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- Fiber Optic Training:
- FOA Approved Training Schools
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- Table of Schools
- Map of Schools
 Free Online Self Study
Fiber Optic News: - FOA Online Newsletter
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- Technical Information:
- FOA Online Reference Guide
- User's Guide To Fiber Optics
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Products & Services
Provided by FOA corporate members - listed on the FOA website in map and list form.
- Learn More About The FOA
About the FOA
Membership & Certification
Welcome To The FOA For New Members
- FOA Certification Programs
- FOA Renewal Form (pdf)
- Corporate Membership
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- You can now renew with PayPal
- For Schools and Instructors
School Update/Renewal Form
Instructor Certification
JATCs and Instructors
Requirements For FOA Training Programs
Fiber Optic Resources For STEM Teachers
Want To Become A FOA School?
New School Requirements and Application Procedures
Fiber U Affiliate Program
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- Show Your FOA Affiliation
- FOA logos for member use
- FOA Logo Merchandise on Zazzle
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- Links to other fiber optic sites
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Read The Latest FOA Online Newsletter:
Fiber Optic Installation Standard Updates
New FOA Textbook: Testing
All The News Is About Wireless
Using FOA OTDR Simulator on Windows 10
FOA School Offers Online CFOS/D Course
Sumitomo Introduces Small Fusion Splicer
EasySplicer Adds Splice-On Connectors
FOA YouTube Videos Now Captioned
Interested in A Career In Fiber Optics?
A New Way To View Fiber Optic Connectors
Locating Underground Utilities
Are you experienced in fiber optics but not FOA CFOT® certified? FOA's "Work To Cert" program is for you.
 More FOA YouTube Lectures - >100 total !
- All in the FOA online newsletter.
- Time To Renew Your CFOT? You Can Renew Online
Fiber Optic Installation Standard Updated
Available Free Courtesy of FOA
The ANSI/NECA/FOA-301-2016 standard for Installing and Testing Fiber Optics has been updated and is available for download from the FOA website. NECA/FOA-301was created to be a document that could be used as a guide to installation practices and also be quoted in project paperwork to define what was meant by installation in a "neat and workmanlike manner." This standard was the first standard to approach the issues of installation of fiber optics in a document that could be used by network owners, project managers, contractors, installers, test techs, maintenance personnel and even the manufacturers making the products being installed following this standard.
Download Free From FOA
As the authors of NECA/FOA-301, FOA feels strongly that this is a standard that every fiber optic tech - designer, installer, tester - as well as network owners should have for reference. Therefore, FOA sponsors distribution of this standard free to those involved in fiber optic projects. We encourage you to download a free PDF copy and tell others to do so themselves.
Go here for more information on NECA/FOA-301 and directions for a free download.
Latest FOA Book:
FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optic Testing
FOA has just published its latest "reference guide" textbook: FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optic Testing.
A new textbook for training or studying for FOA CFOS/T certifications, and an up-to-date reference on fiber optic testing for the contractor, installer, designer and user.
Fiber optic manufacturers and network users say that testing is the most important aspect of installation and operation but often the least well understood. Of all the technical help requests received by the FOA, 90% are about testing. This book has been written by the FOA to provide a comprehensive but understandable technical guide to this important topic.
FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optic Testing
Other new FOA Reference Guides
Libro de Diseño para Redes de Fibra Óptica en Español - FOA Design Book Available In Spanish
FOA Outside Plant Fiber Optic Construction Guide
FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optic Network Design
More FOA Reference Guides
Resources For Teachers In K-12 And Technical Schools
Teachers in all grades can introduce their students to fiber optic technology with some simple demonstrations. FOA has created a page for STEM or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) teachers with materials appropriate to their classes. Fiber Optic Resources For STEM Teachers.
FOA also has a new YouTube Video on "Careers in Fiber Optics" and a "Careers In Fiber Optics" Website. See below.
Fiber U Offers Free Online Self-Study Programs, and "Fiber U Certificate of Completion" For All Courses. Read more at Fiber U.
Join FOA on Pinterest. FOA has started a Pinterest page for fiber optics. Keep up with the news on our "Worth Reading" Pinterest page.
How Fiber Works - Live!
Want to see how fiber works, how attenuation is wavelength dependent and what causes connector loss?
View our "Fiber Optics - Live!" YouTube videos.
