About this module
Level 1 made you a careful parts-changer. Level 2 makes you a repairer who can find out why a phone is dead, and who customers, shops and the law can trust.
Who it is for. People who have finished Phone and Small Electronics Repair (Level 1), or who can show the same skills. National Proficiency II covers varied work, mostly routine, under limited supervision. Bench work suits wheelchair users, deaf trainees and people with low vision who have good magnification.
CTVET status. In 2023 the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and CTVET agreed to provide competency-based training in consumer electronics at National Proficiency I and II. The NP II course is an eight-month programme covering phones, air conditioners, computers and refrigerators, with ICT and entrepreneurship. Its official unit list was not found. This module is not that curriculum. Ask CTVET or the TVET Voucher Project office about the formal route.
Bridge from Level 1: what you already know
- Safety with batteries, chargers, solder, static and alcohol
- Your tool kit and the multimeter
- Asking, looking, testing and writing the fault on a job ticket
- Cleaning a charging port; replacing a battery and a screen
- The water-damage rule: rice does not work
- Solar lamps and small chargers
- Customer data trust; stolen and fake phones; job tickets and warranties
- Choosing a location; STMA fees; WhatsApp Business; pricing a repair; records
Level 1 did not cover board-level diagnosis, micro-soldering, software flashing, or hiring and partnering. Level 2 covers all of these. Unlocking phones you cannot prove belong to the customer, and changing IMEI numbers, remain refused at every level.
How the module works
Each unit has learning outcomes, performance criteria, the range and the evidence your assessor needs. You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent. About 70% of the time is practical, following CTVET's Oil Palm programme split of about 30% school and 70% workplace.
Unit 1 · Work safely at board level
Small parts and hot air bring new dangers: fumes, burns, and batteries you cannot see until the phone is open.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Control fumes and heat | works with extraction, eye protection and a parked iron or hot-air gun |
| 1.2 Handle swollen batteries | isolates swollen batteries without pressing or puncturing |
| 1.3 Prevent damage by static | wears a wrist strap and uses an anti-static mat on boards |
Range. The training bench and scrap boards. Evidence. Observation every session; oral questions.
Hot air, solder and fume
Hot-air rework removes faulty small parts, adds missing ones and fixes bad joints. Lead-free solder melts at a higher temperature than leaded solder. Warming the board first lowers the damage risk. Use fume extraction near the work and do not work with your face over the joint. Solder can contain lead, and flux vapour is an irritant. Wash your hands before you eat. Keep alcohol, flux and the hot-air gun apart.
Swollen batteries
Do not puncture or press a swollen battery; it can vent gas or catch fire. Keep it away from heat in a metal container of sand with an extinguisher near. Never put lithium batteries in the bin: take them to an e-waste or hazardous-waste facility.
Fire class and water. One source treats battery fires as Class B and says water may be used if no extinguisher is available. Check this with the Ghana National Fire Service before you teach it to a customer. In the workshop, use your extinguisher and sand as Level 1 taught.
Microscopes and eyes
Phone boards are tiny. A microscope is called indispensable for micro-soldering. Take a break every 30 minutes, keep good light, and stop if your eyes or neck hurt.
Safe rework bench
- Set up extraction, a mat, a strap, a sand box and your iron or hot-air gun in their stands.
- Check the bench against the safety list. Your partner signs it.
- Isolate a (scrap) swollen battery in the sand box. Label it.
Workshop check
Visit a repair stand. List three safety improvements you would make.
Unit 2 · Find the fault on the board
A dead phone is not a dead end. The power supply tells you what the board is doing.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 2.1 Use a bench power supply | reads voltage and current and explains what they mean |
| 2.2 Find a short | locates a shorted part by heat or measurement |
| 2.3 Think before replacing | tests small parts before blaming an expensive chip |
Range. Scrap boards with known faults. Evidence. Diagnosis sheets; oral questions.
Why use a bench power supply?
A bench supply on the battery line shows current as well as voltage. A short circuit can be spotted without testing every part. You can also see whether the phone tries to start and then stops, because the current rises and falls. USB-C chargers use special power rules, and putting voltage in the wrong place is dangerous if you do not understand them. Start with a low current limit.
A case to learn from
An iPhone XR that would not turn on drew about 1 amp on the DC supply, which was read as a possible short on a main power line. The technicians found the hot spot by feel and by rosin: rosin on the board melts over the part that overheats. A thermal camera does the same job. The fault was a shorted capacitor on the speaker-amplifier boost line. They checked the small capacitors first, using a boardview tool, rather than replacing the amplifier chip. Removing the capacitor brought the current back to normal.
