Finding the Right Fiber Optic Installer: The Meaning of Certification and TIE/EIA Standards

When you are looking for a fiber optic technician, it is important to choose one who is certified and capable of meeting TIA/EIA standards. By choosing a certified fiber optic technician you will be securing work that is well-done and up to all safety and TIA/EIA standards, ensuring competence and knowledge.

A certified fiber optic technician has a strong understanding of all fiber optic technology. Whether you need installation done, or design and operation services, and no matter where the cabling is going – home, work, outdoors, etc. – when you choose a certified technician, you are getting the best in the field.

There are about 40,000 fiber optic technicians who are officially certified, worldwide, so it should not be difficult to find a technician with this standing. Techs who have been certified have obtained that honor either through training at an approved school, or through industry experience, on the job training, and self-study.

All certified fiber optic technicians must pass the FOA CFOT exam, which shoes that they are skilled and proficient in the field of fiber optic technology. If your fiber optic technician is certified, you should feel confident that he or she can handle all aspects of the job.

Now – what are TIA/EIA standards and how do they work into your installation job?

TIA/EIA standards are set out by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), part of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). TIA/EIA standards inform the recommended practices for design and installation of commercial building cabling for telecommunications products and services.

Standardization ensures that all companies dealing in fiber optic technology, who adhere to the standards, are doing the same thing – and that the work they do is the best it can possibly be. Finding a fiber optic technician who meets TIA/EIA standards in his or her work is the best way to know that your cabling will be durable, installed properly, and up to code.

There are no good reasons to skimp on hiring a good fiber optic technician – all you will be doing is causing more trouble in the long run, requiring additional expenditures to fix problems that could have been avoided in the first place. With this in mind, you should always hire a certified fiber optic technician who meets TIA/EIA standards in every cable installation job.