Parkland College

About Parkland College

Parkland College is a public community college in Champaign, Illinois, serving 12 counties across Central Illinois through Community College District 505. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1972, Parkland enrolls roughly 9,000 students a year and offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs alongside a broad workforce and continuing education catalog.

BDI DataLynk delivers FOA fiber optic certification classes at Parkland through the college’s Workforce Development division, which is based at Parkland on Mattis, the college’s continuing education site separate from the main Bradley Avenue campus. The lineup centers on the FiberOptiX Bootcamp, which earns three certifications in one week: CFOT, CFOS/T, and CFOS/S.

Parkland also runs a Fiber Optics Technician apprenticeship through its Workforce Development division. Apprentices train in fiber optic cable installation and maintenance, learning to set up, maintain, and troubleshoot fiber optic networks while gaining hands-on experience. Apprenticeships at Parkland are employer-sponsored, and the college’s apprenticeship team guides students through enrollment from application to class registration.

How Registration Works

Fiber optic certification classes at Parkland are registered through the college’s Workforce Development program. When you register, you are enrolling as a non-credit student at Parkland. BDI provides the instructor, curriculum, and all training equipment, while the college handles enrollment and facilities. Employers interested in the Fiber Optics Technician apprenticeship can work with Parkland’s Workforce Development team to sponsor and place apprentices.

Visit Parkland College’s Fiber Optics Technician program to learn more and connect with Workforce Development.

Getting Here

Parkland is in Champaign, part of the Champaign-Urbana metro and home to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The area is reached by Interstate 57 and Interstate 72, with Interstate 74 crossing the metro as well, making it an easy drive from across Central Illinois and beyond. Out-of-town students have many lodging options within a short drive, including Hampton Inn Champaign Southwest off I-57 near I-72, Drury Inn & Suites Champaign, and Hyatt Place Champaign-Urbana.