IPC A-600 has set the standard for PCB (printed circuit board) workmanship quality with its comprehensive criteria for target, acceptable and non-conforming conditions on bare boards. This standard provides acceptance criteria and illustrations for conditions that are either internally or externally observable.
Almost everything electronic gets soldered onto a printed circuit board. If there is a problem with the board then dozens, or even hundreds, of expensive electronic components risk being wasted, together with the associated manufacturing time.
If your business manufactures circuit boards and want to ensure your customers received the highest quality, fault-free boards, then this standard is essential for you.
Certification in the industry developed and approved training programme helps to build employees understanding of critical quality assurance/ visual acceptance criteria for unpopulated boards. It also shows your customers that you have a commitment to continuous improvement of its operations and product quality.
Who should attend A-600 training?
If your company or role involves manufacturing or inspecting PCB quality, you should certify in this standard.
- Quality control
- Inspectors
- Good inwards
- Anyone responsible for quality and reliability of PCBs
What is covered in A-600 training?
A-600 is designed to ensure that boards conform to laminate integrity, layer to layer spacing, annual ring requirements, etching characteristics, pattern definition and plating. The standards apply to all boards of any construction including, rigid, semi-rigid, flexible printed board, organic multichip module mounting, interconnecting structures and HDI layers.
Once certified your team will have the knowledge and ability to inspect:
- Surface imperfections
- Subsurface imperfections
- Imperfections in conductive circuitry
- Hole characteristics
- Solder resist imperfections
All IPC A-600 courses cover the three product classes
- Class 1 – General electronic products such as hair dryers, cameras, domestic audio / visual appliances
- Class 2 – Dedicated service electronic products such as printers, computers, mobile phones
- Class 3 – High reliability / critical electronic products such as those used in military, aerospace and medical
What is the duration of the A-600 course and how is it delivered?
The IPC A-600 course can be delivered in three ways.
- At our Leeds training centre
- Remotely
- On-site with customers
The course is a three-day course, whether you certify in CIS (application specialist), CSE (subject expert, or CIT (certified trainer).
What do I need for the course?
Each delegate will need a copy of the IPC A-600 & IPC 6012 standard (book), Table of Contents, and latest IPC Policies and Procedures. We are happy to loan copies of standards to any delegate joining our training courses, should you not wish to purchase your own copy. For remote training, you will also need a laptop with microphone and webcam to join in with the classes and sit your IPC exams.
Are there any prerequisites to studying for the certification?
Whilst there are not prerequisites to enrolling for this certification, we do recommend that students have the necessary knowledge and experience to support their attendance on the courses. Knowledge of PCB manufacturing terminology and processes would be advantageous.
What is included in the course cost?
Included in the fee is tuition for the full duration of the course and all certification costs. We also include loan copies of relevant standards and Chromebooks for exams, if needed. CIT delegates will also receive downloadable training materials upon successful completion of the course.
