A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses and light illumination to a coated surface. Reflected light resulting from the light illumination impinging the coated surface is directed to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The reflected light is either sensed directly from the coated surface by the photosensitive detector or the reflected light is directed along at least a portion of the common optics path to the photosensitive detector. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the coating removal apparatus is configured as a head component coupled to a body component.