- The
FOA has a specialist certification program covering “Fiber
Optic Network Design” designated CFOS/D. This
 certification covers the
particulars of how fiber optic networks are designed within the context
of complete communications systems or construction projects. It is
intended for contractors, installers, architects and engineers, project
managers and all others who are involved with projects that include
fiber optics.
Fiber optic networks are widely used, not just for
telecom, but CATV, computer LANs, cellular phones, municipal wireless,
security surveillance systems, metropolitan data, intelligent highways,
fiber to the home, or practically every communications network. The FOA
has certified almost 24,000 fiber optic technicians in the last decade
who have been instrumental in the explosive expansion of fiber optic
network usage. Many of those technicians have also been designers of
the networks they install, and they have asked the FOA to create
standards for fiber optic network design and offer a specialist
certification in the field.
The FOA Certification is focused on the
unique aspects of fiber optic network design, assuming the fiber optic
designer works with project managers overseeing the complete project
design. Prerequisites for the certification include having a FOA CFOT
(Certified Fiber Optic Technician) certification to ensure knowledge
and experience in fiber optic technology and installation.
The
certification will be offered through many of the 200+ FOA-approved
schools which will provide appropriate training. Industry professionals
with appropriate experience may apply directly to The FOA.
Here are some more details:
What is it?
A certification for those interested in designing fiber optic networks
or cable plants, whether they be outside plant or premises, for
practically any application.
Who can qualify for this certification?
We have created the CFOS/D certification for those students who already
have their CFOTs and generally will take a design course taught at an
FOA-approved school.
Who can teach this specialty?
Any FOA-certified instructor at any FOA-approved school may teach a
course for the FOA CFOS/D certification. To facilitate creating the
course, the FOA has created a 95 slide PowerPoint presentation with
annotation that pulls together information from the textbook The Fiber
Optic Technicians Manual and the NECA/FOA-301 Fiber Optic Installation
Standard and an Instructor’s Guide. Both are available for downloading
on the FOA schools download site. Much of the material should already
be known to the typical instructor and a quick study of the materials
should prepare the instructors for teaching such a course.
Are other curriculum materials used?
Additional materials are expected to be used during a course – mostly
manufacturers spec sheets and application notes. Feel free to include
materials from manufacturers of your choice. We’ll solicit materials
and post links on a website shortly.
How long should a design certification course last?
A typical course will be 2-3 days long, with about half the time spent
designing hypothetical cable plants. Here is where experienced
instructors can use their personal experience to create unique case
studies.
What does the CFOS/D exam cover?
Much of the material is in the “middle” of The Fiber Optic Technicians
Manual, chapters 8-16, which covers choosing components and preparing
for installation. Some comes from the NECA/FOA-301 standard. The
FOA FO Design PowerPoint presentation ties it all together.
Who should be interested in this course? Installers, contractors, end users, IT managers, practically anybody interested in fiber optic networks should be interested.
Who Will Be Teaching CFOS/D Courses? Many FOA-Approved schools
already plan to offer CFOS/D courses in the very near future. If you
are interested, contact the school you took your CFOT course from to
see if they plan to offer this course. We expect to have a list of
schools posted shortly.
Questions? Contact the FOA office.
-
- To better understand the requirements
for FOA certification, see FOA Certifications and this
page on training program requirements.
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- FOA certification
is available from FOA-approved schools.
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- Schools can print this
form to apply for course approval or apply
online.
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