Specialty application course work in plural component and thermal spray will further assist students in expanding their skills.

Specific objectives for this program include: 

  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources
  • Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping and handling of materials
  • Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving materials and manipulating things
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize and accomplish your work
  • Communicating with Supervisors Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers and subordinates by telephone, in written form, email, or in person
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources or materials needed to perform a work activity
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations or standards.

    *Full Course descriptions are located in student handbook

Click here to learn more about the courses and credits required to obtain a coating application specialist diploma.

Duties of an Industrial/bridge painter
may include

By the nature of their work, Coating Application Specialists (CAS) are among the highest paid tradespersons in the industry. They often work in dangerous environments such as:

  • Bridges high over waterways, other highways or railroads, or in confined spaces such as shipboard spaces, small vessels or storage tanks
  • Chemical and processing facilities
  • Nuclear power generation facilities
  • Metal and manufacturing facilities

**Coating Application Specialists are required to receive more specialized training in health and safety due to the hazards associated with their work. CAS painters also must be physically fit and not intimidated with extreme heights

Man painting on a room
image from above workers

Working Conditions

  • Requiring much walking, standing, reaching, kneeling, stooping, climbing and carrying
  • Ability to work in confined spaces, as well as wear a respirator mask
  • Ability to work at extremely high heights
  • Occupational hazards include falls from ladders or scaffolds, and skin or throat irritations from paint fumes and thinners
  • Exterior painters lose some work-time each year due to bad weather
  • Interior painters who work primarily on new construction may lose work-time during slowdowns in construction activity

Interest and Temperament 

CAS painters must have manual dexterity and steady nerves to work in high places. They should not be allergic to paint fumes, toxic materials or spray dust. An artistic sense, good eyesight and a sense of color are necessary to do a first-class job.

Terms of Apprenticeship

Four years of paid on the job training and a minimum of 160 hours per year of knowledge and theory classroom instruction.

Course Offerings

During your Apprenticeship at the FTI-MAR, course offerings are arranged in cohorts. A cohort by definition is a group of people who share a common characteristic or experience within a defined period; in this case the cohorts were designed so that you are enrolled in your Apprentice Trade Specific Program with the same group of people for year one through year four.

The FTI-MAR automatically enrolls you in the appropriate courses each year of your apprenticeship.  Listed below is breakdown of course offerings per apprenticeship year (trade specific):

Current Apprentices: Click here for on-the-job learning form