IPC-6012 Training and certification
The IPC-6012 training and certification is a training based on the IPC-6012 document. This is a document from a series of multiple documents and in particular this document deals with the rigid printed circuit boards that are most commonly used in the electronics industry. The document specifies what a printed circuit board supplier must perform, what documentation is required to make a printed circuit board, but also which tests must be carried out and it contains a number of mandatory and optional tests.
Furthermore, this document indicates the materials with which the printed circuit boards should be produced and the values that are set for copper thicknesses, copper layer thicknesses, copper track widths, deviations that may occur, tolerances that apply in particular in the area of so-called finishes (final layers that are placed over the copper to protect the copper). All this can be found in this document and is addressed in this training. It is one of the important basic documents for a printed circuit board supplier which serves as an important reference with regard to the production processes of printed circuit boards and the materials used.
PB FABRICATION
The IPC-6012 Training and certification is suitable for the following target group:
In the first instance, this training is intended for people involved in the production process of printed circuit boards. People who actively participate in the production process but possibly also buyers within circuit board suppliers who need to know which materials should be used.
This training is also used by people who purchase printed circuit boards from assemblers and from end customers. They also benefit from being confident that they make the right decisions and indicate the right products in their orders.
PB FABRICATION
The IPC-6012 Training and certification is interesting for employees of different companies.
The majority of the participants in this training work at circuit board suppliers and are responsible for the processes within that circuit board supplier or possibly for the inspection of the circuit boards that must be supplied.
The IPC-6012 training is sometimes also attended by people who work for the customers of the printed circuit board suppliers, so people who process the printed circuit boards, assemblers, possibly sometimes also by printed circuit board designers who want to gain insight into what a printed circuit board is and what materials are used for the circuit board. However, the main part consists of the printed circuit board suppliers, the people who are responsible for the set up of the production processes.
PIEK: Your knowledge provider for the electronics industry
Application of the IPC-6012 Training and certification in companies.
You learn which materials should be used when rigid printed circuit boards are produced. It is important to carry out inspections, perform tests, determine the frequency of these tests and all this will be discussed in this training.
The added value of the IPC-6012 Training and certification.
The added value of this training is that employees know which materials they are allowed to use in the production processes so that no wrong materials will be used and that no wrong materials are bought by a buyer. They also know which tests are required to qualify a printed circuit board or a process.
They know the frequency of those tests that need to be carried out and are informed about the inspection criteria and the tolerances that apply. At a given moment, the employees will make fewer mistakes which reduces costs and will have an effect on the return of the company. That is the added value of this training and certification.
Validity of the IPC-6012 certification
If you have not previously been certified for the IPC-6012 or your certificate has expired, you will need the initial IPC-6012 certification.
This has a validity of 2 years. You must recertify within 6 months before the certificate expires. You have the following options for recertification:
- IPC-6012 Recertification: full training for recertification
- IPC-6012 Challenge Test: only the exam
- IPC-6012 Refreshment of the Standard + Challenge Test
Variant of the IPC-6012 certification
IPC-6012 CIS (Certified IPC Specialist)
This IPC-6012 Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) variant is intended for operators
IPC-6012 CIT (Certified IPC Trainer)
This IPC-6012 Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) variant is intended for anyone who wants to train operators to CIS themselves
IPC-6012 CSE (Certified Standards Expert)
This IPC-6012 Certified Standard Expert (CSE) variant is intended for anyone who wants to become an expert in the field of the relevant standard. These experts are often used by companies as coordinators to correctly apply the standard within the company.
Upcoming regional IPC-6012 training courses
| Start date | Training | Language | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 February 2025 | ONLINE IPC-6012 | English | ONLINE | Quote Request |
| 12 March 2025 | ONLINE IPC-6012 | German | ONLINE | Quote Request |
| 18 June 2025 | IPC-6012 | English | Heerlen | Quote Request |
| 25 June 2025 | IPC-6012 | German | Bretten | Quote Request |
| 10 September 2025 | ONLINE IPC-6012 | German | ONLINE | Quote Request |
| 17 September 2025 | ONLINE IPC-6012 | English | ONLINE | Quote Request |
| 03 December 2025 | IPC-6012 | German | Bretten | Quote Request |
| 10 December 2025 | IPC-6012 | English | Heerlen | Quote Request |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this repair procedure is described in the IPC-7711/7721 standard. The maximum size of a delamination depends on the product class. This is described in the IPC-A-600, the IPC-A-610 and IPC-6012 standard.
Yes, IPC has made a product classification in every standard, including the IPC-6012.
This product classification is as follows:
- IPC-6012 Class 1 – General electronic products (e.g. consumer electronics, these are products where the main requirement is the function of the final product)
- IPC-6012 Class 2 – Dedicated service electronics (e.g. industrial machines, test equipment, etc. these are products that have to work longer, if they fail, a lot of money will be lost)
- IPC-6012 Class 3 – High reliability electronics (e.g. aircraft, military products and life-supporting medical equipment, these products may not fail otherwise it is life-threatening).
IPC has 3 product classes: class 1 (consumer electronics), class 2 (industrial electronics) and class 3 (high reliability electronics). The customer may determine the product class in which the product must be produced. It is important that the inspector knows according to which product class of IPC he must inspect, because otherwise too many products will be unnecessarily rejected!
In the IPC-4552 standard.
AABUS is the abbreviation of “As Agreed Between User and Supplier”. This abbreviation often occurs in an IPC standard.
In the IPC-4101 standard.
FOD is the abbreviation for “Foreign Object Debris” and means contamination by foreign objects (fluff, hair, material residues) on the surface. This abbreviation is often used in the IPC-A-600, IPC-A-610, IPC-6012 and contradicts “Foreign Object Damage” (FOD) which is often used in aircraft (and aerospace) products.
Yes. This is explained in the IPC-6012 training and also in the IPC-A-600, IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 training program.
This is stated in the IPC-4552 standard.
This is stated in a table in the J-STD-001 and in the IPC-6012 standard.
