Choosing High-Impact Fiber Training and Certifications 🦉💎
"Which fiber optic certification program is right for me?"
This is a question we hear time and time again, and the answer remains the same:
It depends! 😆
When it comes to professional development and selecting the right training, it’s essential to start by understanding your specific needs and goals 🎯
The purpose of this article is to share knowledge and insights gained from decades of involvement and leadership in fiber optic project implementation and special training programs for carrier customers around the world, helping you navigate a market flooded with choices that make quality hard to identify.
First let’s start by asking, why are you looking for a certification course?
Is it required for your job? Does it offer skills that could improve your performance or open up new opportunities? Is it necessary for product warranties or solution compliance? Are you aiming to enhance your résumé with a recognized credential? Or are you simply looking to build self-confidence?
Maybe as a manager or leader, you're looking to invest in your team to help them grow and feel more empowered. Or, you could be trying to address performance gaps in your network caused by installation quality issues or a low-skilled workforce.
Are you considering training as part of a broader organizational strategy to boost productivity, reduce costs, and accelerate project timelines?
Whatever your motivation, taking the time to reflect on these questions will help guide your decision in the right direction!
Why Should You Listen to Me? 🤔
Here's a bit about my journey in fiber optics training and where I glean my insights from…I conducted my first formal training in fiber optics in the late '90s after working several years as a fiber splicer. About 12 years into my career, while managing a team of over 50 fiber technicians, I became an instructor with the Fiber Optic Association (FOA), which provided me with training resources to train hundreds and hundreds of technicians worldwide.
Over the years, I continued developing my training skills through formal academic education while consulting on, designing, and leading fiber optic workforce development projects for major carriers and global organizations 🗡️🛡️
Some of these projects included leading teams of instructors and applications engineers to set up technical labs, develop training content for classroom and online delivery, implement learning management systems, run train-the-trainer programs, and provide training for telecom executives to support national-level rollouts.
I also served on the Board of Directors and as a Master Instructor for the FOA for about ten years and held Senior Project/Program/PMO and special training programs manager roles for strategic initiatives globally for Corning Inc., the company that pioneered low-loss fiber optics as we know them today.
Three years ago, I shifted my focus and launched a firm named Knowledge on Demand LLC (KoD™) to provide management consulting and advanced learning systems for clients across industries, spearheading telecom-oriented services under the FiberWizards brand.
Since then, we have successfully delivered telecom training for top carriers and utility companies, top global fiber solutions suppliers, contractors, and organizations in other industries, both in the U.S. and overseas 😎
Here's the Skinny
If you're looking to get started in the fiber optics industry or want to further professionalize your skills with a well-recognized credential, an industry-standard certification like those offered by the FOA could be an excellent option. This is especially true for independent workers or small contractors seeking to validate their expertise and help them gain an edge while seeking business opportunities 😀
However, if you’re seeking training programs that support more application-specific advanced skills, ensure technical and project compliance, or address particular issues related to your professional development or organizational performance, I recommend you continue reading...
Key Considerations for Choosing a Certification Program
First and foremost - Focus on Your Needs: Prioritize what benefits you in both your current role and future goals, not what training schools try to sell you. Avoid certifications that are merely "tick-the-box" achievements. Instead, choose programs that genuinely expand your knowledge and technical skills to help you develop and grow.
Competency and Objectives-Based Training: Opt for programs with content that aligns with clear learning objectives, ensuring you develop the knowledge and skills necessary to meet competency standards and succeed in real-world tasks.
Evaluate the Curriculum: Ensure the course content aligns with your goals, addresses your areas of learning needs or interests, and offers both theoretical and hands-on experience. Look for programs that go beyond basic topics and cover latest technologies, edge practical labs, and real-world applications. Avoid programs that are highly theoretical emphasizing memorization to pass a final test.
Instructors' Expertise: Instructors should have real-world experience, not just industry or academic credentials. Check their professional background and validate their teaching effectiveness through reviews and feedback from former students. Ensure they are recognized as effective instructors capable of connecting theory to practice and offering valuable mentorship.
