CPCT - Certified Premises Cabling Technician

Overview

This 5-day fiber optics CPCT - Certified Premises Cabling Technician - is the FOA certification for designers, installers and operators of premises cabling networks. Premises cabling refers to building and campus cabling that is generally customer-owned and used for local area networks of computers (LANs), security systems (CCTV and alarms), building management systems, distributed antenna systems (DAS for cellular and WiFI) and other applications inside buildings or on a campus. The FOA CPCT certification KSAs cover copper and fiber optic cabling and wireless communications.

Outcomes of the CPCT Certification

FOA CPCT Premises Cabling Technician certification means the person with a CPCT certification has demonstrated extensive capability in installing and operating of premises cabling networks. These requirements are summarized as KSAs (knowledge, skills, abilities). KSAs for the CPCT certification can be found in Section 1 of your CPCT Student Manual.

• Knowledge is tested with the FOA CPCT exam taken by all applicants at the end of class.
• Skills can be demonstrated in hands-on lab exercises and verified by instructors giving an FOA-Approved course.    
• Abilities: Fiber optic techs need the ability to perform relevant tasks, evidenced by showing skills in hands-on tasks during class hands-on splicing activities.

Course Objectives

To achieve the CPCT Certified Premises Cabling Technician certification, the training program will cover at least the following topics and requirements:

• Overview of  premises cabling systems -copper, fiber and wireless
• Communications systems utilizing premises cabling
• Premises cabling standards
• UTP and coax copper cabling
• Fiber optic cabling
• Cabling for wireless
• Design of premises cabling networks
• Installation of  premises cabling
• Testing copper and  fiber optic cable plants
• Hands-On Lab Exercises including cable preparation, termination and testing

Benefits of FOA Certifications

Like any certification program, the benefits to the members who pass the certification tests are based on the recognition of achieving a level of competence in the fiber optics field. For the end user looking for competent fiber optic personnel, it is the knowledge that this person has demonstrated knowledge and ability in the field and, perhaps even has documented experience. For the vendor of fiber optic products, it offers a technically- qualified pool of employees as well as contractors to recommend to end user customers who need to find installers for their networks. Many companies require FOA certifications or even offer FOA certifications to their personnel through internal training classes..