IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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IPC COMMUNITY 41 WINTER 2024 Williams, IPC director of certification, "so obviously we can't test on every detail, but we make sure to assess the most pertinent information." Certification committees work closely with IPC staff liaisons to provide guidelines about what the committee believes professionals in the field need to know, such as common ele- ments in the workplace. We repeat this process for each standard, which amounts to hundreds of items under review. A certification is valid for two years, and when IPC releases a new or revised standard, the certification staff begins reviewing their pool of questions to determine whether they are still relevant. "That's where a lengthy process comes into play," Joe says. "Subject matter experts review every item through committees that discuss every qu estion. The concept is simple, but the complexity adds up quickly when you realize it's for hundreds of items." Levels of Credentials Diploma Awarded by an academic institution after completing a series of courses. This includes instruction, assessments, and those predefined by government. Certificates Awarded by academic institutions or third-party organizations after completing a course or a series of courses. This includes instruction and assessments; courses are usually shorter in time than a diploma, measure knowledge gained from the related course, and criteria are predetermined by the awarding institution. Certification Awarded by third-party organiza- tions after completing an assessment. It is job-based in nature; courses are optional and usually shorter in time than a diploma/certificate program, measure knowledge previously obtained and not from a specific course and are pre-determined by the awarding insti- tution based on input from the industry. IPC offers certifications in three levels. Licensure The main difference between certifica- tion and licensure is that government entities regulate licensure. It is mandatory to practice in a profession and measures knowledge previously obtained. Think doctors, lawyers, pharmacists, counselors, etc. Choose the Right One for You How do you choose the right IPC certification level for you and your company? IPC currently provides three levels of certification to the IPC standards for individuals in the electronics industry. Depending on your experience within the industry, you can become certified as: 1. Certified Standards Expert (CSE) 2. Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) 3. Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) Choosing the right level of certifi- cation for you is important. To learn more about the three certification levels, visit IPC Standard Certifica- tions.