In just seven months since entering the U.S. market, The Repair Academy—a French-based specialist in micro soldering and board repair training—has already sold out its first American course and is preparing for a second. In this ASCDI- and ITAD-focused interview with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, CEO Alexandre Isaac shares how the Academy’s intensive two-week program equips technicians with the skills to diagnose and repair high-value electronics, from MacBook motherboards to server boards, that might otherwise be scrapped.
The upcoming October 13–25 course, held at iFixit’s Chattanooga, Tennessee facility, offers 130 hours of hands-on training. Participants work at fully equipped stations with microscopes, soldering irons, hot air tools, and DC power supplies, learning to read schematics, use diagnostic equipment, and replace components as small as a human hair. The program is designed for both aspiring entrepreneurs and ITAD professionals, with graduates earning the iFixit Pro Repair Academy Certificate—a credential that verifies they can perform real-world board repairs efficiently and to industry standards.
Isaac emphasizes the business potential, noting that repair skills can be applied from a home workspace or scaled into a commercial shop. For ITAD companies, the training represents a way to recover value from “no power” devices, keeping high-value hardware like M-series MacBook boards and networking gear in circulation instead of the waste stream. Notably, the Academy offers lifetime course retakes at no additional cost, ensuring mastery and long-term skill retention.
The Repair Academy also assists graduates in sourcing quality tools and fosters peer connections through shared housing and group learning—creating a community of professionals who often continue to collaborate. With eight different training programs already established in France, Isaac sees this as the beginning of a broader U.S. offering, including more introductory-level courses.
To learn more or register, visit therepairacademy.us.
