NEW IPC A-610 CSE Certification

IPC, the electronics industry not for profit trade organization bringing together electronics assemblers, designers, boards shops and repair shops, is in the process of developing a new "tier" to their industry certification program. The IPC-A-610 SME ("subject Matter Expert") training level will soon be instituted as a new level of certification. As outlined so far this is targeted at those "experts" in the field of electronics assembly who are not training others in IPC-A-610, rather they are the "go to" individuals at a company who know a variety of standards for the inspection of printed circuit board assemblies.

As a review of the IPC A-610 CIT (trainer) certification training program, the IPC-A-610 "Inspection of Electronic Assemblies" standard training program consists of but is not limited to the following topics:

Application and purpose of the IPC-A-610

Soldering requirements for terminals

Hardware installation and soldering

Plated throughhole assembly and inspection

SMT including BGA and PoP mounting and inspection

PCB inspection and anomalies

Flex circuit assemblies

Soldering anomalies

Jumper wires

Cable prep, wire strip and form as well as numerous others.

The IPC certification training program consists of several elements. Firstly, it is a multi-tiered system in which the IPC grants site licenses to qualified organizations for a given geographic territory. These master site license holders employ subject matter experts with electronics assembly and or electronics training in their respective backgrounds. These subject matter experts or CSEs train those industry trainers or CITs in various aspects of the standard as well in the all of the elements of the IPC certification program. The CITs train others within their organization who become the certified CIS or technician level experts in the acceptance criteria for electronic assemblies (ie the ones making the calls on product quality). Each of these certifications is transportable meaning it belongs to the individual and not the company who may have paid for the instruction. The IPC certifications are valid for a period of 2 years after which time the individuals need to be re-certified by various possible means.

With the success of training many individuals in the program came some opportunities for more closely matching the needs of industry. While the IPC A-610 certification program made some individuals "experts" in their companies not all ofthe CITs were necessarily involved in the training of their staff.

An IPC A-610 CSE is an individual who has demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to act as a subject matter expert for a specific IPC standard or group of standards. Unlike a Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) or Master IPC Trainer (MIT), a CSE is not required to conduct training during their two-year certification period. Unlike a CIT, a CSE is not required to complete training prior to sitting for the certification exam. More information on this upcoming new level of IPC certification for the IPC-A-610 can be found here.

Call BEST Inc at 847.797.9250 or send an e-mail to info@solder.net to find out more information about this new IPC-A-610 certification program level.