IPC certification · Cable and wire harness

IPC/WHMA-A-620 Cable and wire harness assemblies

Requirements and acceptance for cable and wire harness assemblies.

IPC/WHMA-A-620 is the first industry standard for cable and wire harness fabrication and installation. This course covers its general requirements and includes the certifying examinations.

3 to 4 Days
Exam included
English, Spanish and online

Next sessions

Dates open for enrollment

Oct 12 – 15: Penang; Available
Oct 13 – 16: Phoenix, Arizona; Available
Oct 19 – 22: Longmont, Colorado; Available

See all dates Request a date for my team

Who should attend

Anyone who builds, inspects or accepts cable and wire harness assemblies.

Operators and technicians who crimp, solder and assemble harnesses
Inspectors and quality staff who make accept and reject decisions on finished cables
Manufacturing and process engineers who write the workmanship documentation for harness work
Supplier quality staff who audit harness suppliers against the standard

What you will learn

Referencing the standard to make accept and reject decisions
The terminology of the wire and cable harness industry, and what each term means
Crimp terminations and insulation displacement connections
Soldered terminations
Connectorization, moulding and potting
Marking, bundle securing, shielding and protective coverings

Prerequisites and materials

No prerequisites for the CIS level. CIT and recertification have their own prerequisites, listed in the course description below.
Included the standard at its current revision, the student workbook, the exam fee and the certificate.

Course outline

Module 1Introduction, cable preparation, measuring and testing

Mandatory for CIS. Sections 1, 2, 3, 11 and 19. Four and a half hours.

Module 2Crimp terminations and insulation displacement

Sections 5 and 6. Three and a quarter hours.

Module 3Soldered terminations

Section 4. Three and a half hours.

Module 4Connectorization, moulding and potting

Sections 9 and 10. Two and a half hours.

Module 5Ultrasonic welding and splices

Sections 7 and 8. Two hours.

Module 6Marking, bundle securing and finished assembly installation

Sections 12, 14 and 17. Three and a half hours.

Module 7Coaxial and biaxial cable assemblies

Section 13. Two hours.

Module 8Shielding and protective coverings

Sections 15 and 16. Two hours. Modules 2 to 8 are optional for CIS; CIT and CSE attend all.

Certification and validity

CIS

Certified IPC Specialist

An IPC issued Certified IPC Specialist credential, with a traceable certificate number recorded against your name and company.

Certification valid two years from the exam date. Renewal is a shorter course covering revision changes. We send a reminder before the credential expires.

CIT

Certified IPC Trainer

An IPC issued Certified IPC Trainer credential, which allows you to teach the standard and certify specialists inside your own company.

Certification valid two years from the exam date. Renewal is a shorter course and also requires evidence that you have taught. Let the credential lapse and your company loses the ability to certify its own specialists until it is renewed.

CSE

Certified Standards Expert

An IPC issued Certified Standards Expert credential for detailed knowledge of the standard itself, aimed at engineers and quality staff rather than line operators.

Certification valid two years from the exam date, renewed through a shorter revision course. Teaching and certifying others requires the Certified IPC Trainer credential instead.

Pass mark: Set by IPC
Retake: One included
Records: ISO proof of training

Three ways to take this course

At a center
Longmont, Phoenix, Guadalajara, Querétaro
Bench access and magnification provided. Best fit for one to four people.
Live online
English and Español
Same instructor, same exam. Best fit for distributed teams.
At your facility
No travel, familiar location
The instructor comes to you. Same assemblies and same IPC criteria, taught at your own facility, so your team doesn't travel.

Course description

IPC/WHMA-A-620 is the first industry standard for cable and wire harness fabrication and installation. This training will familiarize the student with the general requirements of the IPC/WHMA-A-620 Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Harness Assemblies and includes certifying examinations. The CIS program is modularized to allow for maximum flexibility to meet individual needs.

Upon successful completion of this training program, participants will be able to reference the IPC/WHMA-A-620 standard to make accept/reject decisions as well as interpret terminology and their definitions for the wire and cable harness manufacturing industry.

Participants must be able to read and proficiently interpret the language the class and exams are presented in. Exams are available in limited additional languages upon request. Successful passing of written and practical exams is required to attain certification. Two attempts at any exam are included in tuition paid. Additional charges will apply for more than two exam attempts.

