The Fiber Optic Association - Becoming An FOA Instructor (original) (raw)

How To Become a FOA Certified Fiber Optic Instructor

What Is A FOA Certified Instructor?

The quality of training at FOA Approved schools depends on the quality of their instructors. To ensure the quality of FOA Certification courses, FOA has a certification program required of all instructors teaching at FOA Approved schools.FOA Certified Instructors are expected to be technically competent and good teachers. FOA has used the knowledge and experiences of many experienced instructors to set standards for instructor certification.

The first step is for the instructor to be nominated by the school. The FOA reviews the qualifications of all instructors wishing to become FOA Certified by first reviewing their resume/CV for relevant technical and teaching experience. The next step for candidates is to complete online course covering technical and teaching subjects. Then the candidate must pass an online examinations covering the technical subject they plan to teach and the methods FOA instructors recommend for teaching the materials.

Passing these exams does not automatically confer FOA Instructor Certification. This is one part of the overall Approved School evaluation. The FOA Instructor Certification is only conferred if the organization sponsoring the instructor achieves Approved School status.

Being an FOA Certified Instructor is a lifelong learning experience. Every instructor is required to take the appropriate FOA Fiber U online course and FOA Certification exams for all the courses they will be teaching.

Who May Become An FOA Certified Instructor?

Instructor certification is only available to those teaching at an FOA Approved school. The school must sponsor the applicant for certification. Instructors must have relevant experience and meet the Instructor KSAs, then pass a certification exam.

Another important qualification is that the instructor certification is only valid at the school which sponsors the instructor for certification. If the instructor leaves or the school replaces the instructor, both must notify the FOA about these changes. Instructors who are no longer teaching for their sponsoring FOA approved school must notify the FOA if they intend to teach at another FOA approved school to transfer their certification. The certification becomes valid again after the transfer is approved by the FOA.

FOA offers an online self-study Train-the-Trainer (TTT) program for teachers and instructors that leads to the FOA CFOS/I Instructor Certification. This "first in the industry" program brings all the expertise of the Fiber Optic Association to the process of training and certifying fiber optic instructors, both in industry and in the academic world.

Two FOA Instructor Certifications are included in the application to become an FOA Approved school. After the first year, instructors will be reviewed and must renew their FOA certification at the regular rate.

Candidates without experience with fiber optics may be required to take a hands-on course from a FOA Approved school.

Instructor Certification Testing Is Done Online.

Qualifications

• Applicants must meet FOA qualifications
• Applicants must be an experienced fiber optic technician or experienced instructor in a technical discipline or both.
• Applicants to be an instructor must be sponsored by an FOA-Approved school or a school in the process of applying for approval.
• Applicants must meet the requirements of the FOA KSAs for Instructors: (The knowledge, skills and abilities instructors must have.)
• Applicants must submit the required applications and email a resume covering both fiber optic experience and teaching experience.
• Two references or letters of recommendation from previous employers or schools where the instructor has taught may be required.
• Applicants meeting these requirements will be required to take one or more online courses and exams on their knowledge and may be required to show evidence of appropriate skills and abilities.
• Applicants must be willing to cooperate within the FOA instructor community.

FOA will evaluate all these factors before certifying an instructor. Becoming an FOA certified instructor is not as simple as passing a written exam. Depending on the applicant's experience, references and scores on the FOA Certification exams, the applicant may be required to study and retest and/or submit additional information including a classroom video before they are approved to teach at an FOA-Approved school. Instructors who have limited knowledge or hands-on experience in fiber optics may be required to take a class from a FOA designated instructor.

Preparing For The FOA Instructor Certification Exam

The exam covers both technical and teaching topics. You should be familiar with the content of our textbooks and the FOA Online Fiber Optic Reference Guide as well as the information we provide on teaching courses for FOA certification.

FOA has created a special online directed self-study program for instructors with directions on what to study and questions to prepare you for the exam.

Note: The technical material and specific teaching material is very specific to the FOA instructor certification programs. Experience has shown that even highly qualified, experienced instructors who do not use the FOA provided self study guides often do poorly on the exam because they are not familiar with FOA recommendations and practices. Once you have submitted an application and received preliminary approval to take the exam, you will be directed to the online self-study program.Terms And Conditions

Before acceptance of your application for FOA Instructor Certification, you will be required to agree to the terms and conditions of the FOA Instructor Agreement.

• By making this application, I attest that I have read all the requirements for FOA instructor certification and I understand and meet those requirements.
• I certify that the information I have provided on this application is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
• I understand that the instructor certification granted by The FOA does not constitute license to practice or provide services when required by any relevant law.
• I will be required to read and agree to the requirements for handling FOA intellectual property including maintaining confidentiality of all materials provided to the school.
• I understand The FOA instructor certification does not in any way imply that The FOA assumes responsibility or liability for my actions, and I hereby indemnify The FOA from any liability resulting from my actions. Instructors will receive a provisional certification (IP) pending a successful record of instructing.

Applying for FOA CFOS/I Certification

When you have read the requirements for FOA instructor certification and have a sponsoring school, begin the application process by having your sponsoring school complete the form linked below and sending a resume to the FOA.

Use theInstructor Certification application online form.

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