Electronics Tester

Course Description

EEV0100 Electronics Tester is the second Occupational Completion Point (OCP B) in Florida's Electronics Technology vocational program sequence. This 400-contact-hour course builds on foundational electronics assembly skills and prepares students to test, evaluate, and verify electronic assemblies and circuits in an industrial setting. The content includes, but is not limited to, DC circuits, AC circuits, solid-state devices, analog circuits, and digital circuits. Integrated throughout the course are communication, leadership, human relations, and employability skills; safe and efficient work practices; use of circuit diagrams and schematics; soldering; laboratory practices; and technical recording and reporting. The program focuses on broad, transferable skills and stresses understanding and demonstration of key elements of the electronics industry, including planning, management, technical and product skills, underlying principles of technology, and health, safety, and environmental issues.

This course is part of a structured program sequence at Florida technical colleges including Fort Myers Technical College, Big Bend Technical College, Miami Lakes Educational Center, and others offering the Electronics Technology program under Florida SCNS taxonomy Engineering Technologies > Electronics Vocational (EEV). The State of Florida requires students to satisfy a basic skills requirement (Mathematics 9.0, Language 9.0, Reading 9.0) prior to program completion.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply DC circuit theory, including Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Laws, and series/parallel circuit analysis, to test and verify circuit performance.
• Apply AC circuit theory, including analysis of impedance, resistance, reactance, capacitance, and inductance in AC circuits.
• Demonstrate safe and efficient work practices in an electronics laboratory, including electrostatic discharge (ESD) control and proper handling of components.
• Read and interpret circuit diagrams, schematics, and technical documentation relevant to electronics testing and assembly.
• Use common electronic bench test equipment — including multimeters, oscilloscopes, and power supplies — to measure, analyze, and verify circuit parameters.
• Perform soldering and chassis assembly techniques, including through-hole and surface-mount methods, to industry standards.
• Demonstrate knowledge of solid-state devices, including diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits, and test their operation in circuits.
• Apply digital circuit fundamentals, including logic gates, Boolean algebra, and number systems, to test digital assemblies.
• Perform technical recording and reporting of test results using accepted industry formats.
• Demonstrate industrial safety, health, and environmental compliance, including OSHA and workplace safety standards relevant to electronics manufacturing.

Optional Outcomes

The following outcomes may be addressed depending on institutional emphasis and available laboratory resources:

• Demonstrate basic microprocessor and microcontroller concepts and perform functional testing of microprocessor-based assemblies.
• Apply quality assurance methods in electronics manufacturing, including IPC acceptance criteria for solder workmanship (IPC-A-610).
• Perform fiber optic cable assembly and troubleshooting, including continuity and signal integrity testing.
• Use computer simulation tools to model and verify DC/AC circuit behavior prior to physical testing.
• Demonstrate preparation for the MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) industry certification examination.
• Apply IPC J-STD-001 soldering standards for electrical and electronic assemblies in preparation for IPC certification testing.

Major Topics

Required Topics

1. DC Circuit Theory
   • Ohm's Law and power calculations
   • Series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits
   • Kirchhoff's Voltage and Current Laws
   • Branch current, loop current, and node voltage methods
   • Resistors, capacitors, and inductors in DC circuits
2. AC Circuit Theory
   • Sinusoidal waveforms, frequency, amplitude, and phase
   • Impedance, reactance, and RLC circuits
   • Transformers: operation and testing
   • Filters: low-pass, high-pass, band-pass
   • AC power and power factor
3. Solid-State Devices
   • Semiconductor diodes: types, testing, and applications
   • Bipolar junction transistors (BJT) and field-effect transistors (FET)
   • Rectifier and power supply circuits
   • Integrated circuit (IC) identification and testing
4. Digital Electronics Fundamentals
   • Number systems: binary, octal, hexadecimal
   • Boolean algebra and logic gate operations
   • Combinational and sequential logic circuits
   • Flip-flops, counters, and registers
5. Test Equipment and Measurement
   • Multimeter (DMM) operation: voltage, current, resistance measurements
   • Oscilloscope setup and waveform analysis
   • Function generators and power supplies
   • Signal tracing and circuit fault identification
6. Schematics, Circuit Diagrams, and Technical Documentation
   • Schematic symbol identification
   • Reading and interpreting assembly drawings and wiring diagrams
   • Bill of materials (BOM) and test specification sheets
   • Technical recording and test report preparation
7. Soldering and Assembly Techniques
   • Through-hole soldering to industry standards
   • Surface-mount technology (SMT) basics
   • ESD awareness and prevention procedures
   • Chassis and PCB assembly inspection
8. Workplace Safety and Employability
   • Electrical safety and hazard recognition
   • OSHA general industry standards applicable to electronics
   • Personal protective equipment (PPE) in the lab
   • Communication, teamwork, and employability skills
   • Environmental and materials handling regulations

