Electronics

WorldSkills Occupational Standards (WSOS)

Occupation description and WSOS

The name of the skill competition is

Electronics

Description of the associated work role(s) or occupation(s)

Electronics Technicians work in a variety of settings, including workshops, laboratories, and manufacturing plants. They may also work in research and development facilities, where they contribute to the design, prototyping, and testing of new electronic equipment. They often work closely with electronics engineers and other technical and professional staff. Their role is crucial in maintaining electronic devices and systems. They may either be part of larger engineering teams or work independently on specific projects.

The primary purpose of an Electronics Technician is to apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge to the design, development, repair, adjustment, and modification of electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery. This work supports engineers in making design decisions and ensures that electronic systems and devices function correctly and efficiently.

The main tasks and processes of the role involve:

design and development: assisting the design and development of electronic circuits and systems, preparing detailed drawings and specifications based on engineers' instructions
testing and evaluation: conducting tests on electronic components and systems to ensure they meet required specifications. This involves setting up and operating specialised test equipment
maintenance and repair: maintaining and repairing electronic equipment, including troubleshooting, replacing faulty components, and ensuring that systems operate smoothly
documentation and reporting: documenting and reporting on their work, including test results, modifications, and repairs, for functionality, accountability and continuous improvement.

The value of an Electronics Technician will be found in:

the creation and maintenance of functional electronic systems and devices. This is their main responsibility and can include everything from consumer electronics to industrial control systems
improved efficiency and reliability from design to maintenance using proven modern techniques, materials, and processes
the quality of the data, insights, and reports that support informed design decisions, better overall product quality, and innovation.

Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work collaboratively are crucial attributes of this role, together with a proactive concern for safety and continuous improvement. In summary: the character of a successful Electronics Technician is defined by a combination of technical proficiency, practical skills, effective communication, ethical conduct, and a commitment to continuous learning and sustainability.

The WorldSkills Occupational Standards (WSOS)

General notes on the WSOS

The WSOS specifies the knowledge, understanding, skills, and capabilities that underpin international best practice in technical and vocational performance. These are both specific to an occupational role and also transversal. Together they should reflect a shared global understanding of what the associated work role(s) or occupation(s) represent for industry and business (www.worldskills.org/WSOS).

The skill competition is intended to reflect international best practice as described by the WSOS, to the extent that it can. The Standard is therefore a guide to the required training and preparation for the skill competition.

In the skill competition the assessment of knowledge and understanding will take place through the assessment of performance. There will only be separate tests of knowledge and understanding where there is an overwhelming reason for these.

The Standard is divided into distinct sections with headings and reference numbers added.

Each section is assigned a percentage of the total marks to indicate its relative importance within the Standards. This is often referred to as the “weighting”. The sum of all the percentage marks is 100. The weightings determine the distribution of marks within the Marking Scheme.

Through the Test Project, the Marking Scheme will assess only those skills and capabilities that are set out in the WorldSkills Occupational Standards. They will reflect the Standards as comprehensively as possible within the constraints of the skill competition.

The Marking Scheme will follow the allocation of marks within the Standards to the extent practically possible. A variation of up to five percent is allowed, if this does not distort the weightings assigned by the Standards.

