Becoming a soldering technician requires dedication and training. However, becoming a soldering expert is achievable with the right training programs and IPC certification.

Solder is a metal alloy that acts like glue when melted. It’s used in the electrical and computer industry to connect wires.

Certification Requirements

The IPC (Institute of Printed Circuits) defines standards for manufacturing printed circuit boards. Its certification training programs help hire companies to know you have the skills and knowledge needed for a particular job.

The IPC J-STD-001 program, for example, is the authority for electronics assembly manufacturing and describes materials, methods and verification criteria. It also emphasizes process control and sets industry-consensus requirements for a broad range of products.

The J-STD-001 class is a five-day program with modules that include lectures and hand soldering practice. The program prepares students to be a Certified IPC Specialist.

Other classes focus on specific topics, including specialized rework techniques and resistive re-flow soldering. The soldering techniques class teaches workers how to use magnification power and understand pitch measurement.

They will learn techniques to solder fine-pitch component leads that meet IPC J-STD-001 acceptance criteria for Class 3 assemblies. Other topics cover crimped terminations, coax-clamping and crimping ground ferrules.

Courses

A few different courses are available for those wanting to become soldering certified. These programs run from a few days to a week, providing hands-on training and lectures to help students understand the process.

A popular choice is IPC J-STD-001 training, which is a five-day program designed for experienced hand soldering technicians. It describes materials, methods and verification criteria for producing high-quality soldered leaded or lead-free interconnections.

The soldering certification can show hiring companies you have the skills to work in their industry and improve your career opportunities. You can get a higher salary with this certification. Other courses include IPC A-610 training, which teaches you to inspect printed circuit boards for quality.

The eLearning course consists of the basics of crimping, stripping and tinning wires, and it also covers the inspection standards for various types of assemblies. It’s a great option for workers who need to know the middle before working on new projects.

Exams

Achieving an IPC certification is a significant milestone in your soldering career. It conveys to employers that you abide by industry standards and can perform rework tasks for them. In addition, it can help you build consistent products and improve cross-channel communication.

IPC training courses teach you to follow certain quality standards that manufacturers expect of their employees. These include IPC A-610 and J-STD-001. These documents provide details on the acceptance criteria for different classes of electronic assemblies.

The IPC A-610 class is an essential course for anyone who works in the electronics manufacturing industry. It is a hands-on course that dramatically raises a student’s skill set. 

Career Opportunities

The skill of soldering is critical to the manufacturing industry. It creates strong connections between wires and circuit boards, making electronics work properly.

Those who want to start a career in this field can take on-the-job training or pursue an apprenticeship, which lasts a few years and provides hands-on instruction from a professional. There are also a variety of soldering courses available from community colleges and online.

Programs are also available to teach people how to become a trainer for IPC standards, which is ideal for experienced soldering technicians who want to train industry colleagues. For example, Omni Training offers a four-day course with open and closed-book lessons, hands-on labs, and an examination. Once completed, students are authorized to conduct CIS certification training.