Basic certification includes Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT), Certified Fiber Optic Technician for FTTx (CFxT), and Certified Premises Cabling Technician (CPCT). The CFOT covers general fiber optics. The CFxT covers fiber to homes, premises and curbs. The CPCT covers fiber, copper and wireless in building and campus networks. The Advanced Fiber Optic Technician (AFOT) is for those who have completed the CFOT (required), CPCT, or CFxT and have work experience. Specialist certifications, which include Certified Fiber Optic Specialist (CFOS) and Certified Fiber Optic Specialist-Designer/Fiber Optic Network Design (CFOS/D) are for fiber optic technicians who already have a CFOT and AFOT.
There are over 135 FOA-approved schools in the United States. There are five schools in Canada and over 30 international schools located in the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand. Schools in the United States and Canada are diverse and include 4-year universities, community colleges, vocational-technical schools, training companies, private companies, job corps programs and National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) schools. International schools are primarily run by training companies.
Courses at 4-year universities are typically offered as part of a continuing education program. Courses at vocational-technical schools and community colleges are either part of the continuing education program or for credit as part of an academic curriculum. Training companies provide course offerings either at their facility, corporate client locations, military bases or as self-study courses. Most of the private companies, for example, Lockheed Martin, provide training only for employees. NJATC schools are only open to members of National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
NJATC schools are for those applying to be accepted into an IBEW/NECA Joint Apprenticeship Training Program (JATC). Each local JATC program provides training for electrical workers in a specific geographical area and application must be made to the JATC in the area where you reside. There are four specialty areas in the NJATC program in which you can apprentice: outside lineman, inside wireman, residential wiremen, and video, voice and data (VDV) installer technician. Fiber optic cabling installation falls under the VDV installer technician's job description.