Commonly Asked Questions after Obtaining IPC Certification in Colorado

Whether you are about to take your first IPC endorsement exam or still thinking of undergoing the training with an established IPC training center in Colorado, you might be wondering what will happen next after officially obtaining your IPC certification. To help you manage your expectations, we compiled some of the questions that people ask after passing their IPC training and exams with flying colors.

I successfully completed a mandatory module under the Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) program and obtained initial certification. Can I say I’m already IPC certified?

Saying that you’re “IPC certified” can be a vague statement. Take note that CIS training is a modular course. Also, there are six IPC standards (excluding the CID and CID+ endorsements) to get certified for. Module 1 of every standard-specific course is a mandatory module and requires the successful passing of the endorsement exam to get the initial certification for that specific standard.

Perhaps a clearer way to mention your IPC certification status is to also mention the specific IPC standard you’re certified for. As an example, stating that you’re certified to the J-STD-001 or IPC-A-600 standard means that the IPC organization has officially recognized that you’ve achieved a level of comprehension of the contents of the specification and a level of proficiency in its application.

How can I add optional modules for my CIS certification?

Should you decide to pursue optional modules, you can do so within 90 days after getting awarded your initial certification to complete the additional modules. Each optional module generally requires the completion of the corresponding mandatory Module 1 as a prerequisite.

What’s the Space Endorsement and should I take it?

The Space addendum training and endorsement exam cover the revision to a specific IPC standard in order to cater to the electronic hardware requirements for getting to and operating in space. The Space Addendum is generally offered as an optional course or module. It’s recommended to obtain certification for this matter if your work involves the fabrication of electronic products to be used for space applications.

The IPC/WHMA-A-620 Space is an additional module that requires the successful completion of all IPC/WHMA-A-620 CIS mandatory and optional modules.

For IPC J-STD-001 training, the Space Addendum is not a standalone program and must be taught in conjunction with at least an optional module.

Look for IPC training near me in Colorado today to seek information on how you can include the Space Endorsement into your CIS certification.

Where can I get my certificate verifying my completion of the IPC certification program?

Your IPC certificate is issued directly to you through your account in the IPC EDGE Learning Management System. It is a legal document that’s traceable through you. The IPC organization doesn’t provide copies of your certificate to other people including your proctors and instructors of your IPC training center. These third-party individuals will have to obtain a copy of your certificate from you.

You must download your certificate from the system because this is the final step of the certification process. Although your certification’s effective date is on the day you successfully completed the mandatory module, your certification will be not valid if you have not downloaded it from the system at least once. Bear in mind that the certificates are available for download only within 180 days after completion of the program.

What if I lost my IPC certificate?

If you completed your IPC certification prior to the implementation of the EDGE 2.0 system on August 27, 2018, you may not be able to obtain a physical copy of your certificate again. However, you can log on to the IPC Edge certification website and navigate to the My Certification Summary where you can see all your certificates and their corresponding certificate number. You can use the certificate summary as proof of training or for audit purposes.

If you earned your IPC certificate in the Edge 2.0 system, it will show in the certificate section. You must update your profile each time you complete a course in Edge so that you can download the certificate from the mandatory module.

Can I review my mistakes in the endorsement exams?

No. Once you submit your answers in the endorsement exams for grading, you will not be able to review them. This is to protect the questions and answers as a way to ensure the security and integrity of the IPC endorsement exams. These exams are essentially used to verify the students’ abilities, knowledge, and skills in applying the content of the standards and are not intended as a learning experience.

What should I prepare for with regard to my certification’s expiration date?

Your IPC certification is valid for only two years. Beginning in 2020, you can start the recertification process six months before your certification’s expiration date. No extensions are offered. 

Once you complete the renewal procedures, your certification is valid for another two years after the current expiration date. 

Depending on your level of certification, there are various ways to renew your credentials.

• For the CIS, you can either enroll in recertification training and take the endorsement exam, or directly take the exam without training;
• For the Certified Standards Expert (CSE), you can either undergo retesting or provide proof of your committee participation activities; 
• For the Certified IPC Trainer (CIT), there are requirements you’ll have to comply with before you can even qualify for retesting and certification renewal; and
• For the Master IPC Trainer (MIT), renewal is generally through continuing education.

Failure to timely complete the renewal process within your certification’s validity period will result in the expiration of the certification, removal of your credentials, and cancellation of rights afforded to you. 

To ensure keeping your credentials updated, search for IPC training near me in Colorado for assistance on recertification courses and procedures.

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Stay tuned to our blog for more discussions and FAQs about IPC certifications and related topics.

Blackfox is a Colorado-based authorized IPC training center offering premier training courses that businesses and the workforce in the electronics manufacturing industry can greatly benefit from. Get in touch with us today.