Understanding FOA Certifications &
Training Program Curriculum Requirements

 


The FOA offers three levels of fiber optic certification. FOA certifications are designed to show a progression of growth in knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) in fiber optics. The new CFxT and AFOT are specifically designed to allow schools to offer specialized classes for students who have already achieved CFOT status or who want to specialize in FTTx.

Basic
CFOT - Certified Fiber Optic Technician for general fiber optics
CFxT - Certified Fiber Optic Technician for FTTx (fiber to the home, fiber to the premises, fiber to the curb)
At the basic level are the CFOT and CFxT 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. CFxT classes can be stand-alone and include CFOT materials or as a short addition to normal CFOT classes.

Advanced
AFOT - Advanced Fiber Optic Technician
Advanced fiber optic technician certification (AFOT) is a new level for schools teaching extended courses that include more detail and provide more hands-on exercises, for example testing would include greater 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.

Specialist
CFOS or Certified Fiber Optic Specialist.
Specialties: Installation: Connectors, Splices, Test. Instructing. Designing fiber optic cabling systems.
Specialist certifications are for those with extensive experience or students in comprehensive training programs. Installers achieving specialist certifications will have developed excellent skills in their specialty: 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) can be achieved through experience, self-study or attending a FOA Train-The-Trainer class. The design certification is primarily achieved through attending appropriate classes.

Requirements For FOA-Approved Courses For Each Certification Level

The FOA does not have a curriculum used by all schools. All FOA-approved schools develop their own curriculum based on these requirements and the FOA textbook The Fiber Optic Technicians Manual and the NECA/FOA installation standard NECA/FOA-301. The FOA also offers curriculum "Starter Kits" for schools who do not already have or want to develop their own curriculum.

 CFOT  CFxT  AFOT  CFOS
 Basic Fiber Optic Technician  FTTx Technician  Advanced Fiber Optic Technician  Specialist: Connectors, Splicing, Testing, Design, Instructing
 Required background: none  Required background: CFOT  Required background: CFOT  Required background: CFOT and field experience documented in FOA Logbook.   (see requirements for each specialty for specific requirements) 
Basics
How fiber works
Guided light in fibers
Fiber Specifications (geometry,attenuation, bandwidth)
How fiber optic links work (transmitter,receiver,power budget)		 CFOT Prerequisite, review, elaborate as deemed important CFOT Prerequisite, review, elaborate as deemed important  CFOT Prerequisite, review, elaborate as deemed important for each specialty.
Note, may be more appropriate for those with field experience rather than students in extended class, for whom AFOT may be more appropriate.
 Networks (telecom,data,CATV, etc.)  Telecom, FTTH/P, FTTC, PONs  CFOT Prerequisite, review, elaborate as deemed important, e.g. LAN, data center, FTTx, etc.  CFOT Prerequisite, review, elaborate as deemed important for each specialty
 FO components:
Fibers
Cables
Connection
Splices
Hardware (patch panels, splice closures, conduit, etc)		  Same as CFOT, emphasis on FTTx specialized components  CFOT Prerequisite, review, elaborate as deemed important, e.g.:
Cables: all types, where generally used, handling, troubleshooting
Connectors: all types, recognizing old and obsolete as well as current connectors, termination types (adhesive, prepolished, etc.), termination processes, singlemode vs multimode polishing, troubleshooting
Splices: fusion vs mechanical, mass fusion, cleaving, splice trays and closures, cable/fiber handling, troubleshooting		  CFOT Prerequisite, review, elaborate as deemed important for each specialty, e.g.:
Cables (all specialties): all types, where generally used, handling, troubleshooting
Connectors: all types, recognizing old and obsolete as well as current connectors, termination types (adhesive, prepolished, etc.), termination processes, singlemode vs multimode polishing, troubleshooting
Splices: fusion vs mechanical, mass fusion, cleaving, splice trays and closures, cable/fiber handling, troubleshooting
Installation
Safety considerations and Code compliance
Reading prints and specs
Planning the installation
Pulling cable (installation hardware, guidelines to pulling, practices)
Documentation
 		  Same, plus emphasis on FTTx specialized techniques  CFOT Prerequisite
Designing networks, layout, power budgets, choosing components for the application, creating drawings, estimating, documentation		  CFOT Prerequisite, review, elaborate as deemed important for each specialty
 Testing
Continuity and tracing
Visual inspection of connectors and bare fiber
Loss with power meter and source
OTDR techniques
Correllation of OTDR and power meter/source loss tests
Troubleshooting		  Same, emphasis on FTTx specialized testing, e.g. PONs, WDMs and EFFAs  CFOT Prerequisite
Using power budgets to estimate loss when testing to verify results
Modal effects on loss, using mode modifiers, standards requirements for mandrel wrap and source modal launch
Using light source/power meter to make insertion loss tests, effects of launch cables, wavelength, 3 methods of setting "0 dB" reference
Using OTDRs, using launch and or receive cables, setting test parameters to get best results, bidirectional differences, ghosts, etc.
Troubleshooting with VFL, source/PM, OTDR		  CFOT Prerequisite, review, elaborate as deemed important for each specialty, e.g. to test connectors and splices effectively.
For Testing specialty:
Using power budgets to estimate loss when testing to verify results
Modal effects on loss, using mode modifiers, standards requirements for mandrel wrap and source modal launch
Using light source/power meter to make insertion loss tests, effects of launch cables, wavelength, 3 methods of setting "0 dB" reference
Using OTDRs, using launch and or receive cables, setting test parameters to get best results, bidirectional differences, ghosts, etc.
Troubleshooting with VFL, source/PM, OTDR
 Standards
Components
Testing
Networks
Installation
Terms and Definitions		  Same, emphasis on FTTx specialized standards (GPON, EPON, BPON, etc.)  CFOT Prerequisite  CFOT Prerequisite, review, elaborate as deemed important for each specialty
 Labs
Basic cable handling
Simple termination (one type, adhesive or prepolished/splice)
Optional splicing
Basic insertion loss testing with source and power meter, introduction to OTDR		  Labs
Basic cable handling
Optional termination (one type, adhesive or prepolished/splice)
Optional splicing (fusion)
Basic insertion loss testing with source and power meter, introduction to OTDR

