-
- Training Course Requirements
- for Fiber Optic Specialist Certification*
Update For FOA-Approved Trainers on FOA Specialist Certifications
The FOA offers specialist
certifications in Fiber Optic Network Design, Termination, Splicing and
Testing and FTTH in addition to our basic Fiber Optic Technician, OSP and Premises Cabling. These certifications are for those
with current CFOTs who take additonal higher level training or have actual field experience who wish to achieve
higher level certifications. You are familiar with FOA Specialist
Certification through the CFOS/I available only
to
instructors at FOA-approved schools.
Few schools have
offered training for FOA Specialist certifications because of the
stringent requirements and high costs of training equipment and
supplies, as well as the lack of instructors with the specialist skills
required.
The FOA has
taken a new look at Specialist certifications and updated them to
reflect current technology and made them more flexible in curriculum to
allow schools more opportunities to have classes qualify for Specialist
certifications.
The FOA wants more CFOTs to become interested in specialist
certifications. We encourage all CFOTs when they first get certified to log field experience in a FOA
logbook
to keep records of their experience and/or take a course from a
FOA-approved school. Now we're looking at course requirements to allow more schools to offer relevant classes.
We
have
broadened the scope of specialist courses in
connectors, splicing and testing and removed requirements for numbers
of repetitions to allow trainers more flexibility in creating courses to
allow
schools to meet specific customer requirements and still offer FOA
certification.
To make creating and teaching Specialist courses easier, the FOA will use our Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide as a reference for the exams and will update starter kits to provide PPTs appropriate to the specialist certifications.
Making all these changes will take most of 2009, so stay tuned.
Take a look at the new descriptions below and see how we're making changes. Contact the FOA with your questions.
FAQs
CFOS, Design, Premises, FTTx, Connectors, Splicing.
Testing
Design
Training: No changes have been made in the CFOS/D design specialty curriculum.
This is a specialist certification covering fiber optic network design
Prerequisites: CFOT
Requirements
for Certification CFOS/D Fiber Optic Network Design (NEW, 3-2008)
- Field Experience For Design Specialist
Certification
- To qualify for the CFOS/D certification, a CFOT plus
two years of field experience are required, including documented experience designing at least 5 fiber optic networks.
Training Programs For Design Specialist
Certification
To qualify for Certified Fiber
Optic Specialist/Design certification, a specialist training
program must cover at least the following topics:- Instructor certified to CFOS/D
- Introduction to fiber optic design
- Overview of Fiber Optic Installations Outside plant and premises
- Planning A Fiber Optic Network
- Choosing components
- Design Review (Component compatibilities, Power budget, Environmental requirements etc.)
- Testing And Documentation
- Estimating
- Writing A Project Specification
- Lab Exercises including case studies covering designing several networks, at least one premises and one outside plant.
More information on the CFOS/D certification.
Fiber To The Home
Training: Other than a name change to CFOS/H, no changes have been made in the CFxT FTTx specialty curriculum.
This is a specialist certification covering FTTX cabling design and installation, which includes PON networks
Requirements for Certification CFOS/H Fiber Optic Network Design
Prerequisites: CFOT
Field Experience For FTTX Specialist Certification
To
qualify for the CFxT certification, two years field experience designing and installing FTTx networks are required.
Training Programs For FTTX Specialist Certification
To qualify for Certified FTTX Specialist certification, a specialist training program must cover at least the following topics:
* Instructor certified to CFOS/H
* Introduction to FTTH networks
* Overview of PONs and Standards
* PON Installation Methods
* PON Testing
* Lab Exercises
More information on the CFOS/H certification.
- Connectors/Termination
Training:
Changes have been made in the CFOS/C connectors specialty curriculum to
remove minimum repetitions. It is the intention that training should
include a classroom session covering all types of termination types and
methods, including adhesive/polish, prepolished/splice terminations,
prefab systems, different adhesives for adhesive/polish connectors,
singlemode and multimode differences, etc. Labs may be designed around
developing advanced skills in one or more types of terminations,
including various adhesive/polish or prepolished/splice terminations
but must include testing all connectors to verify proper termination.
