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The Certified Fiber Optic Technician course (CFOT-301) is designed to teach experienced Telecommunications Installers/Technicians the skills necessary to work with Fiber Optic Cabling. These skills include installation/troubleshooting techniques, termination procedures, splicing and fusing of both Single Fiber and Ribbon Fiber Optic Cable. Our course is certified by the Fiber Optic Association, www.TheFOA.org , and is both ANSI and NECA approved.
Course Synopsis:
The CFOT-301 course consists of a 40 hour training session that maintains a 50:50 split between Lecture and Laboratory (hand-on) activities. Students will learn the basics in Fiber Optic Technology, the use of specialized tools, diagnostic equipment, and industry standard installation procedures. This training is then applied to the actual installation and termination of SM and MM Single Fiber and Ribbon Cable in our training facility. A partial list of training exercises associated with this course is below:
- Terminating and Testing Fiber Optic Cable (FOC).
- Installing Mechanical Splices of FOC.
- Cutting, polishing and aligning various FOC.
- Using a Fusion Splicer to connect FOC.
- Using an OTDR to find faults/dB loss.
- Using a Light Power Source Meter to determine splice/connection compliance with NECA/FOA Installation Standards.
The CFOT-301 course provides a basic knowledge of FOC installation techniques, based on the NECA/FOA Installation Standard , (which consists of Industry recognized installation techniques, standards and codes), with a major emphasis placed on Fusion Splicing. In addition to having a major portion of the course devoted to actual hands-on splicing and termination, class sizes are limited to a maximum of 16 students per training module. This small class size allows our students more individualized access to our instructional staff, and maximum exposure to the “hands-on” exercises.
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Obtaining CFOT Certification
Once a student has completed the CFOT-301 course he or she must pass the CFOT exam.
The CFOT exam is a written exam consisting of 100 multiple choice, matching, and true/false questions. Students must answer at least 70 questions correctly to pass. The exam is based on the FOA-written textbook, The Fiber Optic Technicians Manual, and the NECA/FOA Installation Standard or the FOA Online Reference Textbook particularly the section Understanding Fiber Optics, the Basics, and the FOA Installation Tech Bulletin which should be used as references for any classes that aim toward FOA CFOT certification. In addition, Students are encouraged to read the The Fiber Optic Technicians Manual: FOTM and answer all the chapter questions. Once a student passes the exam the school forwards his/her name to the FOA which issues the certification.
Course Cost
The CFOT course cost is $1,300 which includes the following:
1. Registration Fees - $100 (Non-refundable)
2. Books and Materials Fees - $200
3. Tuition Costs - $1,000
Total $1,300
Full payment is due atleast one week prior to the class/module start, and students are encouraged to sign up and pay as early as possible since class size is limited, and enrollments are awarded on a first come first serve basis.
Tuition Refunds
As a licensed vocational training school with NYSED:BPSS all of our courses are subject to their tuition refund schedule. In accordance with these policies our refund schedule is as follows:
1. Registration fees are non-refundable.
2. Books and Materials Fees are refundable up to the first day of class.
3. Tuition fees are refunded using a prorated schedule based on the number of hours completed by the student upon termination (last date of attendance measured in classroom hours).
Students who begin the course, but leave the course before its completion date, can reenter training at a later date that is within 6 months of their last date of attendance. There will be a $50 reentry fee for this procedure. Students who withdraw from the course prior to the start date of the module will receive all of their money back less the registration fees. Students who withdraw from the course after the start date of the module, but never attended classes, will receive all of their money back less registration fees and a one day late termination fee.
Procedure For Obtaining a Refund
Students eligible for tuition refunds must request a refund in writing, and mail the request to the Director of the school. QBITTI will process the request in accordance with the refund schedule above, and mail the refund to the student.
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From The Tuition Reimbursement Fund
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"The Tuition Reimbursement Fund is designed to protect the financial interest of students attending proprietary schools. If a school closes while you are in attendance prior to the completion of your educational program, then you may be eligible for a refund of all tuition expenses, which you have paid. If you drop out prior to completion and you file a complaint against the school with the State Education Department, you may be eligible to receive a tuition refund if the State Education Department is able to provide factual support that your complaint is valid and to determine that there was a violation of Education Law or the Commissioner's Regulations as specified in Section 126.17 of the Commissioner's Regulations. To file a claim to the Tuition Reimbursement Fund, you must first file a complaint with the Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision, New York State Education Department, 116 West 32nd Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10001 or telephone (212) 643-4760. The staff of the State Education Department will assist you in the preparation of a tuition reimbursement form (a sample of this form should have been provided to you upon enrollment)."
