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IPC-A-600_Certification

CERTIFICATION IPC-A-600

IPC-A-600 Training & Certification

The IPC-A-600 Training & Certification is based on the IPC-A-600 Standard which describes the Acceptability of Printed Boards (PCB’s).
The standard is a collection of visual quality acceptability requirements for Printed Boards (PCB’s).
This IPC-A-600 describes the target, acceptable, and nonconforming conditions that are either externally or internally observable on printed boards. It represents the visual interpretation of minimum requirements set forth in various printed board specifications, e.g.; IPC-6010 series, J-STD-003, etc.

The IPC-A-600 training is aimed at anyone needing to understand whether a Printed Board is acceptable, such as:

  • Operators
  • Quality assurance inspectors
  • Quality Supervisors
  • Inbound inspectors
  • Manufacturing supervisors
  • Production Managers
  • Sales engineers
  • Buyers
  • Account engineers
  • Managers and Directors who wants to understand the impact of quality on their products and processes
  • Anyone responsible for the quality and reliability of Printed Circuit Boards.

The goal of the IPC-A-600 training is to improve an individual’s skill and ability to discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable Printed Boards. Students don’t just learn when a Printed Board should be accepted or rejected, they learn the reason why.
During the IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Course, students will review the IPC-A-600 Standard paragraph-by-paragraph.

On site training

If you are looking at training several people and a way to reduce the time out of the office, travel and addition expense of sending people to a class, then On-Site Training may be for you.

ETECH Training offers all training course either at our Training Centers or On-Site at your facility. Please Contact our Business Support Team for details on student quantity and material discounts.

Discount
If you have 4 or more attendees or you would like to host an open enrollment class in your area/country, please Contact our Business Support Team for your personal discount.
Request a quote

What you’ll learn

  • Visual accept/reject criteria
  • Base material surface and subsurface conditions
  • Solder resist coverage over conductors and registration to lands
  • Conductor width and spacing and annular ring requirements
  • Dielectric material criteria for etchback, voids, and resin recession
  • Plated-through hole requirements for copper plating thickness, voids, nodules and cracks
  • Acceptance criteria for flexible, rigid-flex and metal core printed boards
  • Relationship between the IPC-A-600 and the IPC-6012

Duration:

Standard duration of the training:

  • Full Certification Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) 3 days
  • Full Certification Certified Standard Expert (CSE) 3 days
  • Full Certification Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) 3 days
  • Recertification Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) 2 days
  • Recertification Certified Standard Expert (CSE) 2 days
  • Recertification Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) 2 days
  • Challenge test CIS, CSE or CIT 0,5 day

Validity of the Certificate

The certification term for all IPC programs are 2 years. The certification term begins on the date a candidate successfully completes all the program’s minimum certification requirements.
Certifications only reflect the expiration month and year. Certifications expire the last day of the expiration month, regardless of the day of the month the certification was granted.

Certification Renewal Period

All certification renewals may only occur within six calendar months prior to the expiration of an existing certification. When a Certificant renews their certification within 6 months of the certification expiration date, the renewed certification will be valid for an additional 2 years from the expiration date of their currently held certification.
If you would like to recertify there are three routes available for you:

  • Initial certification course
  • Recertification course 
  • Challenge Test (Exam only)
Though not required for renewal of certification, training is strongly encouraged due to the rapid evolution of technology, standards and best practices.
In addition, it is also recommended for many students to follow a certification course again after a recertification course and to alternate this every time.
 
All retests follow the same policies and procedures as initial certification testing, including the cool down period after failures.

Certification Levels

What certification level do you want to achieve working in the electronics industry? IPC currently provides three levels of certification to the IPC Standards for individuals working in the electronics industry. Depending on your experience within the industry, you can become certified as a Certified Standards Expert (CSE), a Certified IPC Trainer (CIT), or as a Certified IPC Specialist (CIS).
Choosing the right level of certification for you is important.

IPC-A-600 Certified IPC Specialist (CIS)
CIS training and certification is appropriate for any individual that will benefit by having a consistent understanding of the criteria in a standard. Line operators, engineers, quality engineers will find this training and certification beneficial for their knowledge in the electronics industry.

IPC-A-600 Certified Standards Expert (CSE)
The Certified Standards Expert (CSE) is a subject matter professional with a high level of knowledge and understanding of a specific IPC standard or group of standards but doesn’t train students or teach IPC classes.

IPC-A-600 Certified IPC Trainer (CIT)
Certified IPC Trainer Programs are intended for those who wish to become certified as instructors in different IPC specifications for the electronic assembly industry. CITs may be employees of companies that train only within their parent company.