Optional Topics

• Analog Circuits: Operational amplifiers (op-amps), comparators, active filters, and linear/switching power supplies
• Microprocessors and Microcontrollers: Architecture overview, input/output interfacing, basic functional testing
• Computer Simulation: DC/AC circuit simulation using software tools (e.g., Multisim, LTspice)
• IPC Quality Standards: IPC-A-610 acceptability criteria; IPC J-STD-001 soldering requirements; visual inspection techniques
• Fiber Optics Basics: Fiber optic cable types, connectors, splicing, and continuity testing
• PCB Design Introduction: Schematic capture, PCB layout basics, and design-for-testability concepts
• MSSC Production Technician Preparation: Quality practices, manufacturing processes, and safety for the MSSC CPT exam

Resources & Tools

• Test Equipment: Digital multimeters (DMM), dual-channel oscilloscopes, function generators, regulated DC power supplies, LCR meters
• Soldering Equipment: Temperature-controlled soldering stations, solder wick, desoldering tools, hot air rework stations
• Laboratory Consumables: Breadboards, PCB kits, resistors/capacitors/inductors/transistor assortments, ICs, wire, and hookup materials
• Software Tools (optional): Circuit simulation software (e.g., Multisim, LTspice, or equivalent); schematic capture tools
• Reference Standards: IPC-A-610 Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies; IPC J-STD-001 Requirements for Soldering; OSHA 29 CFR 1910 General Industry Standards
• Textbooks / Instructional Materials: Florida FLDOE-approved electronics technology curriculum guides; manufacturer component datasheets; industry technical manuals
• ESD Protection: Anti-static mats, wrist straps, ESD-safe storage and handling equipment

Career Pathways

Completion of EEV0100 qualifies students for entry-level employment as an Electronics Tester and provides the prerequisite foundation to continue in the Electronics Technology program sequence:

• OCP A — Electronics Assembler (EEV0010, 250 hours): Prerequisite sequence
• OCP B — Electronics Tester (EEV0100, 400 hours): This course
• OCP C — Electronics Equipment Repairer (EEV0500, 375 hours): Next course
• OCP D — Electronics Technician (EEV0616, 375 hours): Advanced sequence

Career opportunities upon completing OCP B and beyond include:

• Electronics Tester / Test Technician
• Electronics Assembler / Manufacturing Technician
• Quality Control / Inspection Technician
• PCB Assembly and Rework Technician
• Field Service Technician (with further training)
• Electronics Equipment Repairer

Starting salaries for graduates of Florida Electronics Technology programs are typically $20+ per hour, with growth potential in aerospace, defense, consumer electronics, biomedical, and telecommunications industries throughout Florida.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

This course supports preparation for the following industry-recognized certifications, which are widely offered at Florida technical colleges delivering this program:

• IPC J-STD-001 — Certified IPC Specialist (CIS): Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies. Florida institutions such as Eastern Florida State College administer IPC-approved examinations through program coursework.
• IPC-A-610 — Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies: Visual and workmanship inspection certification, typically pursued after completing soldering coursework.
• MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT): The Manufacturing Skills Standards Council credential in quality practices, manufacturing processes, maintenance awareness, and safety; offered as preparation at several Florida technical colleges including Big Bend Technical College.

Basic Skills Requirement

The State of Florida requires students to meet a basic skills requirement prior to program completion. The required grade levels for this program are: Mathematics 9.0, Language 9.0, Reading 9.0. Students who do not meet these levels upon entry must demonstrate achievement through testing or developmental coursework prior to receiving the OCP certificate.

Program Delivery

This program typically operates on an open-entry, open-exit basis at Florida technical colleges, allowing students to begin at various points during the academic year subject to space availability. Instruction is delivered through a combination of classroom theory and hands-on laboratory training.