-
KSAs for Fiber Optic Technicians
(Knowledge, Skills, Abilities)
- The
ability to perform any job requires certain abilities,
knowledge and
skills, commonly referred to as “KSAs.” For the fiber optic
technician,
these KSAs have been determined from over 30 years of
experience in
actual installations and training. The FOA has developed
this list to
provide training organizations and instructors a list of
subjects that
should be included in a basic training curriculum for CFOT
certification. For those working in the field who wish to
become CFOT
certified, it is also a list of relevant topics for study,
whether
using the FOA textbooks,
the FOA Online
Reference Guide or other sources.
This is for technicians and is not necessarily a guide for college level curriculum in science or engineering. Missing here are the theoretical aspects necessary, for example optics, for designing optical fibers and other components. College level classes will need to cover vastly more material including appropriate math and physics than is appropriate for the typical fiber optic technician.
Certifications: CFOT, CPCT (Premises), Outside Plant
KSA Requirements For FOA CFOT Certification
These basic KSAs apply to all advanced and specialist certifications also, with differences only in depth of knowledge and skills expected at that level.
- Knowledge
- Fiber Optic Jargon
- Fiber optic terms
- Metric System
- Fiber Optic Communications Systems
- How communications systems use light to transfer information
- Components and their functions in a datalink
- Sources: LED, Laser (FP, DFB, VCSEL)
- Detectors (photodiode, APD; Si, Ge, InGaAs)
- What determines how well a datalink transmits data
- Optical Fiber
- Types of optical fiber
- Step index MM , graded index MM, SM, specialty fibers
- Basic specifications that affect transmission
- Attenuation, dispersion
- Choosing the appropriate fiber for the system
- Fiber Optic Cable
- Types of cables and their applications
- Tight buffer (simplex, zipcord, distribution, breakout)
- Loose tube (loose tube, ribbon)
- Specialty (OPGW, underwater)
- Relevant specifications for applications
- Water blocking, pulling strength, armoring, etc.
- Choosing the proper cable for application
- Termination and Splicing
- Applications, appropriate uses
- Relevant performance
- Loss, reflectance, strength
- Splicing processes
- Mechanical
- Fusion
- Mass (ribbon) fusion
- Hardware
- Termination
- Connector types
- ST, SC, LC, MTP, legacy connectors, etc.
- Termination processes
- Adhesive (epoxy, anaerobic, HotMelt)
- Prepolished splice
- Prefab systems
- Hardware
- Testing
- Microscope inspection
- Visual tracing and fault location
- Optical Power Testing
- Insertion loss testing
- OTDR testing
- Long haul SM testing for CD and PMD
- Fiber Optic Network Design
- Evaluating communications system requirements
- Designing the proper cable plant
- Layout
- Choosing components
- Loss budgets
- Documentation
- Fiber Optic Installation
- Evaluating needs based on cable plant design
- Planning for the installation
- Safety
- Eye Safety
- Tool safety
- Chemical safety
- Disposal of materials
- Basic knowledge of Codes, standards, and Regulations
- Performing Doing the installation
- Documenting the cable plant
- Skills
- Fiber Optic Cable
- Attaching pulling eye and rope to a cable
- Pulling cable
- Preparing cable for splicing or termination
- Spicing
- Preparing cable for splicing
- Mechanical splicing
- Fusion splicing
- Termination
- Identifying connectors
- Preparing cables for termination
- Installing connectors
- Inspecting connectors
- Testing
- Microscope inspection
- Visual tracing and fault location
- Power Measurements
- Insertion loss testing
- OTDR testing
- Abilities
- Good eyesight with color rendition
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Use of hand and power tools
- Analytical skills
- Follow directions
- Patience
- Work in adverse conditions
- And more than a little curiosity doesn’t hurt!
The FOA CPCT Premises Cabling Certification requires knowledge and skills in the installation of both copper and fiber optic cabling plus cabling for wireless. As a result, the breadth of knowledge and skills for this certification is greater than many other certifications, but the depth of the knowledge is somewhat less. These KSAs are covered in depth as the CPCT can be taught independent of the CFOT for those whose work is only in premises cabling applications.
