600 Acceptability Criteria

CIS - Certified IPC Specialist

600 Acceptability Criteria

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.

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.

Topics in this 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

*Note: the IPC-A-600 Curriculum does not include any hands-on soldering.

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.

Module 1: Policies and Procedures and Introduction

Module 2: Externally Observable Characteristics

Upon completion of this module, the participant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of externally observable board attributes and be able to discern acceptable versus nonconforming criteria.

Module 3: Internally Observable Characteristics

Upon completion of this module, the participant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of internally observable board attributes and be able to discern acceptable versus nonconforming criteria.

Module 4: Miscellaneous and Cleanliness

Upon completion of this module, the participant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the board attributes which will be discussed in Section 4.1 of the standard and will be able to discern acceptable versus nonconforming criteria.

CSE- Certified Standards Expert

600 Acceptability Criteria

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. The role of the Certified Standards Expert may vary by organization, but the CSE will be able to:

Act as a subject matter expert for their organization, answering standard related questions, providing support to various levels of the organization, and, interpreting the standard for their organization.
Judge organizational conflicts in opinion of a viewed condition.
Act as the intermediary between the organization and IPC staff and/or industry experts on standards questions.
Update the organization on the latest standards and best practices from industry.
Provide feedback to standards committees on updates to the process for inclusion in the standards.
Interface with designers and process engineers to develop assembly processes.

The Certified Standards Expert (CSE) program is divided into two levels:
- Certified Standards Expert (CSE)
- Senior Standards Expert (SCSE)

What does the CSE certify?

The CSE program confirms that an individual has demonstrated the level of knowledge and understanding required to act as a subject matter expert for a specific IPC standard including:
- IPC-A-610
- J-STD-001
- IPC/WHMA-A-620
- IPC-A-600
- IPC-6012
- IPC-7711/IPC-7721
The IPC Certified Standards Expert (CSE) possesses the ability to:
- Navigate the IPC standard quickly and efficiently
- Identify relevant sections of the standard to address specific questions
- Act as a subject matter expert on all matters related to the standard
- Apply the standard to specific company needs

How does this certification differ from the IPC Certified IPC Trainer (CIT)?

The CIT program is designed for classroom instructors. It confirms that an individual has the technical and pedagogical knowledge and skills required to train individuals in the IPC Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) program.
A CIT must host at least one IPC course per calendar year.
A Certified Standards Expert (CSE) is not required to train.

Who can provide the IPC CSE training program?

The IPC CSE training program must be conducted by an MIT that is, at the time of the training, certified as a Master IPC trainer in the specific standard being taught.

Who can offer the IPC Certified Standards Experts (CSE) certification

Only IPC Training Centers may offer training and testing for the IPC Certified Standards Experts (CSE) certification.

CIT- Certified IPC Trainer

600 Acceptability Criteria

IPC-600 CIT Acceptability of Printed Boards: This 4-day course is designed to qualify the successful candidate as an instructor to teach students how to recognize acceptable printed boards, understand printed board quality issues and enhance communication between PCB manufacturers, suppliers and their customers.
To help assure CIT candidates’ future success as trainers, the CIT program also includes:

How to establish and maintain the integrity of the certification program
Steps to effectively use the lesson plan and materials
Tips on inspection
Essential trainer skills

*Note: the IPC-A-600 Curriculum does not include any hands-on soldering.

Module 1: Policies and Procedures and Introduction

Module 2: Externally Observable Characteristics

Upon completion of this module, the participant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of externally observable board attributes and be able to discern acceptable versus nonconforming criteria.

Module 3: Internally Observable Characteristics

Upon completion of this module, the participant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of internally observable board attributes and be able to discern acceptable versus nonconforming criteria.

Module 4: Miscellaneous and Cleanliness