One case, not a rule. The 1 A figure is from one iPhone case. Do not use it as a threshold for other phones. Compare each phone with a working one of the same model.
Diagnosis steps
- Ask the customer what happened (drop, water, charger, update).
- Inspect: damage, corrosion, missing parts, a swollen battery.
- Connect the bench supply (low current limit). Note the voltage and current.
- No current: look for a broken connector, a dead battery, a blown fuse or a damaged charging line.
- High current at once: suspect a short. Look for heat, using a finger with care, rosin or a thermal camera.
- Current jumps and drops: the phone is trying to start and failing; suspect software or a part that fails under load.
- Test the small parts near the heat first; replace the chip last.
- Write everything on the ticket, with the readings.
What does it mean?
A scrap board draws 0.00 A. A second draws 1.2 A as soon as power is applied and warms near one capacitor. A third swings between 0.04 A and 0.3 A every second. Say what you suspect in each case and what you do next.
Board diagnosis
- Power three scrap boards on a bench supply (low current limit). Record voltage and current.
- Find the hot spot on a shorted board using rosin or a thermal camera.
- Check nearby capacitors with a meter before changing anything.
- Write a diagnosis sheet for each board.
Read the story
Read the REWA XR case in the sources and write five lines about the steps the technicians followed.
Unit 3 · Rework small parts and replace advanced parts
Small parts, small hands, steady patience. Practise on scrap until the joints are clean.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 3.1 Rework small parts | removes and refits a small part with hot air and an iron |
| 3.2 Repair connectors | refits a board connector without lifting pads |
| 3.3 Replace advanced parts | replaces a charging port, back glass or camera on a practice phone |
Range. Scrap boards and phones. Evidence. Reworked boards; replaced parts that work.
The rework method
- Look and photograph the part before you move it; note which way it faces.
- Warm the board gently, then heat the part with hot air, moving the nozzle.
- Flux helps solder flow.
- Lift the part with tweezers when the solder flows; clean the pads with wick.
- Place the new part, flux, heat until it settles, and let it cool.
- Check with the microscope and the meter. Test the phone.
No hot-air numbers here. Exact temperatures and airflow depend on the part, the board, the solder and the machine, and a trustworthy source for settings was not found. What solder makers do publish is melting points: common lead-free solder (SAC305) melts at about 217–220°C, and its maker gives a reflow peak of 240–250°C; old-style 63/37 tin-lead solder melts at 183°C. So lead-free joints need more heat than leaded ones. These are melting points of the solder, not settings for your station. Start low, read the station maker's guide and the part's datasheet, and keep notes. Your trainer will set safe starting settings on your bench.
Connectors and flex cables
Connectors can lift their pads if you force them. Release the latch, slide the flex straight out and refit it flat. Use plastic tools. If a pad lifts, stop and ask your trainer.
Advanced parts
Charging ports, back glass, cameras and speakers differ for each model. Follow the iFixit guide or the maker's guide for the exact model. Keep screws in order, check every function before closing, and take before-and-after photos. (iFixit pages on these repairs were not checked for this edition.)
Rework practice
- Remove and refit three small parts on a scrap board.
- Check each joint under the microscope; redo any bad joint.
- Replace a charging port on a practice phone and test charging.
- Replace a back glass or camera and test every function.
Joint review
Look at three solder joints on an old board with a magnifier. Draw a good joint and a bad joint.
Unit 4 · Liquid damage and software repair
Liquid damage is a race against corrosion. Software repair is a test of honesty.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 4.1 Clean liquid damage | cleans corrosion from a board with alcohol and a soft brush |
| 4.2 Reflash stock software | reflashes official stock software on a training phone |
| 4.3 Respect locks | explains why locks are only helped with proof of ownership |
Range. Scrap boards and training phones. Evidence. Cleaned boards; flash record; role play.
Cleaning liquid damage
Take out the battery first and do not power the phone on. For an iPhone, iFixit's guide soaks the logic board in isopropyl alcohol to loosen the residue, then brushes visible corrosion with a soft brush, including connectors, flex ends, battery contacts and chips. Everything must dry completely before reassembly. Lifting the board shields can damage small parts, and the screen must be wiped, not soaked.
Ultrasonic cleaning. Many technicians run a board in an ultrasonic cleaner for several minutes with 90%+ alcohol. This is commonly taught but was not confirmed on a page read for this edition. Which parts must stay out of the bath (speakers, microphones, some connectors) must be checked with the machine maker. Ask your trainer first.