A student, who was enrolled in a school that has not closed or ceased operation, and who has dropped out, is entitled to a tuition refund in accordance with the refund policy established by the school according to the guidelines outlined under subdivision 3 of section 5002 of the Education Law. Students will be entitled to make a tuition refund claim to the Tuition Reimbursement Fund if the school fails to make the refund within the time period required by the Education Law. In order to make a claim, claimants are required to show that:
1. The student is eligible for a refund;
2. The student has made a request to the school for a refund; and
3. The school has failed to make the refund within the time period required by the Education Law.
In order to claim a tuition refund, a student must apply to the Tuition Reimbursement Fund using the Tuition Reimbursement Claim Form provided by the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall compute the refund, if any, using the refund formula established by subdivision 3 of section 5002 of the Education Law. Please refer to the enclosed addendum titled WHAT You Should Know about Licensed and Registered Business Schools in New York State@ for further details about obtaining a refund from the Tuition Reimbursement Fund. Students can file a complaint, file a claim to the Tuition Reimbursement Fund, or get additional information by contacting:
New York State Education Department
Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision
116 West 32nd Street, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Attention: Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision
(212) 643-4760
Financial Aid
Unfortunately, due to the short length of this course, it is not eligible for financial aid.
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Books and Materials
The cost for books and materials includes the The Fiber Optic Technicians Manual: (FOTM), a binder, pens and pencils, calculator, filler paper, highlighter, ruler, and index cards. These items become the property of the student after the first day of class, and QBITTI provides this material to its CFOT students on the first day of class. In addition, we provide the students with all training materials, testing equipment and tools necessary for completing the course. CFOT students are not required to purchase any additional tools or supplies to participate in the course.
Schedule of Classes
The CFOT schedule of classes can be found by clicking this link: http://www.qbitti.com/schedule.html
Standards of Progress
Students are required to be in class on-time, everyday. However, a student can be absent once from a module and still be allowed to take the certification exam. Students who miss 2 or more days must make up this time in a later module in order to be eligible for the CFOT exam. Students who fail to make up this time within 6 months of the graduation date of their initial module will be required to pay an additional tuition fee in order to satisfy the course requirements. In addition, students must pass the CFOT exam with a 70% or better to obtain the CFOT certification.
Entry Requirements:
In accordance with the licensing provisions granted by the NYSED:BPSS, the following minimum admission requirements apply to all students who are considering attending our schools:
1. The student must demonstrate an interest in this type of training.
2. The student must have at least a high school diploma or GED
3. The student must be able to distinguish color-coding in electrical schematics, technical service manuals and electronic components.
4 The student must have manual dexterity with good hand-to-eye coordination.
5. The student must be able to converse verbally in English.
6. The student must be able to lift at least 20 pounds, and bend for extended periods.
7. Students must be either graduates of the QBITTI Telecommunications Technician Program, or have 3 years previous Telecommunications experience and/or training.
Applying for the Course
Applicants must fill out a CFOT application, plus any associated support documentation, and submit it for review to QBITTI staff at least 2 weeks before the start of class. Applications can be found by following/clicking on this link: http://www.qbitti.com/faqs/downloads.html Completed applications can be faxed to (718) 392-5774, or sent as attachments to Admissions@qbitti.com. In addition to the application students must also submit an employment verification waiver form if they are using their employment history to satisfy entrance requirement #7. The employment verification waiver form can be found at this link: http://www.qbitti.com/faqs/downloads.html Applications and employment verification waiver forms must be submitted together. Incomplete applications will be returned, and may be subject to automatic refusal. Students should note that if a former employer does not respond to the query regarding their past employment, that a separate employment verification letter may be necessary. An example of this type of letter can be found in: http://www.qbitti.com/faqs/downloads.html
Additional Documentation
In accordance with NYSED:BPSS regulations QBITTI is required to obtain some additional documentation before we can allow a student to begin training. These documents are due with your tuition payment, and copies are accepted. The list is as follows:
1. Proof of Identity – Acceptable proof includes a Drivers License, Birth Certificate, Passport, Non-drivers ID, and Resident Alien Card
2. Social Security Card
3. High School Diploma of G.E.D.
4. In some cases where independent employment verification was incomplete, an original employment verification letter, on company letterhead, from your former employer stating your job title and dates of employment is needed. A sample employment verification letter can be found at this link: http://www.qbitti.com/faqs/downloads.html
If you have any questions regarding the CFOT course, or any of its requirements or procedures, please call us at (718) 392-4156, or send an e-mail to Ncuomo@QBITTI.com. We will answer your questions as soon as possible.
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