On Mar 25,  2:04pm, Ed Current wrote:
Subject: RE: Design Certification - A Designers viewpoint

 	The certification program does have the ability to certify that someone
fully understands IPC-D-275. Unfortunately most designers do not have access to
this "important" publication ( I have yet to see it myself). In order to get it
(other than paying for it out of our own meager earnings) we must first prove
to our superiors that it is worth spending the money for it. Then in our
"spare" time we will read and assimulate the information. Then we get to put
into effect the previously unused aspects of the publication (not always well
recieved by others). After all that, in order to get certified, we must again
convince our superiors that certification is valuable to the company.
 	That boils down to an awful lot of work by designers with most of the
benefit in profits for the Company and the IPC. Perhaps if they offered the
Designer focused publications free of charge over the internet, we could better
use and prove the need for certification. Win-win.
 	My desire to improve requires that I do whatever I can to achieve that
end including paying my own way in time and money. However, I have my doubts
that IPC would be where it is today if they demanded as much of their lower
paid employees.    -Rosebud

________________________________________________________________________________

Ed,

I agree with your comments, However I have access to the IPC documents and I
found the test to be so poorly written that if Drake Prometric allowed the test
to be open book the results would be the same. It's extremely difficult to
answer questions with the most correct answer if the questions are not clearly
defined.

I think the numbers printed in EE times states this because only 30% of the
most dedicated designers can pass a level A exam. Can you image how low the
percentage would be if all designers were to complete this exam. ( which should
be a beta exam )

I truely hope the exam does get revamped, but I can guarantee they will not see
 another $160 from me to beta test this program.





-- 
Dave Schmitz          
Motorola
600 N. Hwy 45
Libertyville, IL 60048

phone: (847)523-5294   pager: 3189  Fax  : (847)523-2244