Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Designers

High School

Recommended high school classes include mathematics, physics, computer science (e.g., artificial intelligence, computer-aided design), shop (especially electronics), and engineering. Writing and speech courses will help you to develop your oral and written communication skills.

Postsecondary Education

Aspiring PCB designers typically earn associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in drafting, electronic design, computer-aided design, or electronics or electrical engineering. As part of the degree program, students complete internships and other experiential education programs to obtain hands-on experience. It’s possible to enter this career after obtaining on-the-job experience and training in lower-level PCB design positions, but most designers have degrees (especially baccalaureate degrees).

The Global Electronics Association offers a PCB Design Engineer Apprenticeship Program that requires the completion of 158 hours of classroom training and hands-on training. Visit https://www.electronics.org/pcb-designer-engineer-apprenticeship for more information.

Certification

Many colleges and universities offer certificate programs in electronics, electrical and electronic engineering technology, and related fields. Some offer programs in PCB design and layout. For example, the Indiana Institute of Technology (Fort Wayne, Indiana) offers a printed circuit board layout certificate program. Students must complete the following courses to earn the certificate: Electronic Circuits I, Digital Circuits, PCB Layout and Fabrication, Advanced PCB Layout and Fabrication, PCB Layout with Digital Circuits Credit, and Power and Radio Frequency Devices on PCBs. Visit https://academics.indianatech.edu/programs/printed-circuit-board-pcb-layout-undergraduate-certificate for more information. Certificate programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. Contact schools in your area to learn about available programs.

Other Education or Training

Continuing education in-person classes and webinars are offered by many professional associations. For example, the Global Electronics Association offers Electronics U (https://www.electronicsu.org), which provides electronics education and workforce development opportunities. Some of the courses that are available include Introduction to PCB Design, PCB Design for Manufacturability, and Printed Board Assembly by Design. The Printed Circuit Engineering Association and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, as well as colleges and universities, also provide CE opportunities.