WorldSkills Occupational Standards

Section		Relative importance (%)
1	Work organization and management	5
	The individual needs to know and understand: Principles and applications of good working practice for managing oneself, time, relations with other people, and physical and environmental resources Company cultures, procedures and variations depending on size, location, and position in economies and markets The importance of a sustainable mindset both broadly and in relation to electronics Principles, considerations, regulations, and procedures for health and safety in the electronic environment The purposes, uses, care, maintenance, and storage of tools and equipment, together with their safety implications The importance of efficient work habits within one’s own workspace Principles and techniques for measuring work efficiency and effectiveness The importance of continuing personal development The practical implications of professional responsibility and autonomy The importance of self-knowledge, critical thinking, integrity, and the wellbeing of oneself and others.
	The individual shall be able to: Plan and organize one’s work within the available time and other resources Resolve challenges to completing assignments through personal organisation, prioritisation, or other suitable methods for each work environment Maintain a professional demeanour in all circumstances Proactively engage in continuing professional development Exercise care in the workplace for personal and others’ safety Take appropriate preventative action to prevent accidents and minimise their impact if they occur Proactively model sustainable practice Regularly reflect on and review one’s own working practice, outputs and outcomes Contribute to the continuous improvement and development of the organisation or project.
2	Communication and interpersonal skills	5
	The individual needs to know and understand: Principles of human communication and their applications to the professional environment Principles of technical communication and their applications to engineering and, specifically, to electronics The purposes and applications of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the work environment and external interfaces The interrelationship of language, behaviours, and culture, globally and in other dimensions The range of communication and behaviours acceptable and effective in work environments with peers and hierarchies Principles and techniques for effective teamwork Principles and techniques for interacting with non-specialists, such as customers and other professions The purposes and range of technical languages, including text, symbols, and numerals The range of presentational techniques, including diagrams, graphs, and charts The importance of situational awareness, and one’s potential impact on others Principles and methods for formal reporting within and beyond the work setting.
	The individual shall be able to: Maintain professional relationships with others in the workplace and remotely Use ICT as required in the work environment and for external communications Present ideas and proposals to internal teams and external groups Interact with clients, including explaining technical concepts straightforwardly Share ideas and learn with others at work Adapt one’s language and behaviour to new situations, while maintaining professionalism Challenge unacceptable language and behaviour by others, while being mindful of one’s own language and behaviour Apply effective record-keeping techniques to enable traceability for later development Recognise and apply international symbols, diagrams, and languages Comply with ISO and other required forms of communication wherever required or useful.
3	Hardware design and development	20
	The individual needs to know and understand: Engineering, electrical, and electronic principles and theory Electronic components and devices The development of system blocks or basic circuits including the areas of analog electronics, power electronics, digital systems, communication systems and embedded systems. The role and uses of specialist (PCB design) software Design principles and their application to their own role, expertise, and the assignment In outline, the overall design cycle: Defining the problem or need In-depth research Ideating potential solutions Evaluating and selecting a promising solution Prototyping Testing and troubleshooting Making improvements Production Specifically, and in detail, the problem or need that is to be solved or met through electronic product design, creation, modification, or enhancement How to conduct research and analysis that is in proportion to the need High-level thinking skills including innovation and creativity Evaluation and decision-making, accounting for known factors such as time and cost Commonly used and International industry standard symbols ANSI (US) and IEC (EU) styles.
	The individual shall be able to: Read and interpret wiring diagrams, schematic drawings, or engineering instructions for assembling electronics units, and technical manuals Design, create, or develop, new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including aesthetic contributions Assist in the design and development of electronic circuits and systems Calculate and select component values that are fit-for-purpose Calculate design specifications or cost, material, and resource estimates, and prepare project schedules and budgets Prepare detailed estimates of quantities and costs of materials and labour required for the manufacture and installation of electronic equipment, according to the specifications given Use computer circuit simulation software to test that circuit designs are fit for purpose Draw schematic circuits using schematic capture and PCB layout software Use the 3D capabilities of PCB Layout software Generate fit-for-purpose PCB manufacturing data.
