Training Sessions

What: Become a Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT®) through the GoFar globally accredited Fiber Optic Association (FOA) training center

Why: When you complete the course and pass the exam, you will become a CFOT®, and you will hold an FOA globally recognized certificate to show proven knowledge, skills, and ability in the fiber optics field.  Many companies require FOA CFOT® certification for personnel working with fiber optics.

For a complete list of training locations and dates, see below.

Prerequisites: None

How:  Attend training, a combination of class (25%) and hands on (75%), take the exam, achieve 70% or greater score, and become FOA CFOT certified in the field of fiber optics.

Cost: $1500 (includes 5 days instruction, test fees, book, lunch)

About the school: GoFar is FOA approved school #345.  Certifications: CFOT, CPCT, CFOS/O/D/H/C/S/T/L

Instructor: Lee Renfroe

 

What To Expect In the CFOT® Certification Training Class

• Overview of  fiber optic theory, history, applications, and installations (multimode, singlemode, dB, dBm, fiber design)
• Communications systems utilizing fiber optics
• Fiber optic components appropriate for fiber optic networks
• Installation of premises and outside plant fiber optic cable
• Prepolished and splice on connectors
• Fusion splicing
• Wall mount and rack mount enclosures
• Testing fiber optic components and cable plants (OLTS, OTDR)
• Hands-On Lab Exercises including hands-on splicing, termination and testing
• Final Exam

CFOT® - Certified Fiber Optic Technician - is the primary FOA (Fiber Optic Association) certification for all fiber optic technicians. CFOTs have a broad knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) in fiber optics that can be applied to almost any job - design, installation, operation – and for almost any application using fiber optic communications.

 

How Does One Qualify for the FOA CFOT?

FOA CFOT certification means the person with a CFOT has demonstrated extensive basic knowledge of fiber optics and demonstrated skills and abilities in processes used in the industry. These requirements are summarized as KSAs (knowledge, skills, abilities). Here are KSAs for the CFOT certification.

Knowledge is tested in the FOA CFOT exam taken by all applicants.

Skills will be demonstrated in hands-on lab exercises and verified by instructors in this FOA-Approved course.

Abilities: Fiber optic techs will learn and show the ability to perform relevant tasks.

Take FOA certified CFOT course exam, achieve 70% score, and receive your CFOT Certification.

 

CFOT training is approved for 23 BICSI CEC credits.

Register for FOA CFOT Training Class

Click on the link in the table below to register for a training webinar.

For more information or help, please contact Theresa via email, or +1.865.200.4125 via phone.

 

What: Become a Certified Premises Cabling Technician (CPCT) through the GoFar globally accredited Fiber Optic Association (FOA) training center

Why: When you complete the course and pass the exam, you will become a CPCT, and you will hold a globally recognized certificate to show proven knowledge, skills, and ability in the Premises Cabling field.  Many companies require certification for personnel working with premises cabling.

For a complete list of training locations and dates, see below.

Prerequisites: None

How:  Attend training, a combination of class (25%) and hands on (75%), take the exam, achieve 70% or greater score, and become FOA CFOT certified in the field of fiber optics.

Cost: $800 (includes 3 days instruction, test fees, book, lunch)

About the school: GoFar is FOA approved school #345.  Certifications: CFOT, CPCT, CFOS/O/D/H/C/S/T/L

Link to Agenda

Instructor: Lee Renfroe

 

What To Expect In the CPCT Certification Training Class

• Overview of  premises cabling systems -copper, fiber and wireless

• Communications systems utilizing premises cabling
• Premises cabling standards
• UTP and coax copper cabling
• Fiber optic cabling
• Cabling for wireless
• Design of premises cabling networks
• Installation of  premises cabling
• Testing copper and  fiber optic cable plants
• Hands-On Lab Exercises including cable preparation, termination and testing

Typical Field Experience For Direct CPCT Certification (Work to Cert)

To qualify for the CPCT certification, at least two years of relevant field experience is  required, including documented experience installing and testing  premises cabling networks. Training by employers, manufacturers or vendors of cabling products may be recognized as part of the experience requirements.

