The French-founded Repair Academy is making a significant leap into the US market through a strategic partnership with iFixit. Founded in 2019, the academy has established a strong reputation across Europe for its specialized training programs in mobile phone repairs and board-level micro soldering. With a focus on micro soldering, motherboard repair, and screen refurbishing, the Repair Academy has already trained more than 600 students and earned recognition from the French government. Now, in collaboration with iFixit, The Repair Company and Justin Ashford are set to offer its flagship training in the United States, starting July 2025. A great initiative as it will offer repair companies to differentiated themselves in the highly competitive repair market by offering sustainable board level repairs.
A new hub for board-level training
The first US-based training will take place at iFixit’s state-of-the-art warehouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Known as Onion Bottom, the facility is equipped with advanced repair stations, microscopes, thermal cameras, and professional-grade tools—creating a hands-on, real-world learning environment. Participants will complete 12 intensive days of board-level repair training. The $ 6,500 course includes full tool access, certification, and a take-home toolkit. Optional room and board, hosted by iFixit, are available for an additional € 930.
Responding to growing demand in the US
The timing of the partnership aligns with the increasing demand for technical skills across the US. With the Right to Repair movement gaining momentum and state legislatures pushing for more sustainable electronics practices, combined with uncertainty around the impact of Trump’s tariffs on the pricing and availability of spare parts, the need for professional-level board repair training is growing. iFixit’s collaboration with the Repair Academy aims to meet that demand head-on.
Justin Ashford will be giving this new course. With years of hands-on experience and a deep commitment to repair education, Ashford has become a leading voice in the repair industry. His work has equipped countless technicians with the skills and confidence to tackle even the toughest repairs. Ashford will play a direct role in developing course content, making sure you’re learning from one of the best in the business.
Teaching the skills behind the repair
Unlike standard repair workshops, the Repair Academy dives deep into diagnostic logic, schematic analysis, and advanced soldering techniques. Students learn to diagnose circuit-level failures, understand complex motherboard systems, and repair what would typically be discarded. This hands-on methodology emphasizes sustainability, helping reduce electronic waste by reviving instead of replacing devices. Attendees leave not just with new skills, but a new mindset: fixing the unfixable.
No prior microscope experience required
One of the most unique aspects of the program is its accessibility. Although the training is intensive, participants are not expected to arrive with prior board-level repair experience. The academy’s approach is designed to take standard technicians—those who already know how to open devices and replace parts—and elevate their skills to the next level. This opens the door for repair shop owners, independent technicians, and technically inclined individuals who want to differentiate themselves in a crowded market.
A legacy of excellence from France
Since its founding, the Repair Academy has grown steadily across French speaking Europe. The French-language courses, priced at € 4,500 focus on micro soldering and motherboard repair, with recent expansions into MacBook repair and screen refurbishing. The training is officially recognized by the French government as a technical diploma. This same depth of content is now being translated and adapted for English-speaking US audiences through the iFixit collaboration. And soon the Repair Company will start to offer English spoken courses in Europe as well.
Micro soldering meets Fix Hub innovation
This new partnership also supports iFixit’s recent hardware release—the Fix Hub soldering iron. Participants in the US course will be among the first to use it in a professional learning environment. The course’s structure and syllabus were designed in close coordination with iFixit and the Repair Company, integrating modern tools and real-world repair scenarios.
Sustainability at the core of the mission
The Repair Academy and iFixit share a mutual commitment to sustainability. Refurbishment, expanding lifespan of devices, waste reduction, and skill development are central to the program’s philosophy. Every student is encouraged to not only repair, but to understand the environmental impact of throwing away logic boards that could be revived with the right techniques. This alignment with circular economy principles is especially relevant in today’s mobile tech industry, where lifecycle extension is becoming a core business model.
Courses kick off in July 2025
The first US session runs from July 7th to July 19th, 2025, with further dates expected to be announced later in the year. Each course is limited in size to ensure personalized mentorship. Graduates will earn an iFixit Pro Academy certificate, lifetime access to an alumni community, and free return access to future sessions. The US$ 6,500 fee covers all instruction, tools during training, practice logic boards, and a comprehensive take-home kit. For an additional US$ 1000, students can stay at the iFixit house, with lunch and dinner included.
A new standard in repair training
The iFixit–Repair Academy collaboration is more than a training course—it’s a benchmark for how repair skills should be taught. With the support of experienced instructors like Alexandre Isaac and David Lecomte, this program combines French repair excellence with American demand for skilled labor. In an industry where board-level repair remains a niche, the partnership aims to build a new generation of micro soldering professionals who can fix what others call unfixable.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
