Skip to main content
Students in the telecommunications program at Lincoln Trail College continue to demonstrate their readiness for the workforce, extending a six-year streak of passing the Fiber Optic Association (FOA) Certification Exam on their first attempt.
The FOA Certification is a widely recognized credential in the telecommunications industry, validating a technician’s knowledge and skills in fiber optics. As fiber broadband has become the backbone of modern communication systems, including internet, wireless networks, security systems, and utility infrastructure, certification has become increasingly important for those entering the field.
“Workers in all these fields are expected to understand fiber optics technology and, in many cases, be competent in fiber optic network design, installation and operation,” said Telecommunications Instructor Dennis York. “Education, training and certification for fiber optic technicians has become extremely important, and that is the focus of the FOA.”
York said the program’s consistent success reflects both the dedication of students and the structure of the program.
“This is an accomplishment within the industry for the fiber optic standards, which each student must understand and apply to work effectively,” he said. “Having passed the certification on the first try displays the level at which LTC molds and trains the students.”
Students in the program prepare for the certification throughout the year with a combination of lectures, review sessions, skills assessments and hands-on labs. York said that combination plays a key role in student success.
“Once the concept of the lesson is taught inside the classroom, it is then applied to the lab portion of the class,” he said. “It builds confidence, opens the door for more discussion, and allows students to learn in a separate format other than just visuals or PowerPoint explanation.”
By the time they sit for the exam, students have developed a wide range of technical skills. Those include reading complex wiring diagrams, understanding outside plant operations, managing fiber optic cable systems, and performing fusion splicing — all critical components of the job.
York said earning the FOA Certification gives students an advantage as they enter the workforce.
“Being FOA certified has helped them not only during the interview process, but also in real-world problem solving involved in the daily troubleshooting of a fiber optic technician,” he said.
For York, the continued success of his students is both a professional achievement and a personal reward.
“There is no better feeling than when a student has that moment when what you are teaching just clicks,” he said. “I know that when the students leave our hands into the workforce, they are not going into it blind and have the confidence to complete their daily tasks.”
