
The ETA Education Forum event offers individuals the opportunity to network, collaborate, and train. Event participants are given an opportunity to discuss training demands, recent developments in emerging technologies, and industry trends. Those attending the available training sessions will have the opportunity to become certified as part of the class. Certification is important in this competitive job market, and remains a vital part of electronics-related industries.
IWCE offers four days of content and networking and two days of exhibits to explore to over 4,000 critical communications professionals. IWCE addresses the needs of critical communications professionals at every stage in their career. Global industry professionals attend from government, public safety, emergency management/disaster response, utilities, education, transportation, healthcare and other critical infrastructure sectors.
Attendees at the ETA Education Forum include: individuals concerned with current industry trends, emerging technologies and educational programs; faculty in technology programs who want to gain knowledge about new technologies, and how to expand existing programs; college representatives, program development specialists, and counselors who are interested in creating and maintaining electronics programs and in developing strategies for recruiting students; industry trainers and managers who want to gain insight from educators; workforce development personnel from government, labor, business, and education who are involved in shaping electronics programs.
ETA and IWCE have partnered again to offer scholarships to attend the Education Forum in an effort to increase awareness of the growing demand for certified wireless communications professionals, and to encourage students and United States military personnel to pursue careers in the industry.
Submit a 1,000-words or less essay describing your ideal career in wireless communications and how this scholarship will benefit your future professional endeavors. Include a recent resume, cover letter, and picture as separate attachments by the January 2, 2027 deadline to eta@etai.org.
*If the student scholarship winner is under 18 they must bring a chaperone. The chaperone will receive one coach plane ticket for up to $600 as well.
ETA International is proud to provide training through outside vendors in popular technology areas leading to ETA certification. Training courses must be purchased separately and are not part of any IWCE conference package. Registration includes access to IWCE's Exhibit Hall. Please check back often for updates.
| Course Description | Certification |
|---|---|
REQUIRED: STUDENTS MUST BRING A LAPTOP OR TABLET TO THE CLASS.This course is designed to prepare the student to successfully take the ETA International Information Technology Security (ITS) exam. The Information Technology Security certification covers all areas of cybersecurity for information technology. ITS-certified specialists are expected to have the major knowledge, skills, and abilities in order to perform the professional tasks associated with the development of security plans and processes for information technology and cybersecurity. This class will prepare the student with a specialized knowledge of computer hardware and software security measures, as well as wireless communications security, device security, cryptography, social engineering, virus detection/mitigation, troubleshooting, disaster prevention/recovery and site risk analysis. It is suggested that students have prior computer systems and computer networking experience. Topics covered include the development of security plans, common vulnerabilities and attacks, and processes for immunizing information technology systems from threats. This course is presented as a combination of lecture time and guided study. All course materials will be provided for the class in advance. Key Takeaways
Prerequisite: None
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ITS |
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Course Cost: $1150 | Test only option $105 Certification: ETA's Information Technology Security (ITS) Certification Cost: included in the price of the workshop |
Presenter: Ira Wiesenfeld, PE, CETms(RF), IWA Technical Services, Inc.
Date: Monday, 3/8 and Tuesday, 3/9, 9:00am–5:00pm
| Course Description | Certification |
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This two-day course gives technicians, designers, contractors, inspectors and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ's) a working command of the 2027 edition of NFPA 1225. Students first build the radio-frequency foundation needed to understand why the code says what it says — decibels, link budgets, system components, interference and antenna behavior — and then work section by section through Chapter 18 (Two-Way Radio Communications Enhancement Systems), Chapter 20 (Testing and Inspection) and the explanatory material in Annex A. The emphasis throughout is practical: what the requirement is, why it exists, how to meet it in the field, and how to document it so the system is approved the first time and stays compliant for its full-service life. Key takeaways:
Key Takeaways: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Prerequisite: None
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DASC |
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Course Cost: $1,315 | Test only option $105 Certification: ETA's Distributed Antenna Systems Code Compliance (DASC) Certification Cost: included in the price of the workshop |
Presenter: Chris Miller, CETsr, Heartland Community College
Date: Monday, 3/8 and Tuesday, 3/9, 9:00am–5:00pm, and Wednesday, 3/10, 8:00am-5:00pm
| Course Description | Certification |
|---|---|
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GCT1 covers the basic elements of various communications concepts and technologies. This includes basic electronics, fundamentals of radio, tools, test equipment, power systems, cabling and installations, environmental systems, antennas, transmission lines, operating principles and details on radios and radio systems, serial data and IP networks, basics of fiber optic lines and systems, telephony, satellite communications, physical plant considerations, site procedures and safety practices. It is intended for novice technicians or anyone that needs a basic technical understanding of communications systems. This course is ideal for federal, state, local, and tribal emergency response professionals and coordination/support personnel with communications backgrounds. Key takeaways:
Prerequisite: None
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GCT1 |
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Course Cost: $1,500 | Test only option $105 Certification: ETA's General Communications Technician - Level 1 (GCT1) Certification Cost: included in the price of the workshop |
Presenter: AJ Wiesenfeld, PE, IWA Technical Services, Inc.
