EYE ON FIBER

The Two Advantages Of Certified Installation Personnel

The Benefit Of Certification

At various levels, the Fiber Optic Association (FOA) process of certification requires knowledge, examination and hands-on experience or training.

This certification has two benefits: reduced cost and increased reliability.

Reduced cost results from reductions in both errors during installation and the time required for the installation activities. These reductions in errors result from the knowledge that the FOA certification process requires and demonstrates.

The FOA Certification Process

During the last 12 years, the Fiber Optic Association developed its certification process with the effort of its Board of Directors and Board of Advisors. These two boards, with a total experience of more than 230 man-years in fiber optic communications, defined the knowledge required to be successful during installation. No other organization has applied this amount and level of experience to developing an unbiased certification process.

This knowledge, codified in Successful Fiber Optic Installation- The Essentials and the FOA installers manual, represents the unbiased knowledge required to perform the installation actions properly and with high reliability.

Personnel who pass the FOA closed-book examinations demonstrate their mastery of this knowledge.

The FOA AFOT and three CFOS certifications require development and demonstration of skills and abilities, either through hands-on training or field experience. The CFOS certification demonstrates the presence of these skills and abilities through the requirement for specific repetitions of the key installation activities. With such demonstration through activities, personnel will exhibit reduced time wasted in errors and reduced time spent in the installation activities.

The FOA certification process requires development of knowledge, skills and abilities. With such development, personnel will perform their installation activities in accordance with appropriate rules and proper procedures. Such performance can serve only to maximize installed reliability.

To date, the FOA has certified more than 20,000 CFOTs in the US and abroad.

The Benefit Of Pearson Technologies Certification Training

Pearson Technologies installation training and skill development programs are compliant with the superior certification process created and administered by the Fiber Optic Association (www.thefoa.org). In fact, many of the aspects of this certification process were modeled on the Pearson Technologies basic and advanced training programs. These basic programs began in 1990. These advanced programs began in 1993 and 1994, prior to the formation of the FOA, in response to requests from NASA contractors and military organizations. In addition, the FOA has approved and chosen Successful Fiber Optic Installation- The Essentials as the reference text for the CFOS certifications. In summary, attendance at the Pearson Technologies programs enables the attendee to receive six FOA certifications, as indicated below.

Certification	Program
CFOT, AFOT	FiberPro 1
AFOT	FiberPro 1-2
CFxT	FiberPro 1x
CFOS/C, AFOT	FiberPro 2
CFOS/T, AFOT	FiberPro 3
CFOS/S, AFOT	FiberPro 4

Respectfully submitted for your consideration,

Eric R. Pearson, CPC, CFOS

President

Pearson Technologies Inc.

FiberPro is a registered trademark of Pearson Technologies Inc.

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