Course structure

CIS students can attend all or some of the following modules, CIT and CSE will attend all:

Module 1 – (mandatory for CIS) 4.5 hours

Introduction/IPC Professional Policies and Procedures (section 1); Foreword and Applicable Documents (section 2); Cable/wire preparation (section 3); Measuring Cable Assemblies (section 11); Testing Cable Assemblies (section 19)

Module 2 – (optional for CIS) 3.25 hours

Crimp Terminations (section 5) and Insulation Displacement Connections (section 6)

Module 3 – (optional for CIS) 3.5 hours

Soldered Terminations (section 4)

Module 4 – (optional for CIS) 2.5 hours

Connectorization (section 9) and Molding/Potting (section10)

Module 5 – (optional for CIS) 2.0 hours

Ultrasonic Welding (section 7); Splices (section 8)

Module 6 – (optional for CIS) 3.5 hours

Marking/Labeling (section 12); Wire Bundle Securing (section 14); Finished Assembly Installation (section 17)

Module 7 – (optional for CIS) 2.0 hours

Coaxial and Biaxial Cable Assemblies (section 13)

Module 8 – (optional for CIS) 2.0 hours

Harness/Cable Electrical Shielding (section 15) and Cable/Wire Harness Protective Coverings (section 16)

Certified IPC Specialist (CIS)

What a CIS receives

IPC/WHMA-A-620 Manual
IPC “Certified IPC Specialist (CIS)” Certificate

Certification Requirements: Pass open book written exams at 70% or better Prerequisite: None Class Length: 3 days for all modules Certification Length: 24 months Price: contact us for a quote*

Certified Standards Expert (CSE)

What a CSE receives

IPC/WHMA-A-620 Manual
IPC “Certified Standards Expert (CSE)” Certificate

Certification Requirements: Pass open and closed book timed written exams at 80% or better Prerequisite: None Class Length: 3.5 days Certification Length: 24 months Price: contact us for a quote*

Certified IPC Trainer (CIT)

What a CIT receives

IPC/WHMA-A-620 Manual
IPC “Certified IPC Trainer (CIT)” Certificate
Access to official IPC Training Materials for conducting CIS certification classes

Certification Requirements: Pass open and closed book written exams at 80% or better Prerequisite: None Class Length: 3.5 days Certification Length: 24 months Price: contact us for a quote*

Upcoming dates

Upcoming dates for this course
Dates	Location	Certification	Status	Register
Oct 12 – 15	PenangIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Oct 13 – 16	Phoenix, AZIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Oct 19 – 22	Longmont, COIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Oct 20 – 23	GuadalajaraIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEspañol	Available	Register
Oct 20 – 23	QuerétaroIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEspañol	Available	Register
Nov 2 – 5	—Live online	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Nov 2 – 5	SingaporeIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Nov 16 – 19	PenangIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Nov 17 – 20	GuadalajaraIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEspañol	Available	Register
Nov 17 – 20	Phoenix, AZIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Nov 17 – 20	QuerétaroIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEspañol	Available	Register
Nov 30 – Dec 3	SingaporeIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Dec 1 – 4	—Live online	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Dec 7 – 10	Longmont, COIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Dec 7 – 10	PenangIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Dec 7 – 10	Phoenix, AZIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEnglish	Available	Register
Dec 15 – 18	QuerétaroIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEspañol	Available	Register
Dec 15 – 18	GuadalajaraIn person	CIS, CIT, CSEEspañol	Available	Register

Asked often

Can I take IPC/WHMA-A-620 online?

Yes. A-620 runs as a live online class, at one of our training centers, or at your own facility. Online classes are available in English and Español. At a center, bench access and magnification are provided.

Who should attend, and are there any prerequisites?

Anyone who builds, inspects or accepts cable and wire harness assemblies: operators and technicians who crimp, solder and assemble harnesses, inspectors and quality staff who make the accept or reject decision, manufacturing and process engineers who write the workmanship documentation, and supplier quality staff who audit harness suppliers. There are no prerequisites for CIS, CIT or CSE.

How many days does IPC/WHMA-A-620 take?

Three to four days. CIS is 3 days for all modules, and CIT and CSE are 3.5 days. The exact length depends on the certification level and the modules selected.

How long is the certification valid, and how do I renew it?

Certification is valid two years from the exam date. Renewal is a shorter course covering the revision changes.

How is the exam run?

CIS passes open book written exams at 70% or better. CIT passes open and closed book written exams at 80% or better. CSE passes open and closed book timed written exams at 80% or better. Two attempts at any exam are included in the tuition paid.