Welcome Dewayne,

 Here are a few ideas for getting the information you need
to get started:

1) In addition to joining the (almost) 2000 fine folks on TechNet,
     you should also consider joining the IPC DesignersCouncil
     e-mail forum, details for joining available@

http://www.ipc.org/html/fsresources.htm      > Email Help Forums ;

and the PCDesign Magazine email forum, details for joining available@

http://www.pcdmag.com/         > PCD's Listserve Forum

2) While you're at the PCD web site, go to "PCD, Subscribe/Renew"
    and request a subscription to Printed Circuit Design Magazine.

3) Surf to George Patrick's "Designer's Den" web site @ :

http://www.aracnet.com/~gpatrick/

  He has some good information on the PCB design process and
  his PCB related booklist on the Bookstore page of his site will
  list enough helpful books on the subject to keep you reading all winter.

4) Take advantage of your unique opportunity to become a charter member
      of the Smoky Mountain chapter of the IPC Designers Council. Our first
      meeting is scheduled for 23 September and details are available @ :

http://www.ipc.org/smchap/

     If our "war stories" don't make you decide to change careers, we'll be
     glad to help you start your career-long journey in the pursuit of
Printed
     Circuit Board Design excellence.

5) Check the archive of the IPC Designers Council e-mail forum. Within the
     last few months there has been a discussion of educational
opportunities
     available in PCB  design. I don't know of any formal training
available in our
     area, yet! That's one of the things we hope to accomplish with our
local
     Designers Council chapter.

Best wishes for your sucess,

Tom

Thomas G. Martin
Sr. PCB Designer
ASE Technologies USA
Knoxville, TN
(423) 670 -3126

##############################################################
TechNet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c
##############################################################
To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the body:
To subscribe:   SUBSCRIBE TECHNET <your full name>
To unsubscribe:   SIGNOFF TECHNET
##############################################################
Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional
information.
If you need assistance - contact Gayatri Sardeshpande at [log in to unmask] or
847-509-9700 ext.5365
##############################################################