7 Best PCB Design Courses For Beginners in 2024
In this fast-paced era of technology, the demand for efficient, compact, and high-performance electronic devices has skyrocketed. Whether it's the gadgets we use daily, cutting-edge medical equipment, or the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, all owe their existence to the ingenious world of PCB design.
If you're an aspiring electronics enthusiast, an engineering student seeking to master this vital skill, or a professional striving to stay ahead of the curve, learning PCB design is crucial to unlock countless opportunities. In this blog, we embark on an exciting journey to explore the best PCB design courses and why mastering PCB design can be a game-changer for your career.
PCB design, short for Printed Circuit Board design, is the process of creating the layout and schematic representation of a printed circuit board. A printed circuit board is a fundamental component in most electronic devices. It serves as a platform that connects and supports various electronic components, such as resistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, and connectors, to form a functional circuit.
Why Should You Learn PCB Design?
- Innovation at Your Fingertips: PCB design is the backbone of modern electronics, enabling you to create intricate circuitry that powers groundbreaking technologies. By mastering PCB design, you gain the power to bring your ideas to life, whether it's an IoT device that revolutionizes smart homes or an eco-friendly alternative energy solution.
- Stay Ahead in the Tech World: Technology evolves at breakneck speed, and learning PCB design is your ticket to staying at the forefront of innovation. In a fiercely competitive job market, possessing PCB design skills will set you apart and make you a highly sought-after professional in various industries, such as automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, and medical devices.
- Enhance Problem-Solving Abilities: PCB design challenges you to solve complex problems by balancing functionality, space constraints, power efficiency, and signal integrity. This skill makes you a proficient PCB designer and sharpens your analytical and critical thinking abilities, valuable traits in any profession.
- Cost-Effective Solutions: Understanding PCB design empowers you to optimize the layout, reduce manufacturing costs, and enhance overall system performance. This proficiency can lead to company cost savings, making you an indispensable asset to any organization.
- Thriving Freelance Opportunities: PCB design is sought after in the corporate world and in the realm of freelancing and entrepreneurship. As a skilled PCB designer, you can explore freelance projects, and startups, or even create your electronics-based venture.
- Endless Learning Potential: The field of electronics is ever-evolving, and PCB design is no exception. Once you've mastered the fundamentals, you can continue to learn and explore advanced concepts like high-speed design, multi-layered PCBs, and advanced manufacturing techniques, ensuring your skills remain relevant and valuable.
Top PCB Design Courses List
- Crash Course Electronics and PCB Design
- Learn the Art and Science of PCB Design with Eagle
- PCB design with Altium Designer
- PCB Design a Tiny Arduino In Altium CircuitMaker
- Learn PCB Design By Designing an Arduino Nano in Altium
- PCB Design using OrCAD/Allegro from Basics to Expert Level
- Designing PCB using Autodesk Eagle for Everyone
Disclosure: We're supported by the learners and may earn from course purchases.
1. Crash Course Electronics and PCB Design (Bestseller)
This comprehensive and unique learning experience will take you from a beginner to a master's in Electronics and PCB Design. The course covers everything from the basics of atomic physics and electron behavior to advanced topics like Ohm's Law, circuit analysis, filters, transistors, and more. Unlike traditional courses, this program is a journey taken with the instructor, building upon each concept and approaching complex topics in multiple ways.
In this PCB design course, you will learn the following:
- Analyze and construct basic analog and digital circuits. As well as design printed circuit boards, assemble and get them running.
- Leverage this knowledge to build and produce electronic products completely themselves.
- Use numerous CAD and design tools such as schematic entry, PCB layout and routing, circuit simulators, MATLAB, and more.
- How to use basic electronics lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, signal generators, and more.
- Learn hands-on techniques such as circuit construction with solderless breadboards, wire wrapping, and soldering.
The course goes beyond theory by providing hands-on experience as circuits are worked out on the blackboard, virtually simulated with Labcenter Proteus, and physically built before your eyes in high-definition video and audio. As you progress, you'll have the opportunity to design and create three complete products, learning about motivation, part selection, layout, verification, and even preparing them for manufacturing with online manufacturers.
During this exceptional learning journey, you will gain valuable skills in PCB design and embark on exciting projects with an in-depth understanding of the topic. Whether you're a hobbyist looking to expand your knowledge or aspiring to pursue a career in electronics, Crash Course Electronics will equip you with the expertise and confidence needed to excel in the field.
