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- FOA
certifications:
Getting started with FOA Certification
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- First Level:
- CFOT
- CPCT
- CFospT (Fall, 2010)
- Advanced
- AFOT
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- Specialist
- CFOS
- CFxT
KSAs for CFOT and all Fiber Optics
FOA
Approved Training
FOA Approved Training Programs
Curriculum requirements For
Training Program Approval
Online References:
FOA Online Reference Textbook particularly the section Understanding Fiber Optics, the Basics
FOA Installation Tech Bulletin
Study Guides for FOA Certifications Applications
- FOA CFOT Application (new,
non-FOA School) (pdf)
Advanced/Specialist Application (direct, non-school)
- CFOT Renewal Application(pdf)
- CFOT Renewal Online
New Schools
Application information for New Schools
It's now CFOT® The FOA CFOT®
(Certified Fiber Optic Technician) is now a registered trademark. With
over 25,000 fiber optic techs holding CFOTs and the CFOT being
recognized worldwide as the foremost certification in fiber optics, the
FOA realized the value of the CFOT required trademark protection. Now
it's official!
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- All FOA "members" are "certified fiber optic technicians"
Anyone who wishes to join the FOA must prove their knowledge of fiber
optic technology and show abilities and skills in applying this
technology in their work.
- Certification
- In
today's high tech world, certification is considered proof of
professional status and is often required for jobs. The FOA was
chartered to approve schools offering training and provide
certifications as a service to the fiber optic industry. The FOA
programs are developed and maintained by experts in the fiber optic
business, most of whom have over 20 years of expereince as technicians,
installers, manufacturers and teachers of fiber optics.
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- What
is certification? Certification means you have achieved certain
performance criteria set by the certifying organization, usually
knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs), either through training or
experience. Certifications attest to your KSAs, and their value is the
recognition of those KSAs to customers, coworkers and employers.
Certification is not a license, which is a official approval of an
individual to do business in the jurisdiction issuing the license, such
as a state in the USA. Many states in the USA now require licensing for
contractors installing communications cabling. Check your local area to
determine the requirements for licensing.
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-
- The
FOA offers three levels of fiber optic certification:
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- First Level Certifications:
There
are three certifications which can be taken for first time membership
in the FOA. Any one of
these may be used for new FOA members and any one holding one of these
certifications can take the certification exams for the others if they
have appropriate experience or training for that specialty.
- CFOT®
- Certified Fiber Optic
Technician for general fiber optics applications. CFOTs have a general
knowledge in fiber optics that can be applied to almost any application
- outside plant, premises, manufacturing, etc.
- CPCT - Certified
Premises Cabling
Technician includes fiber, copper and wireless in building and campus
networks. Recommended for those working in enterprise networks (LANs)
and building security and management systems.
- CFospT
- Certified OSP Technician for outside plant fiber optic installation.
Aimed at technicians working in outside plant cabling for telecom,
CATV, security, utilities, municipal networks, etc. (In process for Fall 2010.)
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- Advanced Certifications:
- AFOT
- Advanced Fiber Optic
Technician certification is available only from FOA-approved schools
teaching extended courses. AFOT students have more in-depth knowledge
on a broad range of fiber optic topics and more hands-on labs.
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- Specialist Certifications:
- CFOS
or Certified Fiber Optic
Specialist. The specialist level, CFOs tests for the applicant's level
of knowledge of fiber optics in a broad-based exam that covers
technology, components, installation and testing.
- CFOS/S:
Specialist in splicing optical fibers, including fusion and mechanical
splicing of single fibers and ribbon/mass splicing.
CFOS/C:
Specialist in fiber optic connectors, covering all types of
adhesive/polish and prepolished/splice terminations for multimode and
singlemode fiber.
CFOS/T:
Specialist in fiber optic testing, including visual inspection, visual
tracing and fault location, insertion loss testing, OTDR testing,
return loss/reflectance, chromatic dispersion, polarization mode
dispersion and spectral attenuation.
