FIA Qualification Scheme - Certified Trainers

The FIA is concerned that Certified Trainers shall have the full and rounded knowledge of fibre optics that is not necessarily gained from experience alone. For example, some engineers work in just one section of the industry and so are not so well versed with other sections of the fibre optics and cabling industry, despite many years of experience.

Certified Trainers are required to pass a written FIA examination (CTE). The CTE syllabus is based on the use of optical fibres and cables in common telecommunications (including data) applications. The “pass” mark is set at a high level to reflect the fact that trainers should have a good knowledge of optical fibre cabling in such standard applications.

We expect candidates to have basic knowledge as required by anyone delivering training in the underpinning knowledge aspects associated with C&G 3666.

However, more detailed information is also required. Required reading comprises of FIA source documents including:

Technical Support Documents

White Papers

The FIA also expect candidates to be fully familiar with the requirements of the standards for design and installation of optical fibre cabling (i.e. BS EN 50173 and BS EN 50174 series) which reflect industry norms and are the foundation of many installation contracts. Unfortunately, the FIA cannot supply copies of these standards but they can be purchased via the FIA web-site.

The FIA is keen to ensure that persons delivering FIA Qualification Scheme units have themselves had some training in how to structure and deliver training.

To this end the FIA have decided that all FIA Certified Trainers shall have a qualification to show that they have achieved a suitable level of expertise as a trainer. There are a number of trainer qualifications and certification schemes that will satisfy the FIA requirements.

The FIA has elected to recognise the following common trainer qualifications but this list is not exhaustive and it is the aim of the FIA to be flexible in relation to this requirement:

• QCA: Certificate of Education
• CIPD: CITP
• City &Guilds: Programme 4445 – level V

The main criteria for trainer qualifications or certification, is that the course assessment is, or was, by an organisation independent from the trainer’s own organisation.

It is recommended that organisations or individuals enrolling on trainer training and certification courses check first that the FIA recognises the award as fulfilling FIA requirements if not listed above.

The FIA is prepared to extend a significant period of grace to experienced trainers in order to allow them to enroll for and gain a suitable qualification. For “new” trainers the FIA is keen that suitable training in delivering training is sought as soon as possible. The FIA has decided, however, not to insist on immediate enrollment since this might be disadvantageous to the individual or their organisation, and prevent them from taking options such as night school courses.

The period of grace begins from the date of the Certified Trainer application. Trainers may apply for extensions where a programme is a high-level training award that would normally take longer than 12 months to complete, and this will be at the discretion of the FIA QSD.

• Those with up to 6 years training experience must gain a suitable qualification with 24 months.
• Those with more than 6 years training experiment are not required to gain a teaching qualification.

Trainers must provide evidence of their training experience either in the fibre optics or other industries. Suitable evidence will be, for example, job title of ‘trainer’ with evidence of years of employment, or a job description detailing the delivery of training courses as a significant part of that job role. It will be at the discretion of the QSD whether the evidence provided is deemed to be sufficient for a particular period of grace.