IPC-A-600 Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) Certification Program

How the IPC-A-600 Training and Certification Program Works

The program follows a train-the-trainer model. Companies involved in fabrication, assembly, or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) enroll a representative in our twenty-hour training course at STI Electronics, Inc., an IPC-A-600 Approved Certification Center. The training program provides a detailed review of the IPC-A-600 criteria and concludes with a qualifying examination. Passing the exam means that IPC-A-600 CIT's receive instructional materials to use in Certified IPC Application Specialist (CIS) training. The CIS level course is modularized, meaning that a CIT may teach the area(s) of the IPC-A-600 that are most relevant to the employees’ responsibilities.



PRINTED BOARD MANUFACTURERS
Knowledge of acceptance criteria is essential for printed board manufacturers 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, Qualification and Performance Specification for Rigid Printed Boards. This program also makes a powerful statement to buyers and users of printed boards that a company is serious about quality and continuously improving workforce competency. Industry-recognized, technically accurate training for anyone involved in PWB fabrication did not exist until now.

ELECTRONICS ASSEMBLY COMPANIES
The IPC-A-600 Training and Certification program gives the CIT the skills and information to do a better job at incoming inspection. Knowing acceptable conditions means that boards are not needlessly scrapped.  Knowing nonconforming conditions saves the assembler from an expensive component mounting operation. CIT's working in electronics assembly can forge a more productive relationship with their PWB suppliers.

OEMS & MATERIAL/EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS
Anyone involved in purchasing or specifying printed boards needs to understand the criteria of the IPC-A-600. OEMs, like assemblers, perform incoming board inspection and have a huge investment in PWB reliability. Product designers will learn the baseline requirements for board quality for all classes of product. Material and equipment suppliers along with OEMs can use the program to strengthen their relationship with the PWB manufacturers, even providing CIS training as a service.

Topics Covered in the CIT Training Course include:

•    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

Upon completion of the IPC-A-600 course, CIT's are certified for two years. At that time CIT's will need to attend a recertification course to maintain certification.