 Labs
Basic cable handling and preparation
Termination (two types, adhesive (epoxy, anaerobic, Hot Melt) and prepolished/splice)
Splicing (mechanical and fusion)
Basic insertion loss testing with source and power meter, introduction to OTDR

Requires successful completion of termination, splicing and testing exercises, verified by instructor.

 Labs
As deemed important for each specialty:
Connectors requires 40 connectors by at least 2 adhesive methods and prepolished/splice method, 10 of which must be SM, meeting performance standards.
Splices require 40 splices of both SM and MM fiber, both fusion and mechanical splices.
Testing requires insertion loss tests on at least 100 links and OTDR tests on at least 50 links; including both multimode and singlemode
 Reference Books:
Fiber Optic Technicians Manual (emphasis on chapters 1-9 and 17), NECA/FOA-301		  Reference Books:
Fiber Optic Technicians Manual, NECA/FOA-301, supplemental FTTx material on provided to FOA-approved schools		  Reference Books:
Fiber Optic Technicians Manual(emphasis on chapters 9-17, more depth on chapters 1-8), NECA/FOA-301		  Reference Books:
Fiber Optic Technicians Manual, NECA/FOA-301, specific specialty reference materials may be required.
 Class 20-40 hrs, 1/3 lab (est.)   Class 10-20 hrs, 1/4-1/3 lab (est.)   Class 30-40 hrs, 1/2 lab (est.)   Class 20-40 hrs per specialty, 1/2-2/3 lab (est.)
 Exam: 100 questions based on reference materials  Exam: 30 questions based on reference materials on FTTx provided by FOA  Exam: 100 questions based on reference materials  Exams: Exams are separate for each specialty. 50-60 questions on each specialty, based on reference materials plus proof of skills documented in FOA  Logbook or by classroom exercises.

More information:

 CFOT

 CFxT  AFOT  CFOS

 
 
Schools can print this form to apply for course approval or use the Online Application Form
Information on FOA  curriculum "Starter Kits"
 
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(C)2006-8, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.