The instructor must certify that the student has reached a skill level
appropriate for the specialist level. For example, an intensive
Hot Melt or prepolished/splice connector training program that includes
appropriate advanced classroom training sufficient to pass the CFOS/C
exam could qualify.
This is a specialist certification covering fiber optic termination using various connector styles and procedures.
Prerequisites: CFOT- Requirements
for Certification CFOS/C Connectors
- The Certified Fiber Optic Specialist/Connectors
certification requires one of two approaches:
- attendance at a specialist training
program and passing a connector specialist examination; or
- field or factory installation
of connectors, a recommendation from a customer, client or employer,
and passing a connector specialist examination.
- Manufacturer's
training on specific termination types will be considered as partial
experience to qualify for the certification.
-
- Field Experience For Connectors Specialist
Certification
- To qualify for the CFOS/C certification,
the field, or factory installation experience needs to meet the
following requirements:
- Installation of at least 200
connectors
- achievement of insertion
loss less than or equal to the maximum rating of all connectors.
- The applicant must provide their
CFOT Logbook supporting this experience
and a recommendation from a client or customer.
- The applicant must provide their
CFOT Logbook supporting this experience
and a recommendation from a client or customer.
-
- Training Programs For Connectors Specialist
Certification
- FOA-Approved training for Certified Fiber
Optic Specialist/Connectors certification meets the following requirements:
- Instructor certified to CFOS/C
- Classroom sessions on termination methods, connector types and testing.
- Hands-on labs covering several styles of
connectors and installation methods, such as epoxy/adhesive, Hot Melt, anaerobic or prepolished/splice connectors.
- Instructor verification of achievement of advanced skills in termination
- Course includes ~50% lab time
CFOS/C Examination
- The CFOS/C examination will
be proctored by persons acceptable to the FOA, e.g. superviosrs or instructors
at FOA-approved schools.
- The CFOS/C examination includes
questions regarding all installation methods and test methods.
Splicing
Training: Changes have been made in the CFOS/S splicing specialty curriculum to remove minimum repetitions.
It is the
intention that training should include a classroom session covering all
types of splicing types and methods, including mechanical and fusion
splicing, both single fiber and ribbon, plus testing and
troubleshooting methods used for verifyiing splice quality.
Labs may be
designed around developing advanced skills in one or more types of
splicing, e.g. ribbon or single fiber fusion but must include
verification of splice quality. The instructor must certify that the
student has reached
a skill level appropriate for the specialist level. - This is a specialist certification covering fiber optic splicing procedures.
Prerequisites: CFOT- Requirements
for Certified Fiber Optic Specialist/Splicing
- The Certified Fiber Optic Specialist/Splicing
certification requires one of two approaches:
-
- attendance at a specialist training
program and passing a splicing specialist examination; or
- field experience in splicing,
a recommendation from a customer/client/employer, and passing
a splicing specialist examination.
- Manufacturer's training on splicing will be considered as partial experience to qualify for the certification.
-
- Field Experience For Splicing Specialist
Certification
- To qualify for the CFOS/S certification,
the field splicing experience needs to meet the following requirements:
- making of a total of a at least 200 splices, including application of a splice cover, placement of the splice into
a splice tray.
- The applicant must have made
at least 100 OTDR splice loss measurements;
- The applicant must provide their
CFOT Logbook supporting this experience
and a recommendation from a client or customer.
-
- Training Programs For Splicing Specialist
Certification
- FOA-Approved training for Certified Fiber
Optic Specialist/Splicing certification meets the following requirements:
- Instructor certified to CFOS/S
- Classroom sessions in all types of splicing, including fusion
and mechanical splicing;
- Hands-on training in appropriate splicing types
- Include interpretation of splice
loss on OTDR splice traces, application of a splice cover, placement of the splice into
a splice tray.
- Instructor verification of achievement of advanced skills in splicing
- Course includes ~50% lab time
- CFOS/S Examination
-
- The CFOS/S examination will
include questions regarding all splicing methods.
- The CFOS/S examination will
include questions on the test methods, on tools required for
installation, on identification of tools, on correct use of tools
and on sequence of steps.
-
-
Testing
Training: Changes have been made in the CFOS/T testing specialty curriculum to remove minimum repetitions. It is the
intention that training should include a classroom session covering all
types of test instruments, standard test procedures and field practices.
