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FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide
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FOA Credentials
Certifications, Certificates And Badges
Around 100,000 fiber optic techs have earned their FOA CFOT®
Certified Fiber Optic Technician certification and a total of about
150,000 certifications, many have earned their "Fiber U Certificate of
Completion" for completing online learning programs at Fiber U. FOA also
offers the "FOA Badge In Fiber Optics" to recognize all workers in the
fiber optics.
It's a good time to explain the differences in these FOA credentials.
Each has a unique purpose in recognizing achievement in fiber optics and
cabling.
FOA Certification
 FOA started in 1995 to develop a workforce to build the future fiber
optic networks. Included in the FOA charter was to set standards for
train fiber optic technicians and offer certifications for fiber optic technicians. FOA was not the training
organization; that was left to training organizations at schools,
companies, agencies, unions, and independent trainers. FOA set the
standards for certifying the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs)
of fiber optic technicians with the help of the trainers and educators
who founded FOA. It was not until 2003 that an international standard
for certification was created (ISO 17024) and to our amusement it
follows closely the FOA program. Someone with a CFOT, CPCT or any of the other
FOA certification has demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities
defined for that certification by obtaining training and/or work
experience and passing a comprehensive test of their knowledge. They
must renew every 3 years, confirming their continued work in the
industry.
FOA Badge in Fiber Optics
 The FOA Badge in Fiber Optics was created at the request of those
working in the fiber optic industry in other professional occupations.
For a CFOT or CPCT, FOA could define the KSAs expected of a fiber tech
who would be designing, installing or operating a fiber optic network,
but there are many other professionals that work in other essential jobs
in the industry; manufacturing, marketing/distributing, managing,
planning, etc. where no one set of "skills" can be defined for all those
jobs. The solution was a credential for those with experience in any of
those jobs who had knowledge of the industry proven by passing an FOA
test. Having a FOA Badge means you have a credential you can share
online that confirms your knowledge of fiber optic technology and
applications.
Fiber U Certificate of Completion
 FOA offers two dozen free online self-study programs at Fiber U
which match up to most FOA certification subjects and include many
other areas of interest in fiber
optics and premises cabling. Those taking the courses who want evidence
of their completion of the course may take an online test at a nominal
fee to get a Fiber U Certificate of Completion. The Fiber U Certificate
of Completion requires
taking an online test about the material in the course, so it shows that
the holder of a Fiber U Certificate of Completion has completed the
online self-study course and learned the relevant knowledge covered in
the online course. Fiber U Certificate of Completion does not require or test any skills or abilities,
only knowledge about the subject of the online course.
Who's Qualified For The Job? Check Their Credentials.
If you are an employer, project manager or contractor hiring installers,
FOA Certifications should help you judge the qualifications of
potential hires. If you are hiring someone for a job with a
manufacturer, distributor, agency or project group, the FOA Badge tells
you the holder is knowledgeable about fiber optics and has experience in
the field. Anyone who holds a Fiber U Certificate of Completion has
shown they have studied a particular topic and gained knowledge in that
area.
That is the basic idea of credentials; they allow evaluating workers qualifications.
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