- Course rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (15,667 Rating total)
- Duration: 111 Hours
- Certificate: Certificate of completion
2. Learn the Art and Science of PCB Design with Eagle (Bestseller)
This ultimate course for circuit design using Autodesk Eagle, one of the most popular tools for creating circuits in the world. If you've encountered open-source hardware like Arduino or marveled at Sparkfun's impressive modules and kits, they were all crafted with Eagle. In the open-source world, Eagle has become the de-facto language for designing PCBs.
In this PCB design course, you will learn the following:
- Improved confidence level with better technical skills, for hobby or academics or your profession.
- Learn Circuit design and PCB Design with the most powerful and most widely used tool Eagle!
- Be able to create single and double-sided PCB Designs.
- Understand the use of Eagle for PCB Design.
- Understand the Gerber files and export Gerber files for production.
- Be an awesome electronics designer in a very low time.
- Start designing your boards!
This course will start from scratch to cater to complete newbies. Whether you have zero experience in PCB creation or are new to Eagle itself, this course warmly welcomes you. It's easy to follow along with the course and design printed circuit boards confidently. Moreover, Eagle offers a free version for smaller projects, which makes it accessible to everyone.
This course provides you with the fundamental knowledge to get started with PCB design using Eagle without delving into complex advanced techniques. So, whether you're a curious beginner or an electronics enthusiast, this course will unleash your creativity and master the art of PCB design!
- Course rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (1,030 Rating total)
- Duration: 3.5 Hours
- Certificate: Certificate of completion
3. PCB design with Altium Designer (Bestseller)
This course will help you transform from a beginner to an advanced learner while discovering how to earn money through your newfound skills. It will help you become a professional in the field, and support you in this journey.
In this PCB design course, you will learn the following:
- Basic tools of Altium Designer.
- Design professional PCBs.
- Design schematic like a pro.
- Power supply
- Multi-sheet design
- Placement and alignment.
This comprehensive course will delve into various aspects of electronics and PCB design. Starting from scratch, you'll learn how to design boards from scratch, gain insight into the intricate process of schematic design, and master PCB design. Understanding power supply distribution will be an essential skill you'll acquire, and together, we will explore how to read datasheets effectively.
ESP8266 schematic design and microcontroller design will be some of the exciting topics in this course. Moreover, the course will guide you through the crucial steps in the manufacturing process, ensuring you are well-equipped to bring your designs to life.
You'll also discover the best techniques for routing, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. Producing functional and reliable PCBs requires the strategic placement of components. The course will take you from square one to a stage where you can confidently take a project from its initial concept to manufacturing.
- Course rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (1,522 Rating total)
- Duration: 8.5 Hours
- Certificate: Certificate of completion
4. PCB Design a Tiny Arduino In Altium CircuitMaker
This course is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn the entire process of designing your own custom Tiny Arduino Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Through this comprehensive course, you will enhance your PCB design skills, opening doors to freelance opportunities or even landing a job in PCB design, utilizing Altium CircuitMaker – one of the top FREE PCB design tools worldwide.
In this PCB design course, you will learn the following:
- Create and design a custom Tiny Arduino Nanite in Altium CircuitMaker.
- Find and Download Components for Schematic Use.
- Draw the schematic of an Arduino Nanite and wire components.
- Compile design detect and eliminate design errors.
- Define board shape and size.
- Route Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
- Use the auto-routing capabilities to speed up the routing process.
- Use a design rule checker to eliminate errors and reduce manufacturing board iterations.
This PCB course will guide you step-by-step through getting started with PCB design using Altium CircuitMaker. We will begin by familiarizing you with the user interface through easy download and installation. Next, we will dive into the Tiny Arduino component library, where you'll learn how to find and download the necessary components.
In the following sessions, you will recreate the Arduino Nanite Schematic and skillfully wire components in Schematic view. Afterward, we will define the board shape and transfer your schematic into PCB view. During this workshop, you'll learn how to strategically place components and how to create an optimal multilayer design with 4-6 layers.
Lastly, you'll master the essential task of creating Gerber files, which enable your manufacturer to produce your custom Printed Circuit Board with precision and accuracy. Throughout the entire journey, you'll gain invaluable knowledge and hands-on experience, preparing you to excel in the dynamic field of PCB design.
By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge and skills to design your own custom Tiny Arduino PCB, making you a competent PCB designer, ready to embark on exciting projects in the world of electronics!
- Course rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 (573 Rating total)
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Certificate: Certificate of completion
5. Learn PCB Design By Designing an Arduino Nano in Altium
This course is designed to help you improve your PCB design skills, opening doors to freelancing opportunities or potential employment in the PCB design industry. With Altium Designer, a widely-used PCB design tool, as our focus, you'll gain the knowledge and expertise needed to embark on this exciting journey in the world of electronics. Whether you're new to PCB design or seeking to enhance your skills, this course aims to equip you with the necessary know-how to confidently create your custom PCB.