Labs may be
designed around developing advanced skills in one or more types of
testing, e.g. insertion loss testing using reference methods A-B-C or
OTDR testing, although it is recommended that classes include both. An
OTDR simulator may be used in place of an OTDR if a variety of traces
are available. The instructor must certify that the
student has reached
a skill level appropriate for the specialist level.
This is a specialist certification covering fiber optic testing.- Requirements
for Certified Fiber Optic Specialist/Testing
Prerequisites: CFOT-
- The Certified Fiber Optic Specialist/Testing
certification requires one of two approaches:
- attendance at a specialist training
program and passing a testing specialist examination; or
- field experience in testing,
a recommendation from a customer/client/employer, and passing
a testing specialist examination.
Field Experience For Testing
Specialist Certification
- To qualify for the CFOS/T certification,
the field testing experience needs to meet the following requirements:
- insertion loss tests on at least
100 links;
- OTDR tests on at least 50 links;
- include both multimode and singlemode
fibers;
- The applicant must provide their
CFOT Logbook supporting this experience and a recommendation
from a client or customer.
- Manufacturer's training on testing will be considered as partial experience to qualify for the certification.
-
- Training Programs For Testing
Specialist
Certification
- FOA-Approved training for Certified Fiber
Optic Specialist/Testing certification meets the following requirements:
- Instructor certified to CFOS/T
- classroom sessions covering all test equipment, methods and standards
- provide training in both insertion
loss testing and optical time domain reflectometry;
- include testing of both singlemode
and multimode fibers;
- Instructor verification of achievement of advanced skills in testing
- course includes ~50% lab time
-
- CFOS/T Examination
- The CFOS/T examination
includes questions on
- test methods
- equipment required for testing
- identification of equipment
- correct use of equipment
- sequence of steps
- error sources
- troubleshooting
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FOA
Specialist Certification FAQs
Since we announced the FOA Specialist
Certifications, we have gotten a number of questions repeatedly.
We thought a review of the "FAQs" or frequently asked
questions, would be a good idea for the newsletter
Is there one exam for all specialties?
Each specialty has its
own requirements and exam. You can take one of them or all of
them, depending on which you qualify for.
What is the cost?
The fee for specialist exams is listed on the application form. Schools that
offer CFOS training may bundle the exam fee in their training.
Do you have to be a CFOT to
take the specialist tests?
Yes, unless otherwise specified, you must have already
passed the CFOT exam and you must be a FOA member in good standing
also.
What experience level is needed
and how do I provide documentation for that experience?
You must have at least
the experience level required by the specialty for which you apply
to take the exam. Experience can be either specialist training
that meets the minimal requirements or actual installation experience,
as documented by your CFOT logbook. This is a form you can download
from the FOA website and print. Manufacturer's training on testing will be considered as partial experience to qualify for the certification.
Do I send the FOA my logbook
to verify my experience?
NO. Send only a copy of
the logbook to the FOA office- keep the original in your possession.
How do I take the exam?
You must pass a comprehensive
exam that will be proctored. Exams can be taken on paper or online. Like the CFOT exam, the specialist
exams are closed book exams with a specified time limit. You should
make arrangements to have the exam proctored by your supervisor,
instructor or teacher or other professional. It may NOT be a co-worker
or relative. This person must verify that you took the exam without
assistance from other people or reference materials during the
specified time interval.
You fill in the CFOS Application and send to the FOA with a copy of your CFOT Logbook.
Be sure to look over the qualifications carefully - you need to
have extensive experience to qualify for each of these three certifications.
The third page should be filled out by the person you have chosen
to be your Proctor. Then send or fax it back to the FOA for approval.
After verification that applicant meets the requirements, the
test will be sent to the Proctor. It will be this person's responsibility
to oversee you taking the test, collect the test and mail it back
to the FOA.
* Formerly called "Advanced Certification," the name
was changed in 2006 to reflect the nature of the certification.
- Application
for CFOS Certification (pdf)
- A local proctor will be assigned
when you sign up for specialist certification.
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- Schools can print this
form to apply for course approval or apply
online.
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to The FOA Home Page
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Inc.