- Corporate Members
- Search for products and services offered by hundreds of FOA corporate members worldwide. Corporate members are listed on the FOA website in map and list form.
FOA offers corporate memberships to companies involved in fiber optics as manufacturers, contractors, installers, etc. FOA Corporate Members get substantial discounts on membership/certification renewals and direct certifications. Other benefits include access to training and direct certifications. Read more.
FOA has a new YouTube Video on "Careers in Fiber Optics" and a "Careers In Fiber Optics" Website.
Interested in exploring a career in fiber optics? FOA has created a YouTube Video and a webpage that describes what a fiber optic worker does, where they work and how to get started. It's mainly aimed at high school students but it's relevant to anyone interested in changing careers also. Go here for the YouTube Video on "Careers in Fiber Optics" or the FOA Careers In Fiber Optics webpage.
FOA "Finding A Job" 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.
Looking For A Job In Fiber Optics?
- Where Are The Jobs In Fiber Optics? This FOA YouTube Video talks about all the applications for fiber optics, what the jobs involve and the qualifications for the workers in the field. If you are currently looking for a job in fiber optics, here is the FOA's guide to jobs web page. The FOA Jobs Web Page has been updated and a new page added on Using your FOA Training/Certification to Find the Right Job in Fiber Optics
If you have job openings, let us post them on  .
Cabling Project Management - FOA has created a new YouTube video on what's involved in a cabling project (copper/fiber/wireless) with advice for both the customer and the contractor involved in a cabling project. The intent of this video lecture is to help customer and contractor communicate effectively on a new project.
QuickStart Guides
In our continuing quest to help people understand how to test fiber optic cable plants and communications systems, we've created three "QuickStart Guides to Fiber Optic Testing." They are simple, step-by-step guides on how to test fiber optic cable plants, patchcords or single cables, using OTDRs and measuring optical power in systems. They are as straightforward as it can get - what equipment do you need, what are the procedures for testing, options in implementing the test, measurement errors and documenting the results.
It can't get much simpler.
Testing Fiber Optic Cable Plants And Patchcords
Testing Fiber Optic Cable Plants With An OTDR
Measuring Optical Power In Communications Systems
FOA Standards For Contractors, Installers and Network Users
Most industry standards are written for manufacturers so they can build products that are interoperable to allow multiple sources in the marketplace. These manufacturers are responsible for interpreting these standards for their customers. FOA has been requested to create standards for contractors, installers and network users, providing a generic interpretation of these standards. We've created a few already on testing, one of the most confusing issues in fiber optics. Furthermore, we've provided them in a 1 page summary format, making understanding them much easier.
Go here for more information.
Free For FOA Members: NECA/FOA 301 Fiber Optic Installation Standard
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
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.
FOA Certifications are listed by the US Department of Labor - Occupational Outlook Handbook - See Licenses, Certifications and Registrations.
FOA iPad Apps
The FOA has just released its second APP for the iPad, a free "loss budget calculator," FOA LossCalc.
FOA LossCalc (FREE)
 FOA 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
 Our 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
- 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 got lectures on premises cabling and fiber optics and hands-on demonstrations about fiber optics and communications cabling - yes, even "Cat 5"!
FOA channel on YouTube, thefoainc
- Free Self-Study Programs
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 has three LinkedIn Groups
FOA - covers FOA, technology and jobs in the fiber optic marketplace
FOA Fiber Optic Training - open to everyone, covers fiber optic technology and training topics
FOA School Instructors - a closed group for instructors and administrators at FOA-approved schools
FOA Reference Books (Printed or eBooks!)
      
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. The Reference Guide To Fiber Optics is also available in Spanish and French.
Click on any book for more information.
- Getting Started Guides
 
These two guides are simple introductions to the subjects. They will explain the applications, jargon, components and installation in a quick overview.
Lennie Lightwave's Guide to Fiber Optics (online) and available as a free iBook on iTunes
- Uncle Ted's Guide to Communications (Premises) Cabling (online) and available as a free iBook on iTunes
Lennie and Uncle Ted are now available as free iBooks on iTunes
- Looking For "Hands-On" 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!
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- Certification Renewal
- Members must renew each year to maintain your CFOT® or CFOS certifications as current. Please make sure we have your current address. Download the renewal form, or renew online.
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