4	Assembly, modification, and repair	25
	The individual needs to know and understand: Typical tools used in electronic assembly The relevant industry standards of assembly (e.g. IPC 610 and others) The relevant industry standards of repair (e.g. IPC 7711/7721 and others) Safe working practices ESD safe working practices.
	The individual shall be able to: Assemble components onto PCBs to create functional circuits Identify and assemble and use electro-mechanical parts Wire and form cables harnesses Implement, rework and repair mistakes in design to industry standards Replace components according to industry standards Repair and replace defective components on Printed Circuit Boards (according to industry standards) using hand-tools and through-hole and surface mount soldering techniques Replace components or modules with ones not originally designed or intended for use in a PCB or System, to obtain temporary functionality or for use in prototypes.
5	Fault finding	5
	The individual needs to know and understand: The limitations and applications of test equipment Fault detection methods for electronics systems Contexts in which the function of fault finding takes place. Common faults electronics systems Effects of ESD and working safely with ESD sensitive devices.
	The individual shall be able to: Read and interpret electronic systems drawings and documents Take measurements to test, set, adjust, and measure electronic components, modules, and equipment using measurement equipment that can measure and analyze voltage, currents, others electrical quantities and waveforms Select the appropriate equipment to perform measurements Use automatic test equipment Analyze the correct principles of fault finding Design and implement test strategies to localize/find faults Utilize a range of tools and software to isolate faults Determine causes of operating errors and the required action to repair Test electronics units and components, using standard test equipment.
6	Embedded systems programming	25
	The individual needs to know and understand: Embedded systems The application of microcontroller interfacing principles Common MCU peripherals programming and interfaces to external peripherals power management techniques, e.g. watch-dog timers Integrated Software Development Environments commonly used in industry.
	The individual shall be able to: Write, analyze, review and update C-code on embedded systems to handle specific jobs such as storing or retrieving data, and/or controlling other equipment or peripherals Locate, correct, and re-compile syntax errors Investigate whether the central processing unit of the system, or peripheral equipment are responding to a programme's instructions Use common C functions and/or supplied C functions Write functions to perform a specified task.
7	Measurement, documentation, and reporting	15
	The individual needs to know and understand: Tools and software used for documentation and reporting Verification standards, methods, and reports to be used to record the results of calculations and measurements Essential features to ensure the quality of measurements The content, structure and presentation for reports serving different purposes.
	The individual shall be able to: Prepare detailed drawings and specifications on engineers’ instructions Draw schematic circuits using schematic capture and PCB layout software Produce electronics drawings or other graphics representing industrial control, instrumentation, sensors, analogue, or digital telecommunications networks, using computer-aided design (CAD) software Prepare reports in appropriate formats (pdf, doc, xls, etc) for each case (fault finding, modification, measurement, calculate and select component values that are fit-to-purpose) Record calculations performed for each component, electrical quantity with its corresponding units of measurement Record measurements of electronic circuits with the insertion of the designed parameters (e.g. amplitude, frequency, duty cycle, cut-off frequency, etc.) Record evidence of successful repair (reports that include the nature, evidence, cause, and repairs performed on faulty units) Complete digital reports, including all required data e.g. calculations, electronic circuit waveforms, symbols Write clear design reports, including scheme comparisons, simulation verification results, and risk analysis conclusions.
	Total	100

References for industry consultation

General notes

WorldSkills is committed to ensuring that the WorldSkills Occupational Standards fully reflect the dynamism of internationally recognized best practice in industry and business. To do this WorldSkills approaches a number of organizations across the world that can offer feedback on the draft Description of the Associated Role and WorldSkills Occupational Standards on a two-yearly cycle.

In parallel to this, WSI consults three international occupational classifications and databases:

ISCO-08: (http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/isco/isco08/)
ESCO: (https://ec.europa.eu/esco/portal/home )
O*NET OnLine (www.onetonline.org/)

References

This WSOS appears most closely to relate to a Microelectronics Engineering Technician: http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/0ea36a48-a27d-4515-b61f-3cab395cf60f

and/or Electronics Engineering Technicians:
https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-3023.01 .

These links can also be used to explore adjacent occupations.

ILO 3114

The following table indicates which organizations were approached and provided valuable feedback for the Description of the Associated Role and WorldSkills Occupational Standards in place for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.

Organization	Contact name
CTIcontrol	Miguel Ángel Pérez Alcántara, Research and Development Director
LPKF (Tianjin) Co. Ltd	Guo Guo, DQ Application Team Leader