Using your FOA Training/Certification to Find the Right Job in Fiber Optics

Category of Jobs: Outside Plant	What types of jobs in this field?	What FOA Training/Certifications for these jobs?	What other training for these jobs?
Outside Plant Fiber Optic Installation – includes: Telecom Cellular Wireless CATV	Lay the cable, (direct burial or aerial), splicing (or pigtails) testing, troubleshooting, restoration while aloft on tower, pole, ladder buckets or working in trenches or manholes	CFOT CFOS/O –outside plant specialist course (CFOT+CFOS/O can be combined into one 40 hour course) Additional Specialist Certifications: CFOS/S – Splicing CFOS/T - Testing	Many FO installers are also Electricians Tower climbing techniques including fall protection procedures Training on specialized components & equipment must be provided by the manufacturer
Wireless Cell towers Small Cells DAS	Install cable to cell sites (same as OSP above), install fiber to the antenna on cell towers, fiber to small cells in metro areas and fiber in premises applications for DAS (distributed antenna systems)	CFOT CFOS/O –outside plant specialist course (CFOT+CFOS/O can be combined into one 40 hour course) Additional Specialist Certifications: CFOS/W – Fiber for Wireless	Typical OSP and premises fiber installation training Fiber to the antenna can be dangerous and requires specialized safety training including OSHA.
Traffic Signals, Intelligent Highways Use fiber optic links as part of the latest communications technology to provide solutions to traffic management issues.	Design, install, maintain data and video transmission systems for traffic management or security systems	CFOT Can be combined with International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) certification http://www.imsasafety.org CFOS/D – Fiber Optic Design	Network Management AutoCAD or other “Computer Aided Design” software Knowledge of required software systems
Electrical Utilities/Smart Grid Contractors, utility employees working with OSP fiber, sensors and control equipment. Electrical utilities take advantage of fiber's immunity to noise. fiber optic sensors allow monitoring high voltage and current in their distribution systems.	Installation, troubleshooting, repair, and restoration of communications cables and related electronic equipment in both indoor and outdoor environments.	CFOT CFOS/O –outside plant specialist course (CFOT+CFOS/O can be combined into one 40 hour course)	Must be a licensed electrical contractor when working with high voltage transmission, switching & control circuits Climbing Utility Poles
Alternative Energy wind, solar, etc.	Every solar and wind system depends on fiber. Short lengths, singlemode, high speed data transfer and electrical isolation, harsh environmental conditions	CFOT CFOS/O –outside plant specialist course (CFOT+CFOS/O can be combined into one 40 hour course)	Many licensed electrical contractors also do low voltage work Manufacturer proprietary training – each system is different
Energy: oil & gas Fiber optics is used in various monitoring systems, links for data	Often working outside in a harsh environment: Exploration – use portable FO sensors in the field – OSP with ruggedized cables and connectors Extraction – oil fields, off-shore derricks – monitoring and control of extraction processes Refining – industrial process control – classic industrial application	CFOT CFOS/O –outside plant specialist course (CFOT+CFOS/O can be combined into one 40 hour course) CPCT – Premises cabling for refining, control applications uses a combination of fiber, copper & wireless	Training on very specialized equipment, esp. the process control equipment
Fiber-to-the-Home – bringing high-speed networking, digital television and telephone service to residences using fiber optics	Two types of jobs: Design & build the system to the premises Connecting up devices inside the customer premises (see CPCT below)	CFOT CFOS/O –outside plant specialist course (CFOT+CFOS/O can be combined into one 40 hour course) CFOS/H – Fiber-to-the-Home	A FTTX tech is required to set up services for phone, Internet and video inside the home.
Military – Both OSP & premises	The military uses fiber everywhere, on bases – setting up a FO networks on a base or a battlefield because it's hard to damage, tap or jam. FO used on ships and planes – more reliable and lighter.	Outside Plant: CFOT CFOS/O –outside plant specialist course (CFOT+CFOS/O can be combined into one 5 day course) Plus a module on ruggedized components Premises: CFOT or CPCT Specialist Certification: CFOS/L - Covers all LAN applications that are designed entirely around optical fiber.	Training on highly specialized equipment must be provided by the manufacturer of the equipment Security Clearance usually required
Category of Jobs: Inside, called premises cabling	What types of jobs do they do?	What FOA Training/Certification program for this job?	What other training for this job?
Premises Cabling Installer uses FO in all these fields: IT/LANS/Networks Broadband cable Satellite Voice over IP Wireless Security CCTV Audio Visual Distributed antenna systems for cellular & wi-fi	Install, terminate & test various types of voice/data cables. Evaluating the communications system requirements Documentation You are often working on cable trays in the ceiling or under the floor	CFOT or CPCT (CFOT+CPCT combined as one 40 hour course) Specialist Certifications: CFOS/L - Covers all LAN applications that are designed entirely around optical fiber. CFOS/C - Connectors CFOS/T - Testing	All types of media, many types of applications Training on the electronic equipment that connects to the network must be provided by the manufacturer of the equipment Add material from manufacturers on specialized networking equipment
Industrial Use FO to control factory control systems, factory robots – good for harsh environments, safety/no sparking, ground isolation, noise immunity	Both installation and maintenance Troubleshooting – electrical, mechanical, pneumatic	CFOT+CPCT combined as a 40 hour course CFOS/C - Connectors CFOS/T - Testing	Mechanical Engineering CAD robotic simulation software
Fiber to the home (FTTH) customer premises installation	Install, terminate & test various types of voice/data cables.	CPCT + CFOS/H FTTH	Installing and trouble-shooting consumer electronics
Other Applications Requiring Fiber Optic Expertise
Fiber Optic Network Design – For contractors, installers, architects and engineers, project managers and all others who are involved with projects that include fiber optics.	Conduct a design review component compatibilities, power budget, environmental requirements Codes & standards, permits, pole access, right.	CFOT or CPCT CFOS/D – Fiber optic design	Familiar with electrical power systems Online mapping services, experience with CAD systems. Installing Transmission equipment may require additional training from the manufacturer
Fiber Optic component Manufacturing:	Manufacture of optical components, assemblies and sub-assemblies.	CFOT CFOS/C. CFOS/T for making cable assemblies CFOS/S, CFOS/T for building splitters, couplers	Training on specialized components & equipment must be provided by the manufacturer
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV’s) unmanned, underwater vehicle common in deep water industries such as oil, gas exploration	It is tethered to a ship with an umbilical cable that uses fiber optics to carry video and data signals between the ROV and the ship. Maintain and repair FO systems and re-terminate submersible umbilcals	CFOT CFOS/S – splicing for cable repair CFOS/T - Testing	Perform maintenance on pumps, valves, filters Video, lighting systems Utilize navigation aids to pilot ROV Workplace safety

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