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School Update/Renewal Form Requirements For FOA Training Programs
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Ask Lennie Lightwave
The FOA is an international non-profit educational association that is chartered to promote professionalism in fiber optics through education, certification and standards. FOA is also an internationally recognized certifying body for fiber optics. Read more.
Search the FOA website or Ask Lennie Lightwave
Privacy Policy FOA Policy on use of its intellectual property
The June 2026 FOA Newsletter is now online.
Everyone talks about the shortage of competent fiber optic techs, but some FOA Schools are doing something about it - recruiting and training women who currently represent only a few percent of the fiber optic workforce. Read about how FOA Schools are running programs to recruit and train women and how successful their recruits can be in the field.
Ever think about cables as art? Artists do. FOA shows how one artist incorporates cables into her paintings and how another uses art to document the issues with rural broadband.
In the News: Cellular service providers are looking to satellites to expand service in rural areas. Birds build nests from fiber. And we look at markets for fiber, European FTTH and submarine cables.
Tech: The manual methods of drilling for fiber ducts are explained. We answer questions about training for HCF and MCF and tell what one industry insider says about SOCs.
Also in this month's Newsletter: Worth Reading has links to some news articles worth reading.
Read about it in the FOA Newsletter .
Women Who Splice - Free Progarm
College Trains 500 CFOTs and Including A Successful Woman in Fiber
Telecom/Broadband Art
Cellular Joint Venture For Satellite To Device
Bird's Nest Of Fiber
CRU Monitors Fiber Prices
Fiber Market Pressures In Europe
$16B Planned For Submarine Cables
Manual and Pneumatic Piercing Tools
OSHA-10 Training Course
New Mass Fusion Splicer With Smarts
Training for Installing HCF and MCF
Comments from an Industry Insider on SOCs
Read about it in the latest FOA Newsletter
New Fiber U Broadband Self Study Program
As we do continuously in our fast moving technology, FOA has been updating our broadband technical web pages to reflect these changes. Like the FOA book on broadband, we are also aiming for a broader audience, not just fiber techs, but engineers, scientists and managers wanting to understand today's world of communications.
At the same time, we added a new Fiber U self-study program on Broadband. The course includes 10 lessons that cover the full scope of broadband technologies:The Fiber U self-study program about Broadband.
A New Way To Use The FOA Online Knowledge Base
FOA has created a new AI driven search for the FOA website. You can "Ask Lennie Lightwave" anything about fiber optic technology, the FOA or FOA certifications and it will search the ~1,000 page of information on the FOA website for the answer.
New FOA Standard for Installing Fiber Optic Cable Plants
FOA has created a standard for installation of fiber optic cable plants. Using the expertise of FOA's worldwide network of tech advisors, FOA has created a standards that recognizes that every fiber optic project is unique and offers guidelines to installing the cable plant "in a neat and workmanlike manner."
More about the new FOA Standard.
Available as a free download or purchase printed or Kindle versions online at Amazon.
New Edition Of FOA Design Book Includes Project Management
FOA has just published a new edition of its textbook on fiber optic network design, an expanded version with new material covering project management. Fiber optic network design and network management are closely related topics, both highly important in the success of a fiber project. This book is the textbook for FOA CFOS/D certification courses training fiber optic techs to design fiber optic networks. The topics are linked to supplemental material also available online in the FOA Guide.
Adding project planning and management provides more information about the beginning of a project, from concept through planning and including things a manager needs to know to get a project off the ground. It also expands on the project manager role in planning and overseeing the installation of the cable plant.
The new book is available as a paperback or Kindle book. You can buy it from Amazon or local booksellers worldwide.
The Fiber U Design self study program has also been updated for project management.
Enhance your safety with the FOA Safety Vest.
It's well made and distinctive.
**Introducing The FOA Microcredential In Fiber Optics for all professionals working in fiber optics
Now available in Spanish - Ahora también disponible en español
FOA is best known as the certifying body for the nearly 100,000 FOA-certified fiber optic technicians who build worldwide networks. FOA has been asked many times about recognition for other professionals in fiber optics. FOA now offers the FOA Microcredential in Fiber Optics, which recognizes professionals working in all areas of fiber optics; management, manufacturing, marketing/sales/distribution as well as managers/planners/supervisors for networks.
New Edition Available
FOA has published a new edition of our textbook on basic fiber optics, used in training for the CFOT certification. The latest version of the FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics is different enough we call it a new edition. Many of the updates are for new technologies which are reshaping the fiber optic industry like coherent transmission, BI fibers, etc. We've also added a section on the fiber optic workforce which has much relevance because this book is used to train those entering the workforce.
We've also worked on making the book more readable, adding formatting that eases reading and a new comprehensive index. Inflation was an issue, but the price only goes up 2to2 to 2to29.95 for the paperback and $12.95 for the Kindle version. Available on Amazon and your local bookseller.
The BLS "Telecommunications Technicians" Web Page
Created with the assistance of FOA, the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook web pages offer job descriptions for fiber optic and wireless techs and better job statistics that put some reality in discussions about how many more fiber techs the US needs. It also provides a reference for grants applications. _The New BLS "Telecommunications Technicians" Web Page.
Fiber U Offers Free Online Self-Study Programs And A "Fiber U Certificate of Completion" For All FOA Certification Subjects.
Fiber U Courses cover all topics on fiber optics and are designed as preparation for taking a classroom course or taking a FOA certification exam.
New free courses:
****The Fiber U self-study program about "Broadband" and** Fiber U "Fiber Optic Safety" self-study program.
Fiber U MiniCourses - Learn something useful in an hour or less.New Fiber U MiniCourse Fiber Optic Project Management More at Fiber U.