CFOS/D:
Fiber optic network design covering how to design the route of a
network, choose components, plan the installation, set up a test plan,
and all other aspects of overseeing a fiber optic project.
CFOS/I:
Instructor certification required of all instructors at FOA Approved
training organizations. Only available to instructors teaching FOA
certification courses associated with a FOA Approved school.
- CFxT - Certified Fiber Optic
Technician for FTTx covers fiber to the home, fiber to the premises, fiber to
the curb and fiber to the business.
 Understanding
FOA Certifications
- FOA
certifications are designed to show a progression of growth in
knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) in fiber optics. All
certificants must start at the CFOT level before applying for
higher level certification, except for the CPCT (Premises Cabling,) and future OSP certification
which are available independently. That's why we usually refer to our
certificants as CFOTs.
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- At
the basic level are the CFOT, CPCT and OSP certifications that are generally
achieved through a FOA-approved training course that includes both
classroom and hands-on exercises. An alternate path to these
certifications is to have field experience, study the FOA reference
materials and take a proctored examination.
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- Advanced
fiber optic technician certification (AFOT) is the next level for CFOTs attending
schools teaching extended courses that include more detail and provide
more hands-on exercises. These schools' courses include greater depth, for example testing includes
hands-on OTDR experience, termination would require more repetitions of
terminations of several different types (e.g epoxy/polish and
preterminated/splice connectors), more splicing (fusion and mechanical)
as well as some basic fiber optic network design. Besides more
classroom and lab time, students must pass a more stringent exam.
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- Specialist
certifications are for those with extensive field experience or
students in comprehensive training programs. Those achieving specialist
certifications will have developed excellent skills in their specialty:
Fiber Optic Network Design (CFOS/D), Connectors (CFOS/C), Splicing
(CFOS/S) and Testing (CFOS/T) and their knowledge must be extensive to
allow passing the specialist exams. Instructor certification (CFOS/I)
is available only to instructors at FOA Approved schools. CFOS/I
certification can be achieved through experience, self-study or
attending a FOA Train-The-Trainer class.
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- Detailed
Requirements For Training Program Curriculum
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- Who
May Take the FOA Certification Tests?
Depending on the certification, qualified applicants may be students in
FOA approved training
courses or currently active technicians in the fiber optic
industry. More on getting started with FOA Certification.
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- What
Are the Benefits of FOA Certification ?
Like any certification program, the benefits to the members who pass
the certification tests are based on the recognition of achieving a
level of competence in the fiber optics field. For the end user looking
for competent fiber optic personnel, it is the knowledge that this
person has demonstrated knowledge and ability in the field and, perhaps
even has documented experience. For the vendor of fiber optic products,
it offers a technically- qualified pool of employees as well as
contractors to recommend to end user customers who need to find
installers for their networks.
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- What
Training Is Required To Take The Exam?
- No
specific training is required to take the exams, as that is left ot
schools and individuals. The basic knowledge required may be gained
from formal training classes in FOA
approved schools, picked up from experience in the field or
from self-study. Here are the FOA's recommendations for
training classes.
- The
exam is based on the FOA-written textbook, the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics,or the FOA Online Reference Guide particularly the section Fiber Optics, the Basics, and the FOA Installation Tech Bulletin for those who wish to use online materials to study for it themselves, inlcuding using the study guides available in the FOA Online Reference Guide. For those wanting a
formal course of study, there are many FOA-approved
schools that include the FOA CFOT in their programs.
- Note: The previous references for CFOT certification, the FOA textbook, The
Fiber Optic Technicians Manual, and the FOA-written NECA/FOA Installation Standard are still valid reference for the CFOT exam through 2010.
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- How
Is Certification Done?
For the FOA certifications, there is a formal application, documenting
the applicants meeting the requirements and a certification exam.
