All across the world IPC has selected and certified a limited number of persons as MIT- Design+ Expert to become mentors for new IPC Designer certification trainers. PIEK’s Managing Director Rob Walls is one of them. He is also Master IPC trainer for the IPC Designer certification, such as Certified Interconnect Designer-basic (CID) and Certified Interconnect Designer-Advanced (CID+).

Rob Walls has also been selected to be mentor to new trainers who want to get the IPC Designer certification.

This IPC Designer certification route consists of two IPC certifications. First of all, candidates have to take the Certified Interconnect Designer-basic (CID) course and the Certified Interconnect Designer-Advanced (CID+) course, and of course pass the final exam. Secondly, candidates can submit an application with IPC to qualify as a trainer for the Certified Interconnect Designer-basic (CID) certification.

After an application has been received, IPC turns to one of the nine mentors. This person then assesses various aspects of the trainer’s competences on the basis of a very strict protocol. Theoretical knowledge is examined first. Subsequently, practical experience in layout, PB manufacturing, assembly and repair is assessed. Once the trainer-to-be has a pass for this, the mentor goes to work with him.

During the course that follows the mentor prepares the trainer for his first training course and provides all course material and exam material.

The mentor is present throughout the course of the trainer-to-be, and he makes an official assessment, laid down in a report. This assessment report is the basis for the mentor’s feedback session with the trainer-to-be. Afterwards, the report is sent on to IPC, which will decide whether the trainer-to-be will be certified as a Certified Interconnect Designer-basic (CID) trainer or not.

When successful, the trainer is to give a number of Certified Interconnect Designer-basic (CID) courses, which have to be successful. After this he can submit another application with IPC to be certified as a Certified Interconnect Designer-Advanced (CID+) trainer as well.

This application again requires the assessment of a mentor, and the same procedure is applied as for Certified Interconnect Designer-basic (CID).

In the past few years Rob Walls has been a mentor for quite some candidates all over Europe (e.g. Germany, France, Italy and the UK).

If you wish to have your staff educated by PIEK’s Rob Walls, please contact us.