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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 Ð 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 Ðoutside plant specialist course

 

(CFOT+CFOS/O can be combined into one 40 hour course)

 

Additional Specialist Certifications:

CFOS/S Ð 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 Ðoutside plant specialist course

 

(CFOT+CFOS/O can be combined into one 40 hour course)

 

Additional Specialist Certifications:

CFOS/W Ð Fiber for Wireless

 

CFOS/A - Fiber to the Antenna


CFOS/DAS - Premises fiber for DAS

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 Ð Fiber Optic Design

Network Management

 

AutoCAD or other ÒComputer Aided DesignÓ 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 Ðoutside 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 Ðoutside 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 Ð 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 Ð use portable FO sensors in the field Ð OSP with ruggedized cables and connectors

 

Extraction Ð oil fields, off-shore derricks Ð monitoring and control of extraction processes

 

Refining Ð industrial process control Ð classic industrial application

CFOT

 

CFOS/O Ðoutside plant specialist course

 

(CFOT+CFOS/O can be combined into one 40 hour course)

 

CPCT Ð 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 Ð

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 Ðoutside plant specialist course

 

(CFOT+CFOS/O can be combined into one 40 hour course)

 

CFOS/H Ð Fiber-to-the-Home

 

A FTTX tech is required to set up services for phone, Internet and video inside the home.


Military Ð Both OSP & premises

The military uses fiber everywhere, on bases Ð 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 Ð more reliable and lighter.

Outside Plant:

CFOT

 

CFOS/O Ðoutside 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 Ð good for harsh environments, safety/no sparking, ground isolation, noise immunity

 

Both installation and maintenance

Troubleshooting Ð 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 Ð

 

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 Ð 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 (ROVÕs)

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 Ð 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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