Corrosion engineers from the West coast have for years talked about a Short Course since few from the West Coast were fortunate enough to attend the courses conducted in the mid-west and east coast areas. As a result, plans were initiated during the November 1965 NACE Western Region Conference meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. Don Reedy (Metropolitan Water District of Southern California), Kent Wachtel (Duriron Company), and Darrel Byerley (Tinker & Rasor) approached Roy Dean, who was Chairman of the Western Region.

With encouragement from NACE in Houston, TX, Kent Wachtel was asked to notify interested persons to attend a meeting the following month. This meeting was held in a conference room of the Southern California Gas Company in Los Angeles, California. Enthusiasm was great at the meeting and it was decided to shoot for the first Short Course during the Spring of 1967.

Joe Dorsey (Southern California Gas Company) was drafted to be the first Chairman and future meetings were moved to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company auditorium in Bakersfield as a more convenient location for both Northern and Southern California committee people to assemble. Before the first Seminar, many meetings were held to select a location and time. The program, budget, speakers, publicity, and dates for the 1967 opening Seminar were determined.

In order to avoid the overworked term "Short Course," the name Western States Corrosion Seminar was chosen. California State Polytechnic College (Cal Poly), Voorhis Unit, in San Dimas, California, was chosen the Seminar location for the first five years. In 1972, the Seminar was moved to the new Center for Continuing Education building at the Cal Poly campus in Pomona. The Center is presently called Kellogg West and has continued to be the Seminar site since 1972.

NACE Western Region contributed financial support and backing. The Seminar is still a function of the AMPP Western Area, but acts as an autonomous body with its own committee, budget, and by-laws.

Registration fees for the Seminar have been kept as low as possible, but have gradually increased with inflation. Fees include meals, room (as requested), morning and afternoon snack breaks, and a copy of the Proceedings. Proceedings are preprinted and distributed to attendees upon registration. Attendees also receive a course attendance certificate. Exhibitors fund a social hour each evening to assist attendees in getting acquainted with others of similar corrosion interests. AMPP membership application forms are available and students are encouraged to join.

In 1967 and 1968, the program offered three different courses of study:

- Corrosion Fundamentals
- Intermediate
- Special Topics

In 1969, the program was increased to five courses to be more specific in the particular field of prospective student interest:

- Corrosion Fundamentals
- Oil and Gas
- Water and Sewage
- Telephone and Power
- Special Topics

In 1992, the committee decided to revert back to the initial course of study on a trial basis:

- Corrosion Fundamentals
- Intermediate Corrosion
- Advanced Corrosion

The committee established an area near the rooms as a location where students could work with corrosion instruments and equipment. We called this the Hands-on Demonstration Area. The area is available during the regular session time slots each day. In 1994, a buried pipeline system was constructed to expand the testing program.

In 1999, the CP (Cathodic Protection) Tester Recognition Course, an intensive 2-1/2-day course, was added to the curriculum. A written CP Tester-in-Training exam is given and a certificate of completion is awarded upon passing the course.

In 2001, 2002, and 2003, optional Fundamentals, Intermediate, and Advanced exams were added, respectively. A certificate of successful completion is awarded for those who pass the exam.

In 2004 and 2005 Operator Qualification Tutorials #1 to #13 were offered along with the opportunity for students to take the AMPP Operator Qualification Assessments at the end of the seminar.

In 2006, the Western States Rectifier Course was added.

All seminars have been successful from both an attendance and financial standpoint. Judging from the Seminar critiques, both the speakers and students have learned and benefitted from attending. Total registration for the 53 Seminars, 21 CP Tester Courses, and 14 Rectifier Courses has exceeded 6900 students.

Click Here for a History of the Sculpture/Logo of the WSCS.