For the November 2023 Fiber Optic training, SOWELA is offering AT&T Fiber Optic Scholarships to cover CFOT, CFOS/T and CFOS/S classes. These are the certifications needed to launch a new career as a Fiber Optic Technician. Eight scholarships are available to those with low-to-moderate income and will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Click on the "Apply Now" button below to apply and then complete a SOWELA scholarship application. Call SOWELA's Workforce Solutions Office at (337) 421-6560 once you register to complete the process.
This introductory fiber optic tech course is designed for anyone interested in becoming a Certified Fiber Optic Technician. This Fiber Optic Training combines theory and 85% hands-on activities to prepare the student to take the CFOT (Certified Fiber Optic Technician) test that is sanctioned by the FOA (Fiber Optics Association). The certification exam will be given and graded at the end of class. This course also introduces the student to industry standards governing FTTD (Fiber To The Desk), FTTH (Fiber To The Home), and Distribution Cabling. Students will learn how to identify fiber types, recognize various connectors used in fiber installation, and install, terminate, splice, and properly test installed fiber cable to existing standards. This program explores the history and future of fiber optics and fiber optics capabilities, and basic testing and troubleshooting. Anyone interested in becoming a Certified Fiber Optics Technician should attend this class. Includes study material, text book, test fees, and 1 year membership to FOA (Fiber Optic Association).
This program is designed to offer advanced training to anyone involved with the testing and maintenance of fiber optics networks. A focal point in the program is to offer a general, easy to understand approach to fiber optics testing standards with little theory and considerable hands on activities. This comprehensive program explains the variety of testing standards, equipment and technological approaches used in fiber network testing and splicing and how to choose among them. This 85% hands-on course explores the overall spectrum of testing and maintenance of single-mode fiber optics networks and provides a detailed overview and demonstration of various pieces of equipment used in testing and maintenance. Subject matter includes a detailed study of ANSI/TIA/EIA-526(7)A, OTDR fundamentals and uses, OTDR vs. Insertion Loss Testing, Return Loss Testing, and Attenuation testing using the Power Source and Light Meter. Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) Course Completion Prerequisite Required.
This program Splicing Specialist Training includes a complete PowerPoint presentation explaining the importance of high-performance splicing and further details the points necessary to achieve these splices. The depth of this presentation is much greater than most textbooks and provides background information about splicing that is very important to the student. An overview of OTDR functions and trace understanding is also provided during this presentation, 85% hands-on classroom activities will provide training in both fusion and mechanical splicing of either single or multi-mode fiber optic cables. Inside or outside plant fiber cable types will be utilized at instructor's discretion during these hands-on sessions along with fiber optics enclosures and splice trays. The student will be responsible for successfully making and testing both mechanical and fusion splices. In addition to the basic splicing activities outlined above, the student will further be required to correctly and efficiently install spliced fibers into splice trays and enclosures. The student will further be required to achieve a splice loss of less than 0.15 dB for all splices and demonstrate proficiency in interpretation of splice loss using OTDR splice traces. Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) Course Completion Prerequisite Required.
This fiber optic specialist course is for students who will be directly involved with installing Outside Plant (OSP) Fiber Optics Cabling. Further, it is an add-on course to their FOA portfolio once they have successfully completed the 3-day, basic CFOT course and can be taken the same week with the CFOT course. This advanced Fiber Optic Training combines lecture sessions and 85% hands-on activities to prepare the student to take the CFOS/O, OSP hands on and written exams that are sanctioned by the FOA (Fiber Optics Association) and given and graded the final class day. This course introduces the student to industry standards governing the installation, testing, and troubleshooting of OSP fiber optics cable – primarily singlemode OSP cable used in the Outside Plant Rugged Environment. Students will learn how to properly identify OSP fiber cabling types, recognize various outside plant closures used in OSP fiber installation, install, prepare, terminate, splice, and properly test and troubleshoot installed OSP fiber cable to existing standards. **Prerequisite Required
This Fiber To The Home Specialist course is a comprehensive program to introduce the fiber optics technician to Fiber to the Home architectures being utilized, advantages and disadvantages of each and types of components necessary to complete a FTTH fiber segment. Upon completion of this course, the student will be familiar with why FTTH is being implemented today, including technical, marketing, and financial justifications. The student will further be familiar with the technical details and attributes of specialized FTTH components such as: splitters/couplers and wavelength-division multiplexers and the requirements for cables, connectors, splices, and associated hardware. FTTH design and installation requirements will be discussed in detail. The student will be able to successfully install, test, troubleshoot, and maintain FTTH links as a result of real world, hands-on training sessions. **Prerequisite Required
For more information, please contact kylie.roussell@sowela.edu or call (337) 421-6560.