Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1319500
16 PCB007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2020 Mitchell: How did your career experience lead you to teaching? Moyer: When I was just starting out as an en- gineer, I wasn't famil- iar with the require- ments for electrical as- semblies, so I read IPC- 2221 and IPC J-STD-001 cover to cover to famil- iarize myself with that standard. I recognized that the basics in design were one of the most important courses to teach new students, so I worked with the IPC Education Team to devel- op the PCB Design Fundamentals I and II Pro- grams. These courses introduce the concepts and skills required to create designs that com- ply with IPC standards. I also worked with the IPC Team in building several advanced level design courses that will build on the knowl- edge gained from the Fundamentals Programs. Mitchell: What courses do you teach for IPC? Moyer: I teach PCB Design Fundamentals I and II and additional specialty courses, in- cluding PCB Design for Advanced Packaging, PCB Design for Rigid-Flex Boards, PCB Design for Military and Aerospace Applications, and PCB Design for Extreme Environments. The courses utilize interactive webinars, on-de- mand recorded class sessions, job-specific ex- ercises, and team projects to facilitate mastery of the key concepts required by circuit board designers. Mitchell: Are you working on any new courses with the IPC Education Team? Moyer: Yes, we are currently working on some new courses that will be released in 2021: em- bedding component design, printed and wear- ables, and RF design boards. Mitchell: How does this curriculum of PCB de- sign courses help not only learners but also businesses? Moyer: The PCB design fundamentals courses provide organizations with a means of rapid- ly training new designers. Once those design- ers learn the basics, IPC offers a catalog of ad- vanced-level training for specific skill sets. Most importantly, all of the IPC design courses are a combination of theoretical design train- ing, practical application, and an understand- ing of how IPC standards are applied to the specific design area. Mitchell: When does the next set of courses begin? Moyer: The next IPC PCB Fundamentals Course is scheduled to begin on February 9, 2021. You can find the detailed course catalog at training. ipc.org. Conclusion If you're planning your educational oppor- tunities for 2021, then look no further than IPC's Electronics Workforce Training. Courses include detailed illustrations, video presenta- tions, interactive activities, and practice quiz- zes, all formulated to make complex topics easy to understand and master. Each topic is careful- ly selected to align with the skills and compe- tencies vital to advancing an electronics career at any level. The full course catalog is available at training.ipc.org/products. PCB007 Dr. John Mitchell is president and CEO of IPC. To read past columns or contact him, click here. These courses introduce the concepts and skills required to create designs that comply with IPC standards. Kris Moyer