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.
Advanced
AFOT
- Advanced Fiber Optic Technician
Advanced fiber optic technician certification (AFOT) is a certification
available for students
attending 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.
Requirements For FOA-Approved Courses For Each Certification Level
All FOA-approved schools develop their own curriculum based on FOA certification requirements and the reference for each certification, e.g.the FOA textbooks FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics, and FOA Reference Guide to Premises Cabling, FOA Reference Guide to Outside Plant Fiber Optics, (former textbooks Fiber Optic Technicians Manual and Data, Voice and Video Cabling are no longer used) and the FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide. The FOA offers curriculum for schools that do not already have or want to develop their own curriculum.
| CFOT | CFospT | CPCT | AFOT | CFOS |
| Basic Fiber Optic Technician | Certified OSP Fiber Technician | Certified Premises Cabling Technician | Advanced Fiber Optic Technician | Specialist: Connectors, Splicing, Testing, Design, FTTx, Instructing |
| Required background: none | Required background: Field experience or training course. | Required background: Field experience or training course. | Required background: CFOT and field experience documented in FOA Logbook or training course. | Required background: CFOT and field experience documented in FOA Logbook or training course. (see requirements for each specialty for specific requirements) |
| Basics How fiber works, fiber specifications (geometry,attenuation, bandwidth) How fiber optic links work (transmitter,receiver,power budget) |
Basics in OSP Context How fiber works, fiber specifications (geometry,attenuation, bandwidth) How fiber optic links work (transmitter,receiver,power budget) |
Basics of premises cabling, structured cabling standards, UTP cabling, fiber cabling, wireless | CFOT Prerequisite, review, elaborate as deemed important | CFOT Prerequisite,
review, elaborate as appropriate for each specialty. |
| Networks (telecom,data,CATV, etc.) | OSP Networks (telecom,data,CATV, utilities, metro, etc.) | LANs, security, video, Structured Cabling Standards | 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 OSP specialized components | Specialized components for premises cabling: fiber, wiring and wireless in premises networks | 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 OSP specialized techniques | Same as CFOT, emphasis on specialized techniques for wiring and wireless in premises networks | 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 onOSP specialized testing, e.g. OTDRs, CD/PMD/SA | Same, plus testing UTP and coax cabling for premises networks. | 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 as CFOT | Structured cabling and network standards | 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 Splicing (fusion) & splice trays Basic insertion loss testing with source and power meter, OTDR |
Labs Premises-specific wiring and fiber practices |
Labs 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: FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics, or (online) FOA Installation Tech Bulletin. Online References: FOA Online Reference Guide particularly the section Fiber Optics, the Basics and FOA Installation Tech Bulletin |
Reference Books: FOA Reference Guide to Outside Plant Fiber Optics, or supplemental FTTx material provided to FOA-approved schools Online References: FOA Online Reference Guide particularly the section Fiber Optics, the Basics and FOA Installation Tech Bulletin |
Reference Books: FOA Reference Guide to Premises Cabling, and
supplemental material Online References: FOA Online Reference Guide particularly the sections Fiber Optics, the Basics, Premises Cabling and FOA Installation Tech Bulletin | Reference Books: FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics, or (online) FOA Installation Tech Bulletin. Online References: FOA Online Reference Textbook and FOA Installation Tech Bulletin |
Reference Books: FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics, or FOA Online Reference Textbook and FOA Installation Tech Bulletin, specific specialty reference materials may be required. Online References: FOA Online Reference Textbook particularly the sections on design, splicing, termiination, testing, etc. and FOA Installation Tech Bulletin |
| Class 20-40 hrs, 1/3 lab (est.) | Class 30-50 hrs, 1/3-1/2 lab (est.) | Class 20-40 hrs, 1/3-1/2 lab (est.) | Class 30-40 hrs, 1/2 lab (est.) | Varies, Class 20-40 hrs per specialty, 1/2-2/3 lab (est.) |
| Exam: 100 questions based on reference materials | Exam: 100 questions based on reference materials | Exam: 100 questions based on reference materials | 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: |
CFospT | CPCT | AFOT | CFOS |
These are hands-on training sessions recommended for introducing students to process involved and developing skills in those processes. While all topics are recommended for CFOT level classes, The FOA recognizes the actual labs included will depend on the focus of the CFOT class. More advanced classes will have more comprehensive hands-on labs.
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Key:
R = recommended
O = optional, depending on the application
Sim = OTDR simulator optional
Cable: Identify cable types,
prepare for pulling, termination and splicing
Installation: Pulling and
placing cables, termination and splicing (below)
Termination: Multimode,
adhesive/polish (A/P), prepolished splice (PPS). Terminate cables, inspect with
microscope (polish types) and test.
Splicing-Fusion: Single and
optionally ribbon fusion splicing, prepare fibers, splice and test with OTDR
and compare to splicer estimates.
Splicing-Mechanical: Use any
available mechanical splice on MM or SM fiber, optimize with VFL, test
Test-Insertion Loss: Inspect
connectors with microscope, check continuity with visual tracer or VFL, test
insertion loss using FOTP-171 (single-ended patchcord test) and OFTST-14
(double-ended installed cable test, use more than one reference method (A,B,C)
Test-OTDR: Use simulator or
OTDR, show setup procedures and how setup affects traces, analyze traces,
identify events, find faults, compare operator analysis to autotest.