Flashing stock software
Samsung's Odin tool for Windows flashes stock firmware files with the phone in Download Mode. Stock firmware does not need an unlocked bootloader. Make sure the firmware is for the exact model and region, and use only official or trusted sources. This module did not verify the official flashing methods for MediaTek and Qualcomm phones; ask your trainer. Always back up first, and tell the customer data may be lost.
Locks and ownership
- Android: after a reset, only the original Google Account or screen lock gets you in. If you cannot provide it at setup, you cannot use the phone.
- iPhone: Activation Lock stops anyone else using a lost or stolen phone. Only the owner's Apple Account can remove it.
- A "Hello" screen is fine. "iPhone Locked to Owner" means: do not accept it.
The shop rule. Help only with the customer's own account and proof of ownership. If the customer cannot sign in, send them to Google or Apple account recovery. Refuse to remove a lock from any phone the customer cannot prove is theirs. This module does not teach bypass methods. Helping a thief makes you part of the crime.
Clean and flash
- Clean a corroded scrap board with alcohol and a soft brush. Dry fully. Photograph before and after.
- Back up and reflash stock software on a training phone. Fill in a flash record: model, version, date, result.
- Role play: a customer asks you to unlock a phone and cannot prove it is theirs. Refuse politely and offer the account-recovery route.
Ask about locks
Ask three phone owners if they know their Google or Apple account password. Explain why it matters.
Unit 5 · The law, data and your records
The more you can do with phones, the more careful the law expects you to be.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 5.1 Protect data | explains the data rules and the duty to register |
| 5.2 Refuse illegal work | refuses IMEI changes and unauthorised access |
| 5.3 Dispose of e-waste legally | keeps boards and batteries sealed for lawful disposal |
| 5.4 Register and keep records | lists the registrations a small shop needs |
Range. A small repair business. Evidence. Role plays; registration checklist.
Data and privacy
Ghana's Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) rests on eight principles, including lawfulness, security safeguards and the right of people to see their data. A repairer who keeps customers' names, numbers and tickets is likely a data controller. Controllers must register with the Data Protection Commission, and failing to do so can lead to a fine or prison. Section 27(1) of the Act says a data controller who intends to process personal data shall register, and being a one-person business does not remove that duty; the Commission's FAQ lists a small-business registration fee of GH¢156. Confirm the current fee with the Commission and pay only an amount shown on its own portal or invoice.
Unauthorised access
The Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) makes unauthorised access to or interception of an electronic record an offence with a heavy fine or prison; the exact section was not verified. Never open a customer's accounts, chats or mobile money, and never access a phone you do not own without the owner's permission.
IMEI and stolen phones
In March 2026 the National Communications Authority announced a Central Equipment Identity Register; stolen or illegal phones are to be blocked on all networks. It was announced; its start date was not confirmed, so check the NCA site. No specific Ghana penalty for IMEI tampering was found. Never change an IMEI. Check the IMEI of every phone you buy or fix and keep it on the ticket.
E-waste
Ghana's Environmental Protection Act 2025 (Act 1124) replaced the 1994 law and consolidated Act 917 on hazardous and electronic waste. Whether Act 917's levy on imported electronics continues was not verified. Keep old boards and batteries in sealed, labelled boxes and ask the EPA Western Regional office before disposal. Never burn them. The EPA's e-waste project runs a GH-Waste app for e-waste collection and lists the number 050 130 1567; keep a receipt each time you hand over e-waste.
Registering and tax
- A sole proprietor registers a business name at the Office of the Registrar of Companies. The standard fee is GH¢130, and GH¢70 a year to renew; the extra GH¢520 on the schedule is for the optional Prestige/VIP service, not the normal registration.
- The Ghana Revenue Authority's Modified Taxation Scheme began on 1 July 2025 for small informal businesses: a fixed tax for turnover up to GH¢20,000 and a 3% presumptive tax above that and under GH¢750,000.
- The Ghana Card number serves as an individual's tax number.
- Pay your Assembly fee (Level 1). A shop also needs a yearly Business Operating Permit from the Metropolitan, Municipal or District Assembly. Typical papers are the business-name certificate, a tax number, a letter or lease for the premises and the permit form and fee; fees differ by Assembly. This comes from a summary supplied by the author, so confirm the list and fee at the STMA office.
