IPC J-STD-001 Certification

The IPC J-STD-001 certification program is based on the industry standard Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies which is the standard for electronics assembly manufacturing. The standard deals with methods materials as well as verification criteria for producing quality soldered interconnections. The IPC J-STD-001 standard emphasizes process control and sets industry-consensus requirements for many different electronic products.

The certification program is developed, administered and monitored by the IPC, the industry trade organization. The standard itself is developed by industry consensus and printed and distributed by the IPC. The IPC J-STD-001 certification program is administered and driven by the IPC. The IPC keeps track of the certifications and deals with the administration of the various certifications worldwide through an industry portal.

The IPC J-STD-001 Certification program is a multi-tiered certification program. The lowest rung includes CIS (application specialists) recipients which can be soldering techs, QC techs and other production personnel putting the electronic assemblies together. The next tier includes the CITs or instructor level J-STD-001 certification candidate trainers who have learned all of the specification and instruct and monitor testing of the CIS candidates.  Finally, the MIT or Master Instructors instruct the trainer level candidates. The master instructors work for the independent soldering certification centers and the instructors typically are employed by contract manufacturers, OEMs or inspection firms.

The IPC J-STD-001 certification program, like the other IPC programs, is a one in which each of the recipients has a certification valid for a period of two years. The program is transparent meaning the certification belongs to the recipient.

The program consists of several modules at the CIS level and is enumerated below:

MODULE 1 - Introduction/Overview of IPC J-STD-001 (Required Prerequisite)

• Course Overview/Safety
• EOS/ESD/Equipment Classes
• Solder Theory/Solderability
• Solder Flux/Solder Alloys
• Facility & Tools/Training Requirements
• Plated Through-Hole & SMT Assembly/Solder Requirements
• Cleaning/Review
• Final Examination

MODULE 2 - Wires and Terminals (Optional)

• Wire Preparation & Soldering to Terminals
• Terminal Inspection
• Wire/Terminal Demonstration and Lab
• Review
• Final Examination

MODULE 3 - Through-Hole Technology (Optional)

• Lead Preparation/Component Mounting
• Plated Through-Hole Inspection Criteria
• Through-Hole Demonstration and Lab
• Review
• Final Examination

MODULE 4 - Surface Mount Technology (SMT) (Optional)

• SMT Criteria
• SMT Inspection Criteria
• SMT Soldering Demonstration and Lab
• Review
• Final Examination

MODULE 5 - Inspection Methodology (Optional)

• Theory of Inspection SPC
• Defect Definition & Disposition
• Inspection Skills Lab
• Review
• Final Examination

Module 1 is mandatory for passage of the IPC J-STD-001 certification while the remainder of the modules are optional. The IPC J-STD-001  certification program consists of hand soldering skills where each of the candidates must demonstrate their ability to perform the soldering tasks. After the demonstrations of the various skills by the instructor, the student must demonstrate the soldering skills getting signed off by the instructor.

The IPC J-STD-001 certification program can be taught in a variety of locations by BEST Inc. The locations choices include either on-site at the customer, in the mobile training center or at one of BEST’s training centers. Training center locations for the IPC J-STD-001 certification include Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Huntsville, and Tennessee.