Date: Monday, 3/8 and Tuesday, 3/9, 9:00am–5:00pm, and Wednesday, 3/10, 8:00am-5:00pm
| Course Description | Certification |
|---|---|
Building on the foundational GCT1 program, GCT2 expands the attendee’s knowledge base to include advanced elements of communications concepts and technologies. The program emphasizes practical, hands-on training and is customizable to meet specific industry and employer needs. It is modeled after U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidelines, covering all the disciplines outlined in the COMT program as well as the APCO/ANSI technician standards. By combining DHS-modeled instruction with ETA’s certification standards, the GCT2 program ensures technicians are prepared for advanced responsibilities in critical communications environments. Successful ETA pathway completion and certification of GCT1 and GCT2 fulfill the requirements of FCC regulation 47CFR90.433 Industry Certified Technician as an ETA Certified Electronics Technician (CET). Key takeaways:
Prerequisite: Associate Certified Electronics Technician (CETa) OR General Communications Technician - Level 1 Training (GCT1)
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GCT2 |
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Course Cost: $1,500 | Test only option $105 Certification: ETA's General Communications Technician - Level 2 (GCT2) Certification Cost: included in the price of the workshop |
Presenter: Saleh Ahmed, Love Aviation
Date: Monday, 3/8 and Tuesday, 3/9, 9:00am–5:00pm, and Wednesday, 3/10, 8:00am–5:00pm
| Course Description | Certification |
|---|---|
Important: Designed for technicians working in wireless communications, public safety, utilities, aviation, maritime, broadcasting, and related RF fields, the course prepares participants for FCC Element 1 — Basic Radio Law & Operating Practice and Element 3 — General Radiotelephone. Key takeaways: Day 1 — FCC Rules & Operating Practices | Element 1
Day 2 — RF & Communications Systems | Element 3
Day 3 — Advanced Communications & Exam Preparation | Element 3
Participants will be prepared to confidently attempt the FCC Element 1 and Element 3 examinations required to earn the General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL). Prerequisite: None |
GROL |
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Course Cost: $1,950 | Test only option $50 License: FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) Certification Cost: included in the price of the workshop |
Presenter: Jay Thompson, CETsr, Thompson Communications, Inc.
Date: Monday, 3/8 and Tuesday, 3/9, 9:00am–5:00pm
| Course Description | Certification |
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Line and Antenna Sweep (LAS) testing has been with us for years but now test equipment size and cost have dropped dramatically. Handheld units now bring line sweeping into the field at a technician level. Carrier and equipment manufacturers develop installation Methods of Procedures to ensure every decibel of signal strength is maximized in the increasingly crowded RF spectrum. Line and antenna sweeping are critical tests for the installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of antenna components and networks. The course is about moving beyond a simple wattmeter test when installing or maintaining any antenna system. A review of decibels, Return Loss, and VSWR along with the standard tests used for LAS will be covered. Many examples will be presented, and hands-on exercises will be conducted to ensure students are prepared to better understand antenna systems. The ETA LAS certification test will be available upon completion of this course. Prerequisite: None |
LAS |
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Course Cost: $1,265 | Test only option $105 Certification: ETA's Line and Antenna Sweep (LAS) Certification Cost: included in the price of the workshop |
Presenter: Jay Thompson, CETsr, Thompson Communications, Inc.
Date: Wednesday, 3/10 and Thursday, 3/11, 8:00am–5:00pm
| Course Description | Certification |
|---|---|
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This course will provide a background in the frequency spectrum and RF technology, and review causes and sources of interference. Spectrum analyzers will be covered in detail along with software functions and tools to support interference hunting. Many interference hunting cases will be presented. Students will have hands-on time with a variety of modern commercial spectrum analyzers. A “Tiny SA” spectrum analyzer will be given to the students for use during the labs. The content will include: Basic RF Signal Theory; Frequency Spectrum; Decibels; Unlicensed vs. Licensed; Modulation; Radio Propagation; What is interference; Sources of Interference; Interference Examples; Antennas; Spectrum Analyzers; Key specifications; Real Time vs. Swept; Spectrum Analyzer Measurements; Interference Hunting Tools; Field Measurements. Key takeaways:
Prerequisite: None |
RFIM |
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Course Cost: $1,265 | Test only option $105 Certification: ETA's Radio Frequency Interference Mitigation (RFIM) Certification Cost: included in the price of the workshop |
| Course Description | Certification |
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The WNT course is designed to prepare the student to take the ETA-I WNT examination. The fundamental knowledge of RF technology used in wireless communications and how intelligent information is communicated for specific applications along with system design components and their requirements is presented. The course continues with an exploration of wireless solutions and standards used today in Personal, Local, Metropolitan, and Wide Area Networks. An in-depth look into WiFi technology (802.11), the predominant technology used for Local Area Networks (LANs) is presented. Key takeaways:
Prerequisite: None, background in electronics is helpful. |
WNT |
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Course Cost: $1,150 | Test only option $80 Certification: ETA's Wireless Networking Technician (WNT) Certification Cost: included in the price of the workshop |