FOA Book on Fiber Broadband - Popular With Broadband Planners
2026 2nd Edition
This book is not the typical FOA technical textbook - it is written for anyone who wants to understand fiber broadband or fiber optics or the Internet. It's also aimed at managers involved with broadband projects, teachers who want to include communications technology in their classes or anyone who just wonders how all this stuff works.
The Fiber Optic Association Guide To Fiber Broadband
Paperback ($19.95) and Kindle ($12.95) versions available from Amazon or most booksellers. Kindle version is in color!
Nobody knows more about fiber broadband than the Fiber Optic Association. Check out our Fiber Broadband Resources Page. If you are working on an IIJA/BEAD program contact us for a special package of educational materials for your staff.
For Schools and Instructors
If your organization is interested in becoming an FOA Approved School, see New School Requirements and Application Procedures and Requirements For FOA Training Programs.
If you are a current FOA Approved School, here is the School Update/Renewal Form.
Classroom Resources For STEM Teachers In K-12 And Technical Schools
Teachers in all grades can introduce their students to fiber optic technology with some simple demonstrations. FOA has created a page for STEM or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) teachers with materials appropriate to their classes. Fiber Optic Resources For STEM Teachers.
FOA also has a new YouTube Video on "Careers in Fiber Optics" and a "Careers In Fiber Optics" Website. See below.
FOA has a YouTube Video on "Careers in Fiber Optics" and a "Careers In Fiber Optics" Website.
Interested in exploring a career in fiber optics? FOA has created a YouTube Video and a webpage that describes what a fiber optic worker does, where they work and how to get started. It's mainly aimed at high school students but it's relevant to anyone interested in changing careers also. Go here for the YouTube Video on "Careers in Fiber Optics" or the FOA Careers In Fiber Optics webpage.
FOA"Finding A Job" Website
We get many questions from CFOTs, students at FOA-Approved schools and others contemplating getting into the fiber optic business regarding jobs in fiber optics - and how to find them - so we’ve created a new web page to share some information we've gathered about jobs in our industry. The information is designed to help you understand what jobs are available in fiber optics, how to find them and apply for them.
Looking For A Job In Fiber Optics?
Where Are The Jobs In Fiber Optics? This FOA YouTube Video talks about all the applications for fiber optics, what the jobs involve and the qualifications for the workers in the field. If you are currently looking for a job in fiber optics, here is the FOA's guide to jobs web page. TheFOA Jobs Web Page has been updated and a new page added on Using your FOA Training/Certification to Find the Right Job in Fiber Optics
If you have job openings, let us post them on 
.
FOA Videos
The FOA has a special FOA channel on YouTube, thefoainc, where we've posted over 110 instructional videos and lectures for everyone's use. We've got lectures on premises cabling and fiber optics and hands-on demonstrations about fiber optics and communications cabling - yes, even "Cat 5"!
FOA channel on YouTube, thefoainc
FOA on LinkedIn - a community, jobs and technical discussions
FOA - official company page on LinkedIn
FOA - covers FOA, technology and jobs in the fiber optic marketplace
Grupo de La Asociación de Fibra Óptica FOA (Español)
FOA Fiber Optic Training - open to everyone, covers fiber optic technology and training topics
FOA School Instructors - a closed group for instructors and administrators at FOA-approved schools
FOA Reference Books (Printed or Kindle eBooks!)
The FOA has it's own reference books for everyone working in fiber optics - contractors, installers and end users as well as for use as textbooks in classes at educational institutions. They are available as printed books or Kindle at much lower prices than most textbooks since we self-publish and sell online, cutting out the middlemen. Click on the book images for more information. The Reference Guide To Fiber Optics is also available in Spanish and French (print and online) and Portuguese (online only.)
Fiber Optics (4 languages), Premises Cabling, OSP fiber and construction, Network Design, Testing and FTTH
The FOA Guide To Fiber Broadband is not the typical FOA technical textbook - it is written for anyone who wants to understand fiber broadband, fiber optics or the Internet. It's also aimed at managers involved with broadband projects, teachers who want to include communications technology in their classes or anyone who just wonders how all this stuff works.
Click on any book for more information about it.
Getting Started Guides
These two guides are simple introductions to the subjects. They will explain the applications, jargon, components and installation in a quick overview. Lennie Lightwave's Guide to Fiber Optics (online) and available as PDF download or a free iBook on iTunes
Uncle Ted's Guide to Communications (Premises) Cabling (online) and available as a PDF download or a free iBook on iTunes
Lennie Lightwave's Guide - Printed Edition
FOA has reprinted "Lennie Lightwave's Guide" on its 25th anniversary in a special print edition.
Many of you have used the current online version of Lennie's Guide on the FOA website. Now you can have a slick printed version - real paper and colored pictures - you can hold in your hand and read. Leave a copy on your desktop to impress your friends, or on the table in your company's reception area instead of out-of-date magazines. Give them to your customers and employees to help them learn fiber optics. Use it to prepare for FOA certifications.
You can get your own copies of Lennie Lightwave's Guide at Amazon.com, only 9.95eachUS9.95 each US9.95eachUS.
Looking For "Hands-On" Fiber Optic Training With FOA Certification?
You can find a list of FOA approved schools that offer CFOT® certification here on the list of FOA approved schools.
Certification Renewal
FOA Certified persons must renew their CFOT®or CFOS certifications when they expire. Please make sure we have your current address. Download the renewal form, or renew online.