- Wiring is a separate licence. Indoor electrical wiring work needs certification as an Energy Commission Certified Electrical Wiring Professional under L.I. 2008. A shop that only repairs phones, laptops, TVs and chargers, and installs no building wiring, generally does not (same supplied summary; ask the Energy Commission).
- VAT: a supplied summary said VAT is compulsory above GH¢200,000 a year at 12.5%. Those figures are out of date: from January 2026 VAT is 20% in total, the goods threshold is GH¢750,000, and for services there is no turnover threshold. Ask GRA whether and when your repair shop must register.
Which rule?
A customer asks you to (1) change the IMEI so the phone works on the network, (2) look through a phone's photos to "check it works", (3) fix a phone and keep the customer's contacts "just in case", (4) burn a dead board to get at the copper. What do you say?
Register yourself
- Write a one-page checklist of what a small repair shop must register and pay: business name, Assembly permit, tax, data protection.
- Phone or visit one agency (ORC, GRA or the Data Protection Commission) and ask one question; write the answer.
CEIR check
Visit the NCA website and find out whether the CEIR is live. Write what you found.
Unit 6 · Location, parts, partners and business ideas
The right spot, the right parts and the right partners multiply what your hands can do.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 6.1 Choose and compare sites | compares two sites on footfall, competition and power |
| 6.2 Source parts | lists parts sources with prices and delivery times |
| 6.3 Plan income lines | plans at least three extra income lines |
Range. Real or planned business sites. Evidence. Site comparison; parts price list; business plan.
Location settings that give good returns
- Markets, lorry stations and busy junctions with many phone users
- Near schools, colleges and offices
- Near a parts supplier or reliable delivery
- Reliable power, with a plan for outages (inverter or solar)
- A lockable, well-lit kiosk
- Level ground and a wide door for wheelchair users
Remember the Level 1 fee table (STMA 2025): phones and accessories assembly and repair, Category A, GH¢1,720 a year; Category B, GH¢350. Takoradi Market Circle's rebuild stalled in 2026, so check the status before choosing it.
Parts and prices
Where to buy parts in Takoradi was not found. Spare-parts markets exist in Accra, but no verified source was found for phone-part dealers there or in Takoradi, or for import duty on parts. Your homework is to find three suppliers, ask their prices and delivery times, and write them in a table.
Advertised prices on Jiji Ghana, seen 7 October 2026 (asking prices, no listing date shown, may change):
| Item | Advertised price |
|---|---|
| Hot-air rework stations | GH¢650–4,500 |
| 4-in-1 station (blower, supply, separator, iron) | GH¢1,600 |
| Temperature-controlled soldering iron | GH¢1,000–1,050 |
| Magnifier with stand | GH¢170 |
| Ultrasonic cleaner (one listing, check it is true ultrasonic) | GH¢1,850 |
Replacement screens: budget under GH¢180, mid-range GH¢180–560, premium GH¢560–1,500+. Microscope, bench supply and screwdriver kit prices were not verified.
Working with a service brand
Carlcare is the official after-sales brand for TECNO, Infinix, itel, Oraimo and Syinix. Whether a Takoradi centre exists, or any partner programme for independent shops, was not verified. Ask Carlcare directly. Never claim to be an authorised repairer unless you are.
Business ideas and ingenuity
- Specialise: board-level repairs that other shops send to you (and pay you for)
- Refurbish and resell phones, only with proof of ownership
- Repair laptops, TVs, speakers and solar lamps
- Contracts to look after a school's or company's phones
- Phone, screen-guard and case fitting; charging during outages
- Add mobile money (see the Digital Skills and Mobile Money manuals)
- Train apprentices and charge a fee
Cost a bench
You need a hot-air station (GH¢1,500), an iron (GH¢1,000), a magnifier (GH¢170), flux and solder (GH¢150). What is the total? If you charge GH¢60 extra per board job, how many jobs repay the kit?
Compare and source
- Count passers-by and nearby repairers at two sites for 15 minutes each. Score both sites.
- Find three parts suppliers and fill in a table of prices and delivery times.
- Write a one-page plan: your special service, your site and your three extra income lines.
Ten shops
Visit five repair shops. Ask what repairs they send away, and what they would pay someone to do on their boards.
Unit 7 · Market, price, hire and grow
A good name, a fair price and honest records turn a stand into a business.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 7.1 Market a specialist service | sets up a catalogue, sign and review plan |
| 7.2 Price board-level work | prices a job with parts, time, risk and profit |
| 7.3 Manage an apprentice and records | writes tasks, rules and a record book |
Range. The trainee's planned business. Evidence. Catalogue; price list; apprentice plan; record book.