| Knowledge | Cabling Systems | Copper Cabling | Fiber Optic Cabline | Wireless |
| Overview | What
are cabling systems Where are they used |
Types of
copper cabling systems Where they are used Legacy systems |
Where is
fiber used and why What applications does it support |
Why use
wireless How does it fit into a structured cabling system |
| Jargon | Cabling systems jargon and standards | Copper
cabling systems jargon and standards |
Fiber optic cabling systems jargon and standards | Wireless systems jargon and standards |
| Communications Systems | What types of communications systems use structured cabling | How
do communications systems use copper cabling Power over Ethernet |
How do communications systems use fiber optic cabling | How do communications systems use wireless |
| Cabling | Generic use of cabling | Types of copper cabling used in premises cabling systems | Types of fiber optic cabling used in premises cabling systems | Types of cabling used by wireless in premises cabling systems |
| Termination and Splicing | Where
connectors and punch-downs are used Relevant performance specifications Hardware needed (e.g. patch panels, patchcords, etc.) |
Where
connectors and splices are used Types of connectors and splices and applications Relevant performance specifications Hardware needed (e.g. patch panels, patchcords, etc.) |
Relevant cabling to connect wireless access points | |
| Testing | Test
requirements for UTP cable certification or
verification Troubleshooting |
Microscope
inspection Visual tracing and fault location Optical Power Insertion loss testing OTDR testing Troubleshooting |
||
| Design | Evaluating
communications system requirements Designing the proper cable plant Layout Choosing components Loss budgets Documentation |
As specific for copper cabling | As specific for fiber optic cabling | As specific for cabling for wireless and location of wireless access points |
| Installation | Evaluating
needs based on cable plant design Planning for the installation Safety Eye Safety Tool safety Chemical safety Disposal of materials Basic knowledge of Codes, standards, and Regulations Performing the installation (including grounding and bonding, firestopping, etc.) |
As specific for copper cabling | As specific for fiber optic cabling | As specific for cabling for wireless and wireless access points |
| Skills | Copper
Cable Pulling cable Placing cable in trays, J-hooks, etc. Preparing cable for splicing or termination Punchdowns Preparing cable for punchdowns Color codes Maintaining performance at punchdowns Termination Preparing cables for termination Installing connectors Maintaining performance at connectors Testing Certification testing Verification Testing TDR testing |
Fiber
Optic Cable Attaching pulling eye and rope to a cable Pulling cable Preparing cable for splicing or termination Spicing Preparing cable for splicing Mechanical splicing Fusion splicing Termination Identifying connectors Preparing cables for termination Installing connectors Inspecting connectors Testing Microscope inspection Visual tracing and fault location Optical Power Insertion loss testing OTDR testing |
Wireless
AP Cabling (Fiber or copper as appropriate) |
|
| Abilities | Good
eyesight with color rendition Good hand-eye coordination Be able to use hand and power tools Analytical skills Follow directions Patience Work in adverse conditions |
The FOA has an Outside Plant Cabling Specialist Certification (CFospT) and these are the KSAs. OSP installation requires knowledge and skills in the installation of fiber optic cabling underground, aerial and undersea. As a result, the breadth of knowledge and skills for this certification is greater than other other certifications, but the depth of the knowledge is somewhat less.
Knowledge
Fiber Optic Jargon
Fiber optic terms
Metric System
Fiber Optic Communications Systems
How communications systems use light to transfer information
OSP Systems: Telco including wireless antennas, CATV, Utility, Municipal networks, etc.
Components and their functions in a datalink
Sources: LED, Laser (FP, DFB, VCSEL)
Detectors (photodiode, APD; Si, Ge, InGaAs)
What determines how well a datalink transmits data
Optical Fiber
Types of optical fiber
SI MM , GI MM, SM
Basic specifications that affect transmission
Attenuation, dispersion
Choosing the appropriate fiber for the system
Fiber Optic Cable
Types of cables and their applications
Tight buffer (simplex, zipcord, distribution, breakout)
Loose tube (loose tube, ribbon)
Specialty (OPGW, ADSS, Sky Span, underwater, air blown tubing systems and cable, flat saw-groove cable and conduit)
Relevant specifications for applications
Water blocking, Types of Water Blocking. Advantages, pulling strength, armoring, Types of Armoring, etc. Reverse Oscillating Lay (ROL)
Choosing the proper cable for application
Conduit, innerduct, cable pullers, pulling eyes, lubricants, etc.
Termination and Splicing
Uses
Relevant performance
Loss, reflectance, strength
Splicing processes
Mechanical
Fusion
Mass (ribbon) fusion
Hardware, closures
Fitting splices in trays, trays in closures, sealing, Pressure testing, Installing on Poles,
Installing and racking cable in manholes Maintenance holes
Termination
Connector types
ST, SC, LC, MTP, etc.
Termination processes
Spliced-on pigtails
Adhesive (epoxy, anaerobic, HotMelt)
Prepolished splice
Prefab systems
Hardware
Testing
Microscope inspection
Visual tracing and fault location
Fiber identification
Optical power testing
Insertion loss testing
OTDR testing, setup for long cables
Long haul SM testing for CD and PMD
Fiber Optic Network Design
Evaluating communications system requirements
Aerial, direct buried, pulled in conduit, submarine and other installations
Designing the proper cable plant
Layout
Choosing components
Loss budgets
Documentation
Fiber Optic Installation
Evaluating needs based on cable plant design
Planning for the installation
Safety (OSHA Requirements)
Eye Safety
Tool safety
Chemical safety
Disposal of materials
Basic knowledge of Codes, standards, and Regulations
Installation tools and equipment: cable pullers, plows, bucket trucks, splicing trailers, Directional Boring Equipment, Concrete saws and drills, etc.
Performing the installation
Documenting the cable plant
Skills
General Installation
Using ladders, bucket trucks, etc. Safe installation distances,
Climbing poles and Towers for aerial installation
Fiber Optic Cable
Attaching pulling eye and rope to a cable STRENGTH MEMBER
Pulling cable
Figure 8 Pulls
Preparing cable for splicing or termination (stripping cable and fiber)
Spicing
Preparing cable for splicing
Mechanical splicing
Fusion splicing
Fitting splices in trays, trays in closures, sealing
Termination
Identifying connectors
Preparing cables for termination
Breakout kits on loose tube cable
Installing connectors
Inspecting connectors
Protection Of Cable
In Transit
In Storage
At the Work Site
Under Blasting Conditions
Vibration Protection
Grounding
Cables with metallic armor
Enclosures
Hardware on poles, etc
Distribution buildings
Maintenance hole ladders, trays etc
Testing
Microscope inspection
Visual tracing and fault location
Insertion loss testing
OTDR testing and troubleshooting
PMD Testing
CD Testing
Abilities
Good eyesight with color rendition
Good hand-eye coordination
Be able to use hand and power tools
Analytical skills
Follow directions
Patience - GOOD, Very Important
Work in adverse conditions
- To get started on FOA certification:
Use the FOA Study Guides to prepare for the CFOT Exam
- Find an FOA-Approved school
- Online self-study references for the CFOT: the FOA Online Reference Textbook particularly the section Understanding Fiber Optics, the Basics, and the CFOT Study Guide
- More on FOA certifications