IPC-A-600 Acceptability of Printed Boards Training and Certification Program

• Asia Pacific/Australia
• Europe/Africa
• North America

Translated Training Materials

Translated training materials for this program are currently available for Revision G in the Chinese and Polish languages, with additional language translations in progress.

You are in the Printed Board Quality Business

Nearly everything electronic in the universe depends on the printed circuit board (PCB). For many years, the IPC-A-600 Acceptability of Printed Boards and IPC-6012 Qualification and Performance Specification for Rigid Printed Boards documents have set the standard for PCB workmanship quality, giving comprehensive acceptance criteria with full color illustrations and photographs showing all types of printed board surface and internal conditions. Because of its importance to both the PCB manufacturer and assembler, the IPC-A-600 has become one of the most widely used documents ever published by IPC.

The IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Program helps all segments of the electronics interconnection industry improve their understanding of printed board quality issues, greatly enhances communication between PCB manufacturers, their suppliers and their customers and provides a valuable portable credential to industry professionals as well as recognition for their companies.

Who Needs Training on the IPC-A-600?

Printed Board Manufacturers Knowledge of acceptance criteria is essential in tracing nonconforming conditions to their origins in the manufacturing process. The IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Program establishes the important relationship between the IPC-A-600 and the IPC-6012. This program also makes a powerful statement to users of printed boards that a company is serious about continuous quality improvement. Industry-recognized, technically accurate training for anyone involved in PCB fabrication did not exist until now.

Electronics Assembly Companies No one wants to put dozens of expensive components on a defective PCB. IPC-A-600 Training and Certification gives the assembler the information to do a better job at incoming inspection. Knowing acceptable conditions means that PCBs are not needlessly scrapped; knowing nonconforming conditions saves the assembler from an expensive component mounting operation. Certified IPC Trainers working in electronics assembly can forge a more productive relationship with their PCB suppliers.

OEMs and Material/Equipment Suppliers Anyone involved in purchasing or specifying printed boards needs to understand the criteria of IPC-A-600 and IPC-6012. OEMs, like assemblers, perform incoming board inspection and have a huge investment in PCBs. Designers will learn the baseline requirements for board quality for all classes of product. Material and equipment suppliers along with OEMs will sharpen their ability to recognize nonconforming conditions.

How Does the IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Program Work?

The program is built on a train-the-trainer model. Companies involved in fabrication, assembly, or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) enroll a representative in a twenty-hour training course at any IPC Licensed IPC-A-600 Certification Center. The training program provides a detailed review of the IPC-A-600 criteria and concludes with a qualifying examination. Those who pass the exam are recognized as "IPC-A-600 Certified IPC Trainers" and receive instructional materials to use in "Application Specialist" training. The Application Specialist training is modular and allows for any or all of the four sections of the document to be taught.

Benefits of Certification

Those interested in company-wide quality assurance initiatives have an industry developed and approved, IPC-sponsored program to support their commitment to continuous operations and product improvement. IPC recognition sends a strong message to customers that your company is serious about implementing IPC-A-600.

Download the course synopsis (schedule format) (.pdf).

All IPC-A-600 Certified IPC Trainers receive the instructional materials for teaching the Application Specialist training course, including:

• A CD-ROM with more than 250 full color visuals covering all aspects of the standard and training course, student handbook files for royalty-free printing, and all reports and forms required for conducting Application Specialist training.
  (35 mm slides are available separately)
• An instructor guide for teaching the Application Specialist training course
• A printed board sample showing external characteristics, such as conductor width and spacing, annular ring, and solder resist registration
• The IPC-A-600 Acceptability of Printed Boards and the IPC-6012 Qualification and Performance Specification for Rigid Printed Boards
• Open and Closed Book Examinations for IPC-A-600 Application Specialist training
• A student handbook for use in the classroom portions of the course
• IPC certificate of course completion

Application Specialist training materials, including student handbooks and certificates, may be purchased from IPC only by Certified IPC Trainers and the companies they represent. Certified IPC Trainers may teach the course at any location and set a training fee, if applicable.

The term for an IPC-A-600 Certified IPC Trainer is two years. Re-certification training is conducted at the IPC Licensed Certification Centers.

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How to Register for IPC-A-600 Instructor/Inspector Training

The companies listed below are IPC Licensed IPC-A-600 Certification Centers. These centers control the fees and schedules for Certified IPC Trainer training. Some centers may bring the training to a location near you. Contact one of these facilities today for price and registration information.

For program information, e-mail certification@ipc.org or contact IPC at +1 847-597-2802.

“The bottom line in training is the bottom line. The better we educate our employees, the better the quality of product we will make. The IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Program will assist us in cross- training and broadening the knowledge of our workforce, while boosting employees confidence and self esteem.”

– Brenda Horberg
Human Resource Director
Beaver Brook Circuits

Topics Covered in the IPC-A-600 Certified IPC Trainer Course:

• Printed board product classifications and acceptance criteria
• Base material surface and subsurface conditions such as measling/crazing
• 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
• Skills for teaching the lesson plan effectively

The companies listed below are IPC Licensed IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Centers. These centers control the fees and schedules for the Certified IPC Trainer training course. Some centers may bring the training to a location near you. Contact these facilities today for price and registration information. For program information, e-mail certification@ipc.org or contact IPC at +1 847-597-2802.

Asia Pacific & Australia

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Europe/Africa

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North America

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