Field experience installing and testing  premises cabling networks must include the following:

• Participation in multiple installation jobs, preferably including building and campus installations
• Installing various cable types and hardware
• Terminating UTP and coax cable and fiber optics,
• Testing copper and fiber cables
• Experience with appropriate tools and test equipment

What To Study To Prepare For The Exam
For preparation for the CPCT course or direct exam, you should study the FOA textbook take the self-study Fiber U Premises Cabling online course,

 

CPCT - Certified Premises Cabling Technician - is the FOA certification for designers, installers and operators of premises cabling networks. Premises cabling refers to building and campus cabling that is generally customer-owned and used for local area networks of computers (LANs), security systems (CCTV and alarms), building management systems, distributed antenna systems (DAS for cellular and WiFI) and other applications like industrial systems, electrical distribution management systems, etc.

FOA CPCT certification includes all types of infrastructure for premises cabling and communications - copper and fiber cabling and wireless systems. CPCT certification is based on KSAs (knowledge, skills and abilities) that require a knowledge of cabling and wireless technology and standards along with demonstrated skills in the installation of copper and fiber cabling system to support networks. Most CPCTs will work as contractors and installers, although the certification provides excellent training for IT or security personnel responsible for the operation of networks. CPCT courses will generally be 50% hands-on labs developing the skills necessary for working with premises cabling systems.

FOA CPCT certification is available as a first level FOA certification for those with no prior FOA certifications. Those who already have CFOTs will learn more about copper, wireless and how fiber is used in structured cabling networks.

 

How Does One Qualify for the FOA CPCT?

FOA CPCT certification means the person has demonstrated extensive basic knowledge of copper cabling, fiber optics and wireless as used in premises cabling systems. They have also demonstrated skills and abilities in the processes used in the industry for installation. These requirements are summarized as  KSAs (knowledge, skills, abilities).

Knowledge is tested in the FOA CPCT exam taken by all applicants.

Skills can be demonstrated in hands-on lab exercises and verified by instructors giving an FOA-Approved course or for those already working in the industry, verified industry experience.

Abilities: Techs need the ability to perform relevant tasks, evidenced by showing skills in hands-on tasks.

There are two paths to CPCT certification: 1) training at an FOA-Approved school or 2) experience in the industry and other training or self-study using the Fiber U Premises Cabling online course, as preparation for taking the FOA CPCT exam.

Anyone who attends a CPCT course at an FOA-Approved school will take the exam as part of the course. 

 

Find an FOA-Approved school

 

Experienced techs can apply directly for FOA  Certification through FOA's "Work to Cert" Direct Certification Program

 

What Training Is Required To Take The Exam?

Most CPCTs obtain their certification by attending an FOA Approved school. The exam is based on the FOA-written textbooks, The FOA Reference Guide to Premises Cabling or the FOA Online Reference Guide website for those who wish to study for it themselves.Studying for the exam can also be done online using the Fiber U Premises Cabling online course.

For those wanting a formal course of study, there are many FOA-approved schools that include the FOA CPCT in their programs. To see what is involved in the courses, see  Detailed Curriculum Requirements For FOA-Approved Training Programs.


FOA Schools Use These CPCT Curriculum Topics:

• Introduction to Premises Cabling
• Structured Cabling Description and Standards
• Premises Wiring
• Premises Fiber Optics
• Wireless
• Hands-on Labs: Wiring (cable, punchdowns, jacks and plugs) and fiber optics (premises cabling, termination and testing)

Preparing For The CPCT Exam

If you are planning on taking the CPCT exam, you need to study the materials on which the exam is based. The exam is a written exam consisting of 100 multiple choice, matching and true false questions. The exam is based on the FOA-written textbook, The FOA Reference Guide to Premises Cabling or the FOA Online Reference Guide website. For a guide to self-study for the FOA CPCT exam, go to Fiber U, the FOA free online self-study website.

You should take the self-study Fiber U Premises Cabling online course and obtain a certificate of completion or read the FOA textbook or Online Reference Guide and answer all the chapter or section questions.

 

Register for FOA CPCT Training Class

Click on the link in the table below to register for a training webinar.

For more information or help, please contact Theresa via email, or +1.865.200.4125 via phone.