FOA-Approved Schools generally offer the CFOT exam at the end of their
training classes buy may allow taking it afterwards. For individuals,
arrangements can be made for taking the exam online or on paper with a local proctor. The
proctor may be a supervisor, instructor, teacher or other professional,
but may not be a co-worker or relative. Credit for hands-on training at
non-FOA-Approved schools will be by presentation of a certificate or
written confirmation from the instructor(s) that the training has been
completed. Credit for industry experience can be documented by resume.
Advanced certification will require extensive documented experience, so
members who have passed the CFOT wishing higher level certification
must keep a logbook of their experience.
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- How
Does the Program Relate to Other Associations?
We are often asked how we relate to contractor associations,
professional training programs and other organizations involved in
related areas. We feel we complement each other quite nicely. In
fact some organizations recognize and use our certifications and we
work with many to help develop theirs.
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- Does
A FOA Certification Expire?
- FOA
certifications do not expire, but unless you renew it and your FOA
membership annually, we assume you are not active in fiber optics and
note that status on our database. If we get an inquiry from a potential
customer or employer, we will report whether you are certified and
whether you are listed as active or inactive in our database.
If you are listed as inactive but have been actively involved in fiber
optics, you can be reinstated as active by simply renewing your CFOT within a reasonable period. A
renewal form is available for downloading on the FOA website,
www.thefoa.org. CFOTs who have been not been active in fiber optics for
three years or more may be required to retake the CFOT exam.
Active military personnel deployed overseas do not have to worry about
renewal during that time. We extend CFOT active status to all deployed
personnel until they have returned stateside.
If you have any questions regarding your CFOT certification, please
contact the FOA office directly.
- Certification
must be renewed annually. Renewal costs are explained on the renewal application or online.
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Getting Certified By The FOA
If you want to become FOA-Certified in fiber optics, there are several paths available. First you should understand how FOA Certifications work. Everyone who is FOA-Certified must begin with a CFOT
and can then work toward higher level certifications. To get your CFOT,
you must show extensive knowledge of fiber optics and skills in the
practices common to the field. How you do this depends on whether you
are currently working in the field or are just getting started.
Getting Started With Training
If
you are just getting started in fiber optics and have no practical
experience, you should get training and become certified through
one of the FOA-Approved Schools.
They offer courses that provide classroom training which will provide
the knowledge you need for the CFOT exam and the instruction will
include labs to develop the basic skills in fiber optic cable
preparation, termination, splicing and testing required by the CFOT.
Before taking the class, we recommend you study the CFOT-level material on the FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide. There is a special CFOT Study Guide
available for preparation for newcomers to fiber optics that is
recommended before you begin your course, which will help you get more
out of the course itself.
Each school will administer the FOA CFOT exam at the end of the course.
If You Are Experienced and Currently Working in Fiber Optics
If
you are currently working in fiber optics and have been for one year or
more, you may apply directly to the FOA for certification. You must
document your experience and pass the FOA CFOT exam. The FOA exams are
based on the two FOA references, our printed textbooks or our Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide.
Study guides are available for both references and are highly
recommended before taking the exams as the exam is comprehensive. You
may also take a CFOT course from one of the FOA-Approved schools which
will also provide skills training. The exam can be taken on paper or
online, but you must have a proctor.
Once you have a CFOT, you may apply for higher level certifications, including the Specialist levels.
When you are ready, download the application form and send it to the FOA.
Higher Level Certifications
Once you are a FOA CFOT, you can work toward higher level certifications. FOA offers CFOS Specialist Certifications
in Connectors, Splices, Testing, Design, Premises Cabling and Fiber To
The Home. To qualify for higher level certifications, you can have
field experience documented in a FOA Logbook or take a specialist
course from one of the FOA-Approved Schools. You should keep a record of your experience in a FOA Logbook which you can download here. When you are ready, you can apply for the basic CFOS exam and/or any of the specialties.
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FOA Certification