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

 
 
Category of Jobs: What types of jobs in What FOA What other training for
Outside Plant this field? Training/Certifications these jobs?
for these jobs?
Outside Plant Fiber Lay the cable, (direct CFOT Many FO installers are
Optic Installation – burial or aerial), also Electricians
includes: splicing (or pigtails) CFOS/O –outside plant
testing, specialist course Tower climbing
Telecom troubleshooting, techniques including fall
Cellular Wireless restoration while aloft (CFOT+CFOS/O can be protection procedures
CATV on tower, pole, ladder combined into one 40
buckets or working in hour course) Training on specialized
trenches or manholes components &
Additional Specialist equipment must be
Certifications: provided by the
CFOS/S – Splicing manufacturer

CFOS/T - Testing

Traffic Signals, Design, install, CFOT Network Management

Intelligent Highways maintain data and Can be combined with
Use fiber optic links as video transmission International Municipal AutoCAD or other
part of the latest systems for traffic Signal Association “Computer Aided
communications management (IMSA) certification Design” software
technology to provide or security systems http://www.imsasafety.org
solutions to traffic Knowledge of required
management issues. CFOS/D – Fiber Optic software systems
Design
Electrical Utilities/Smart Installation, CFOT Must be a licensed
Grid troubleshooting, electrical contractor
Contractors, utility repair, and restoration CFOS/O –outside plant when working with high
employees working with of communications specialist course voltage transmission,
OSP fiber, sensors and cables and related switching & control
control equipment. electronic equipment (CFOT+CFOS/O can be circuits
in both indoor and combined into one 40
Electrical utilities take outdoor environments. hour course) Climbing Utility Poles
advantage of
fiber's immunity to
noise. fiber optic
sensors allow
monitoring high voltage

Cert-to-work.htm 10/12/12
and current in their
distribution systems.

Alternative Energy Every solar and wind CFOT Many licensed electrical
system depends on contractors also do low
wind, solar, etc. fiber. Short lengths, CFOS/O –outside plant voltage work
singlemode, high specialist course
speed data transfer Manufacturer proprietary
and electrical isolation, (CFOT+CFOS/O can be training – each system is
harsh environmental combined into one 40 different
conditions hour course)

Energy: oil & gas Often working outside CFOT Training on very
in a harsh specialized equipment,
Fiber optics is used in environment: CFOS/O –outside plant esp. the process control
various monitoring specialist course equipment
systems, links for data Exploration – use
portable FO sensors in (CFOT+CFOS/O can be
the field – OSP with combined into one 40
ruggedized cables and hour course)
connectors
CPCT – Premises cabling
Extraction – oil fields, for refining, control
off-shore derricks – applications uses a
monitoring and control combination of fiber,
of extraction copper & wireless
processes

Refining – industrial
process control –
classic industrial
application
Fiber-to-the-Home – Two types of jobs: CFOT A FTTX tech is required
bringing high-speed Design & build the to set up services for
networking, digital system to the CFOS/O –outside plant phone, Internet and
television and telephone premises specialist course video inside the home.
service to residences
using fiber optics Connecting up devices (CFOT+CFOS/O can be
inside the customer combined into one 40
premises hour course)

CFOS/H – Fiber-to-the-
Home

Fiber Optic Network Conduct a design CFOT or CPCT Familiar with electrical
Design – review component power systems
compatibilities, power CFOS/D – Fiber optic
For contractors, budget, environmental design Online mapping

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installers, architects and requirements services, experience
engineers, project Codes & standards, with CAD systems.
managers and all others permits, pole access,
who are involved with right. Installing Transmission
projects that include equipment may require
fiber optics. additional training from
the manufacturer

Military – Both OSP & The military uses fiber Outside Plant: Training on highly
premises everywhere, on bases CFOT specialized equipment
– setting up a FO must be provided by the
networks on a base or CFOS/O –outside plant manufacturer of the
a battlefield because specialist course equipment
it's hard to damage,
tap or jam. (CFOT+CFOS/O can be Security Clearance
combined into one 5 day usually required
course)
FO used on ships and
planes – more reliable Plus a module on
and lighter. ruggedized components

Premises: CFOT or
CPCT

Specialist Certification:
CFOS/L - Covers all LAN
applications that are
designed entirely around
optical fiber.

Category of Jobs: What types of jobs What FOA What other training for
Inside, called premises do they do? Training/Certification this job?
cabling program for this job?
Premises Cabling Install, terminate & CFOT or CPCT All types of media, many
Installer uses FO in all test various types of types of applications
these fields: voice/data cables. (CFOT+CPCT combined
as one 40 hour course) Training on the
IT/LANS/Networks Evaluating the electronic equipment
Broadband cable communications that connects to the
Satellite system requirements Specialist Certifications: network must be
Voice over IP CFOS/L - Covers all LAN provided by the
Wireless Documentation applications that are manufacturer of the
Security CCTV designed entirely around equipment
Audio Visual You are often working optical fiber.
Distributed antenna on cable trays in the Add material from
systems for cellular & ceiling or under the CFOS/C - Connectors manufacturers on
wi-fi floor specialized networking
CFOS/T - Testing equipment

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Industrial Both installation and CFOT+CPCT combined Mechanical Engineering
Use FO to control maintenance as a 40 hour course
factory control systems, CAD robotic simulation
factory robots – good for Troubleshooting – CFOS/C - Connectors software
harsh environments, electrical, mechanical,
safety/no sparking, pneumatic CFOS/T - Testing
ground isolation, noise
immunity

Other Applications
Requiring Fiber Optic
Expertise
FO Manufacturing: Manufacture of optical CFOT Training on specialized
components, components &
assemblies and sub- CFOS/C. CFOS/T for equipment must be
assemblies. making cable assemblies provided by the
manufacturer
CFOS/S, CFOS/T for
building splitters,
couplers
Remotely Operated It is tethered to a ship CFOT Perform maintenance on
Vehicles (ROV’s) with an umbilical cable pumps, valves, filters
unmanned, underwater that uses fiber optics CFOS/S – splicing for
vehicle common in deep to carry video and cable repair Video, lighting systems
water industries such as data signals between
oil, gas exploration the ROV and the ship. CFOS/T - Testing Utilize navigation aids to
Maintain and repair pilot ROV
FO systems and re-
terminate submersible Workplace safety
umbilcals

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