The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.
the non-profit professional society of fiber optics
January, 2012

Fiber Optic Association

On The FOA Website:  

Fiber Optic Training:
FOA Approved Training Schools
Table of Schools  
Map of Schools  
Fiber USelf Study

Fiber Optic News:
FOA Online Newsletter
 
Technical Information:
FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide
FOA "Tech Topics"
User's Guide To Fiber Optics
Tech Bulletins
FTTx (fiber to the home)
Getting Started
videos
 
Learn More About The FOA:
About the FOA
FOA Certification Programs
FOA CFOT Renewal Form (pdf)
New - Renew Online
Corporate Membership
 
For Schools and Instructors:
Important Update For Schools
And Instructors - Read This

Resources For Schools and Instructors
For JATC Instructors
Instructor Development and Certification
New School Requirements and Application Procedures
Requirements For Training Programs
Book Order Form
 
Show Your FOA Affiliation:
FOA Logo Merchandise
FOA logos for member use

 
 Links to other fiber optic sites

HELP

Need Help Finding Something on the FOA Website?


 
 
FOA is a member of:
 
TIA Online
 
FOA Logo Merchandise on Zazzle
FOA T Shirt


 
Sign up to receive the FOA eMail Newsletter
You can also sign up from your cell phone: text "FOA" to 22828 (usual text charges apply)
 
Time To Renew Your CFOT?  You Can Renew Online
(Renewals get a coupon for discounts on the new FOA books!)

Download a safety poster from the FOA!

Join FOA on
Find us on Facebook     FOA on LinkedIn     FOA videos
 


Read The Latest FOA Online Newsletter:


FOA Looking Ahead to 2012
Free NECA/FOA-301 Installation Standard for FOA Members
FOA One Page Standards
2012-Year of the OTDR
Fiber=Energy savings in Premises/Data Centers
More Applications Use Composite Cables
YouTube: 10 New Premises Cabling Lectures as well as 25 Fiber Optic Lectures (plus 28 more hands-on videos)
Benchmarking Fusion Splicing and Choosing SM Fiber
Two FOA iPad Apps Now Available - Free Loss Budget Calculator

videos  More FOA YouTube Lectures - 25 fiber + 10 on premises cabling!

Lots of interesting questions on Q&A and several  jobs too!

All in the FOA online newsletter.



Free For FOA Members: NECA/FOA 301 Fiber Optic Installation Standard

NECA 301
Because of its importance to users, contractors and installers of fiber optic networks, The FOA and NECA have agreed to make the NECA/FOA 301 Fiber Optic Installation Standard available free to FOA members.
Standards usually cover components and systems and how to test them, but rarely get into installation issues. This standard is derived from FOA educational material put in standards form and approved by ANSI as an American National Standard. It's specifically written to be used in contracts to define "installation in a neat and workmanlike manner."   FOA members can go here for instructions on how to download your free copy.

FOA Certifications Recognized By US Department of Labor
DoL logo
All FOA Certifications have now been recognized by the US Department of Labor. The DoL reviews certifications and how they relate to job opportunities and training. The DoL Career OneStop website helps individuals explore career opportunities to make informed employment and education choices. The Web site features user-friendly occupation and industry information, salary data, career videos, education resources, self-assessment tools, career exploration assistance, and other resources that support talent development in today's fast-paced global marketplace.
FOA Certifications Listed By US Department of Laber - Career OneStop
 


FOA iPad Apps
The FOA has just released its second APP for the iPad, a free "loss budget calculator," FOA LossCalc.

FOA LossCalc (NEW & FREE)
FOA Loss Calculator AppFOA LossCalc estimates the optical loss of a fiber optic link. This will save time for the installer of a fiber optic link needing to know whether test results are reasonable and/or make a "pass/fail" determination. It can also help the designer of a link to determine if communications equipment will operate over this link.
By choosing the type of link (singlemode or multimode) and specifying the length of the fiber and numbers of connections and splices, it will calculate the end to end loss of the link. The app has default specifications for singlemode and multimode links or the user may create custom setups with specifications appropriate for any application. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/foa-losscalc/id476262894?mt=8&ls=1

Self -Study in Fiber Optics
FOA iPad AppOur first app is a self-study version of the FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics. The FOA APP builds on the FOA basic fiber optic textbook to create an interactive learning environment that builds on the iBook electronic version of the book to add a guide to use for self-study and real-time testing that provides feedback on what you have learned and correct answers to questions answered incorrectly.
The FOA APP is priced at only $9.99, same as the iBook, so the self-study program is free. Download it from the Apple APP Store with your iPad or iTunes.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/foa-guide/id434354283?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4



FOA Videos on FOA videos

The FOA has created a special FOA channel on YouTube, thefoainc, where we're posting instructional videos and lectures for everyone's use. We've recently added a new lecture series with 10 Lectures on premises cabling, joining the series of 25 lectures on fiber optics and about 28 videos on hands-on fiber optics and communications cabling - yes, even "Cat 5"!
Watch for more!
FOA channel on YouTube, thefoainc

Free Self-Study Programs
Lennie Lightwave   Fiber U
Lennie Lightwave and Fiber U are back! Learn the basics of fiber optics  in preparation for taking a training course, refresh your knowledge or prepare for the CFOT exam online at Fiber U online.
New: Self-Study programs on outside plant (OSP) fiber optics and OTDRs (with a free OTDR simulator to download)




FOA Corporate Member Corporate Memberships
FOA is now offering corporate memberships to companies involved in fiber optics as manufacturers, contractors, installers, etc. Read more.





New FOA Reference Books (Printed or eBooks!)
FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics book  FOA Reference Guide to Premises Cablng book  FOA Reference Guide to OSP Fiber Optics book

The FOA now has it's own reference books to be used for training for FOA certifications and as reference books for contractors, installers and end users. They are available as printed books or ebooks on your iPad or Kindle at much lower prices than most textbooks since we self-publish and sell online, cutting out the middlemen. Click on the book images for more information.


FOA Jobs Website
We get many questions from CFOTs, students at FOA-Approved schools and others contemplating getting into the fiber optic business regarding jobs in fiber optics - and
how to find them - so we’ve created a new web page to share some information we've gathered about jobs in our industry. The information is designed to help you understand what jobs are available in fiber optics, how to find them and apply for them.
If you are looking for a job in fiber optics, here is the FOA's guide to jobs.

If you have job openings, let us post them on
FOA on LinkedIn.



Looking For Fiber Optic Training? You can find a list of FOA approved schools that offer CFOT certification here on the list of FOA approved schools . Our new sortable listing and Google Map make finding the right school for you easier!


 
 
Certification Renewal: CFOTs must renew each year to maintain your CFOT or CFOS certifications . Please make sure we have your current address. Download the renewal form or renew online


 

The Fiber Optic Association has been organized as a international non-profit professional society for the fiber optic industry. Its charter is to develop educational programs, certify fiber optic technicians, approve fiber optic training courses, participate in standards-making processes and generally promote fiber optics. The FOA has certified over 34,000 CFOTs (Certified Fiber Optic Technicians) through over 250 approved training organizations worldwide. Join us!


Privacy Policy: The FOA does not use cookies or any other web tricks to gather information on visitors to our website. 

 

To Contact The FOA:
 
The Fiber Optic Association
1119 S Mission Road, # 355
Fallbrook, California 92028 USA
 
Office Hours 10AM-5 PM Pacific Time, Monday-Friday
Telephone: 1-760-451-3655
Fax: 1-781-207-2421
info@thefoa.org

(C)1999-2011, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.