Marketing
- WhatsApp Business: add items with a picture, price and description in the catalogue. The source is from 2019, so check the menu names in the current app.
- Google Business Profile: free; puts you on Maps and Search. (Verification steps were not checked for this module.)
- Post before-and-after photos (never showing customer data), a clear sign, a price list, and a warranty slip for each job.
- Ask happy customers for a review and give a small discount for referrals.
- Tell other shops that you do board-level work for them; trade referrals can be your best customers.
Pricing risky work
Price = parts + your time + a share of rent and power + a risk allowance + profit
Board work may fail, so agree the price in writing, charge a diagnosis fee that is kept if the customer declines, and tell the customer the risk before you start.
Price a board repair
Parts GH¢40, your time 2 hours at GH¢60 an hour, rent and power GH¢15, risk allowance GH¢25. Add a 40% margin on cost. (1) Total cost? (2) Price?
Hiring and teaching an apprentice
- Write a simple agreement: tasks, hours, pay or training fee, and rules
- Start with safe tasks: sorting parts, cleaning, testing
- Teach safety first, then supervised rework on scrap
- Never let an apprentice work on a customer's board alone
- Keep a log of what they have learned
- Pay fairly; remember the Labour Act duties from Workplace Safety Level 2
Records
Keep a record book of every job: date, customer, IMEI, fault, readings, parts cost, price, deposit and balance. Count your money weekly and set aside the Assembly fee and tax.
Accessibility
Workshop adjustments help: a bench at wheelchair height with knee space, magnification and bright light for low vision, written tickets and flashing indicators for deaf technicians. These are the author's suggestions; no verified guide to repair roles for people with disabilities was found. Ghana's Persons with Disability Act 2006 is reported to give employers a tax rebate for employing disabled people and to require employers to provide working tools, though these rules are not always put into practice. The Assemblies' disability fund rose to 5% in 2026; ask your Assembly about help with tools.
Launch a specialist service
- Set up a catalogue with at least five board-level services and prices.
- Write an apprentice agreement and a first-month training plan.
- Start a record book with ten sample jobs.
- Present your plan to the class.
First trade customer
Visit one repair shop and offer to take their dead boards for a trial. Write what they said.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bench power supply | A power source that shows voltage and current, used to test boards |
| Short circuit | A fault where current flows where it should not |
| Rosin | A sticky flux that melts over a hot spot |
| Hot-air rework | Heating a part with moving hot air to remove or fit it |
| SMD | A small part soldered on the surface of a board |
| Flux | A cleaning chemical that helps solder flow |
| Boardview | A drawing that shows where parts sit on a board |
| Firmware | The phone's built-in software |
| Activation Lock / FRP | Locks that tie a phone to its owner's account |
| IMEI | The phone's identity number |
| CEIR | The planned national register of phone identities |
| Data controller | A person who decides how personal data is used |
Logbook
Copy these pages into an exercise book. Your logbook is part of your assessment evidence.
- Unit 1: safe bench checklist; battery isolation record
- Unit 2: diagnosis sheets with readings
- Unit 3: rework log with photos; replaced parts record
- Unit 4: liquid-damage photos; flash record; role-play notes
- Unit 5: registration checklist; agency question and answer
- Unit 6: site comparison; parts price table; business plan
- Unit 7: catalogue; apprentice plan; record book sample
- Every homework, dated
Self-check quiz
- Why use a bench power supply instead of just a charger?
- What does it mean if a board draws high current at once?
- In the XR case, which parts did the technicians check before the chip?
- What do you do before moving a small part?
- Why not publish one hot-air temperature for all jobs?
- What do you do first with a wet phone board?
- Can you remove an Activation Lock for a customer who cannot prove ownership?
- What must a data controller do under Act 843?
- May you ever change an IMEI?
- How should you store old boards and batteries?
- Why charge a diagnosis fee for board work?
- What must you do before letting an apprentice touch a board?
Further reading and sources
Best next reads: iFixit's free guides for each phone model; your bench supply's manual; the Data Protection Commission and NCA websites; the hub's Digital Skills and Mobile Money manuals.
What this module does not cover: unlocking or IMEI changes (illegal and refused), phone-brand official flashing methods for MediaTek and Qualcomm (not verified), hot-air temperatures (not given), laptops and TVs, and Takoradi parts suppliers and repair prices (not found; ask local shops).
Every source used in this manual is listed, with links, in the Teacher Copy.