In this PCB design course, you will learn the following:
- Create and design a custom Arduino Nano in Altium Designer.
- Create their own custom components and component library.
- Draw the schematic of an Arduino Nano and wire components.
- Compile design detect and eliminate design errors.
- Define board shape and size.
- Route Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
- Use the auto-routing capabilities to speed up the routing process.
- Use a design rule checker to eliminate errors and reduce manufacturing board iterations.
In this course, you can learn the essentials of PCB design using Altium Designer. The course guides you step-by-step through downloading, installing, and understanding Altium Designer. You'll discover how to create your component library, crucial for custom designs, and add 3D models to components, accessing a convenient website for models.
Recreating the Arduino Nano Schematic in Altium Designer and wiring components in Schematic view will be covered comprehensively. You'll learn how to transfer your schematic into PCB view, define the board shape, and efficiently place components on the board, creating multi-layer boards with 4-6 layers.
For 6-layer boards, you'll gain insights into strategic component placement and routing between layers. This class will explore auto-routing techniques for saving time during complex designs. By the end of the course, you'll have the expertise to correct design errors and prepare Gerber files, essential for manufacturing your custom Printed Circuit Board.
- Course rating: 3.3 out of 5.0 (579 Rating total)
- Duration: 3 Hours
- Certificate: Certificate of completion
6. PCB Design using OrCAD/Allegro from Basics to Expert Level
The PCB Design and Electronics Circuit course lays the foundation for all types of electronic products. PCBs are essential components derived from analog and digital circuits, tailored to meet specific application requirements. They serve as the backbone of the electronics world, found in everything from consumer gadgets like computers and smartphones to sophisticated industrial and high-tech devices.
In this PCB design course, you will learn the following:
- Basic Electronics Theory, Circuit Design, and Analysis, Basics of Printed Circuit Board, Electronic Components, and Instruments. Study notes given.
- Work on Printed Circuit Board Layout Design such as Schematic creation, Library Creation: Electronic Symbol, and Package (Footprint Creation) Designing.
- Switching schematic to Board Design (Netlist Creation), Thorough knowledge of Constraint Management Settings, Board Shape Creation (DXF import included) & DRC.
- Work on Single-sided Board Design, Double sided Board Design, Via creation and application. Routing on the Top and Bottom Layer includes enough practice modules.
- Plan Creation of Power and Ground. Also Split Plan Creation. Design Rule Checking and DRC updates. Work on Artwork. Setting up all required film layer setups.
- Gerber Generation and Gerber analysis and improvements. PCB Manufacturing Overview.
By the end of this course, you'll have gained valuable knowledge and practical skills to design complex PCBs and circuits confidently. Whether you are a hobbyist, an aspiring electronics engineer, or seeking to enhance your professional skills, this course will equip you with the essential tools to excel in the world of PCB design and electronics circuitry.
- Course rating: 4.3 out of 5.0 (754 Rating total)
- Duration: 25.5 Hours
- Certificate: Certificate of completion
7. Designing PCB using Autodesk Eagle for Everyone
In this course, you will learn step-by-step how to use and design your own PCB using the latest version of Autodesk EAGLE.
In this PCB design course, you will learn the following:
- Turn your idea into reality by designing PCB boards through Autodesk Eagle.
- A thorough walkthrough and site tour on Autodesk Eagle and maximize its use.
- Create your very first working projects.
- Learn about the basic electronic components and their uses.
- Select the best components to be used for your project.
- Special topics about Autodesk Eagle and Arduino shield.
Throughout this learning journey, we will cover various essential aspects of PCB design using Autodesk Eagle. We'll begin by introducing the software and guiding you through the installation process, ensuring you're all set to dive into the exciting world of PCB design.
Next, we'll take a comprehensive tour of the software, allowing you to explore its functionalities and learn how to use it effectively. During this class, we will review the basics of electronic components so that you will know how to use them in your designs effectively.
In the first two hours of the course, you'll embark on a practical journey by creating your very first project, instilling confidence from the very beginning. Engaging in additional projects and challenging activities will provide opportunities to test your skills and deepen your understanding of the design space.
As a bonus, we'll explore Arduino Shield and other Autodesk Eagle functions, unveiling even more possibilities to enhance your PCB designs. By the end of this course, you'll have gained valuable skills and knowledge, enabling you to confidently create projects for various purposes, be it for school, work, hobbies, or even freelance clients.
- Course rating: 4.3 out of 5.0 (413 Rating total)
- Duration: 7.5 Hours
- Certificate: Certificate of completion
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