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A “second-generation” of high Tc conductors, consisting of YBCO coatings on flexible metal substrates, has recently reached a milestone with meter-long tapes capable of carrying over 100 A in a 1 cm width at liquid nitrogen temperature. Having reached this level of performance, however, we have encountered difficulties in the self-field characterization of such high current material. In particular, measurement of critical current uniformity along the tape length has in some cases resulted in damage to weaker tape segments during measurement of higher-current ones. To address this problem we have developed a novel measurement technique that uses permanent magnets to locally suppress the critical current of the tape section being measured to a level that is “safe” for the rest of the tape.