CFOS/O – Certified Fiber Optic Specialist – Outside Plant (OSP) Cabling


Exam Fee Included in Tuition!

 This course is sanctioned by the Fiber Optic Association (FOA), the largest professional society of fiber optics in the world. FOA courses offered by BDI DataLynk are recognized by The US Department of Labor.

Course Description

This 2-day, 16-hour fiber optic specialist course is designed for students who will be directly involved in installing Outside Plant (OSP) Fiber Optics Cabling. The instructor will cover industry standards for installing, testing, and troubleshooting OSP fiber optics cable, focusing primarily on single mode OSP cable used in rugged outdoor environments. Students will learn to identify OSP fiber cabling types, recognize various outside plant closures used in OSP fiber installation, and develop skills in installing, preparing, terminating, splicing, testing, and troubleshooting OSP fiber cables to current standards. Combining lecture sessions with 85% hands-on activities, this training prepares students for the CFOS/O, OSP hands-on and written exams.

The student must pass (meaning 70% of the questions must be answered correctly) on both the written and hands-on exams to successfully pass this course. All exams are closed-book. Tuition includes all books/study materials, exam fees and three-year membership to the FOA.
 

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Course Objective

Prepare students to take the Fiber Optics Specialist Outside Plant (OSP) Certification Exam (Written and Hands-On). Enable student to effectively and efficiently troubleshoot, test, identify, and repair OSP fiber network cabling, and provide QA (Quality Assurance) procedures.

Prerequisites

*As of January 1, 2015, the student MUST have, within the preceding 12 months, either successfully passed the basic CFOT course OR have renewed their FOA membership prior to attending any FOA Specialist courses offered by BDI Datalynk. There are no exceptions.

Method of assessing whether course objective was met

Along with chapter tests, class discussions, and substantial hands-on activities, the CFOS/O exam (both written and practical) is given and graded at the end of the class. Upon successful completion, students will receive a certification at the end of the program.
 

Instructors

Our field-experienced, FOA/BDI certified leaders will guide students through their training.

Note: Instructors are assigned to each location by BDI.

Michael Rauch  
Tom Rauch Michael Rauch Kerry Hammer

Contact (Instructional) Hours

16 hours (Approximately)

Note: Actual number of hours may vary depending on number of students.

Physical demands

  • Students must be able to see, manipulate, and hold small tools and test equipment.
  • Students must have the ability to announce to anyone in the classroom that lasers are about to be turned on or are currently on and active.
  • Student must be able to hear and react to the announcement from anyone in the classroom that lasers are about to be turned on or currently active.

Tuition

Varies by location

Please check with your individual course location coordinator.

Textbook

FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics: Study Guide to FOA Certification by Jim Hayes.

Supplementary study materials includes Student Lab Manual.

Course Outline

Day 1:
  • Introduction: OSP Plant Cabling
  • OSP Cable Preparation
  • Installation of Fan Out Kits and Connectors
  • Hands On activities begin. Students are required to build, troubleshoot and test an actual, outside plant fiber optics cabling system.
  • Closures: Types and Hardware
  • Splicing: Mechanical and Fusion
  • Preparation and Cleaning of OSP Cable
  • Fiber Optics Safety
  • Hands-on Session Continues.
  • Study Question Review Session
Day 2:
  • Lecture Session Continues
  • Hands On Session Continues
  • OTDR, OLTS, VFL Procedures
  • OSP Fiber Plant Testing, Troubleshooting and Repair
  • Study Question Review Session
  • Written and Hands-on Exams: Students must pass both written and hands-on exams to receive FOA Certification.
  • Certificates issued to successful students.

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