Semiconductor Upskilling Training Program
Supported by
Industry-aligned semiconductor training delivered through live virtual courses, cloud-hosted CAD/EDA access, and applied design workflows.
Description
Canada’s semiconductor industry needs thousands more skilled engineers over the next five years, with roles in IC design among the hardest to fill. The Semiconductor Upskilling Training Program is designed to close that gap and to strengthen Canada’s semiconductor workforce by providing practical, industry-aligned training in integrated circuit design, implementation, verification, and high-speed interface technologies. Courses combine live instruction, guided labs, cloud-hosted CAD/EDA access, and applied design workflows to help participants build job-ready semiconductor skills.
Developed with input from Canadian semiconductor employers and the Industry Training Advisory Group (ITAG).
Important Notes
- Training participants will have access to other proprietary and confidential information during the course; each participant is required to agree to the terms of the Access to Intellectual Property & Non-Disclosure Agreement at the time of registration.
- Cloud-hosted CAD/EDA tools provisioned by CMC Microsystems. No local installation required. Additional software license terms and conditions apply.
- Restrictions apply. As per the terms of the Cadence SOFTWARE LICENSE AND MAINTENANCE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR TIME BASED PRODUCT LICENSES, plus related Academic Use addenda (if applicable), use of the Cadence software is restricted to authorized third parties and excludes any competitors of Cadence. Compliance with the terms is required when accessing the CAD/EDA tools.
Program Highlights
Fully Virtual
Fully virtual delivery with live expert lectures and CAD lab sessions with weekly Q&A.
Cloud-hosted
Cloud-hosted CAD/EDA tools provisioned by CMC Microsystems. No local installation required.
Industry-aligned
Industry-aligned curriculum developed with the Industry Training Advisory Group and Canadian IC employers.
Certification
Certificate of completion issued by CMC Microsystems upon completion of all modules and labs, with a minimum attendance requirement of 75% for both lectures and labs.
Who the Training Is For
- New hires and early-career engineers working in Canadian semiconductor companies.
- Final-year MSc and PhD students at Canadian institutions seeking IC design job readiness.
- Industry professionals looking to upskill or transition into semiconductor design roles.
- Technical teams seeking structured training in digital IC design, verification, physical design, and high-speed interfaces.
Fall 2026 Cohort – Registration Now Open
Three courses are available for Fall 2026. Each course runs over 8 weeks, with weekly lecture and lab schedules. Select a course below to view the full curriculum. Register now – spaces are limited.
RTL, Synthesis & Verification
Front-end digital design, RTL coding, synthesis, simulation, and verification workflows using professional EDA tools.
Lecture
OCT–NOV
Friday
13:00-15:00
Lab
OCT–NOV
Friday
18:00-19:00
Digital IC Physical Design
Back-end ASIC implementation, floorplanning, placement, routing, timing closure, and physical signoff.
Lecture
SEPT–OCT
Wednesday
13:00-15:00
Lab
SEPT–OCT
Monday
13:00-14:00
High-Speed SerDes Design
Advanced high-speed serial link design, TX/RX circuits, equalization (FFE, CTLE, DFE), CDR, and signal integrity for >200 Gbps links.
Lecture
SEPT–OCT
Thursday
13:00-15:00
Lab
SEPT–OCT
Tuesday
14:00-15:00
Discounts Available
Group Registration
Save 10% for a group of 2–4
Save 15% for a group of 5 or more
For participants from the same organization.
The discount is applied automatically at checkout.
Multi-Course Registration
Save 10% when registering for 2 courses
Save 15% when registering for 3 courses
Please let us know your course selection
Future Courses
Additional semiconductor upskilling courses are being planned for future cohorts.
Design Verification
Structured design verification methodologies, SystemVerilog, UVM basics, and coverage-driven verification for digital IC teams.
FPGA Design and Verification
FPGA design flows, constraint management, IP integration, and verification techniques for programmable logic platforms.
Analog and Mixed-Signal IC Design
Fundamentals of analog and mixed-signal circuit design, including amplifiers, data converters, and interface circuits for system-on-chip integration.
Eligibility Requirement
The Fall 2026 cohort is open to participants based in Canada. Eligibility will be confirmed before enrollment is finalized. If participants are unsure whether they qualify, they should contact CMC Microsystems before registering.
Common Program Details
Duration
8 weeks
Live delivery
8 lectures and 8 lab sessions, 2 hours each.
Format
Fully virtual, with live instruction, lab support, and Q&A.
CAD/EDA access
Cloud-hosted tools provided by CMC Microsystems. No local installation required.
Lab recordings
Available for 3 months after the cohort.
Certificate
Issued by CMC Microsystems upon completion of all modules and labs.
Contact
If you have any questions about the program, course content, registration, eligibility, or available discounts, please contact us at [email protected].