Hands-On Training Quality: The quality of hands-on training is crucial for developing practical skills. Ensure the program emphasizes immersive experiences that prepare you for real-world challenges, utilizing latest equipment and tools relevant to your network application and role. Effective lab experiences emphasize realistically simulating job scenarios and providing problem-based activities to promote knowledge application and problem-solving experience.
Holistic Approach - Interpersonal Skills and Leadership: In addition to technical training, select programs that emphasize the development of essential interpersonal skills for effective teamwork and leadership, giving equal weight to fostering work ethic and values such as reliability, responsibility, collaboration, communication, and service-mindedness. Cultivating these skills will enhance your effectiveness as both a technical expert and a collaborative team member.
Flexibility and Personalization: When choosing a training program, gauge the level of flexibility in delivery, along with personalized guidance and support. Look for programs that accommodate different learning styles and schedules—whether through online, in-person, or hybrid formats—and utilize modern EdTech for added convenience. Personalized mentoring and tailored content ensure the training is directly relevant to your role and goals, making it more impactful and aligned with your career or organizational needs.
Beware of Generic Programs and Diploma Mill Training Schools 🤮
Be cautious with training schools that have little institutional specialization and offer "industry-standard" off-the-shelf courses, which often amount to low-focus, canned training taught by inexperienced or non-practitioners. Many technicians I’ve met spent money and time in such courses, only to realize that while these gave them a credential, they provided little useful knowledge and no preparation for their jobs, leading them to retake the courses at better schools with more qualified instructors. Avoid buying into PowerPoint marathons and hands-on demos that barely scratch the surface of real-world fiber work.
Not All Industry Organizations Are Created Equal 🫶
Industry organizations differ in backgrounds, subject matter expertise, and areas of focus. While fiber optics are versatile and widely used across various technical and network environments, it is a mistake to assume that certification training from one organization is equivalent to that from another.
Conducting thorough due diligence and understanding what each organization offers, as well as the industry or technology sector they focus on, is essential. Also, understanding an organization's history and its relationships with industry suppliers can also help identify potential biases in their programs.
Furthermore, whether an organization is for-profit or nonprofit, they all need to promote their businesses to survive and grow, which means they may engage in competitive behaviors, just like other for-profit businesses.
Don't get me wrong—while there are great people out there trying to do good things for the industry, there are also those in the upper echelons who couldn’t care less about technicians. All they care about is securing influence and enabling special interest stakeholders with their agendas.
Careful to not fall for the hype! Choose options that provide not only immediate benefits but also long-term value, ensuring a return on investment for yourself, your organization, and your stakeholders.
Manufacturer Training and Certifications 🔥
When it comes to manufacturer training options, it's crucial to understand that top-quality equipment and material vendors are typically the ones that invest in research and development, leading to the creation of technology solutions, innovation, and next-generation knowledge. As a result, manufacturer-oriented training from leading suppliers often delivers superior insights into the latest technologies and techniques compared to other training options.
In some cases, especially on projects involving proprietary systems or manufacturer-specific components, you may be required to obtain certification directly from the manufacturer to meet warranty or contractual requirements. Ensure that the training covers product selection, configuration, installation, and testing to maximize performance and ensure warranty compliance.
If your interest lies in gaining knowledge beyond project compliance, apply the guidelines above to ensure that the program meets your expectations according to your individual or organizational priorities.
While quality vendor-neutral training can provide commercially unbiased knowledge and skills, if your training course is based on generic and crummy products and solutions, do not expect to be well-prepared to use leading-edge fiber equipment, products, and solutions. It is always in your best interest to ensure that, even when choosing vendor-neutral training options, the equipment and products used for hands-on labs are the same or comparable in quality to those you will encounter in the field and network environment.
Industry Standards vs. Proprietary Certifications 🔥🔥
For individuals seeking certifications that can open doors across various companies and industries, industry-standard certifications may be beneficial. However, employers often hesitate to invest in these generic credentials due to concerns that employees might leave for better wages or benefits after getting certified.
In contrast, proprietary certifications tailored to an organization's specific priorities can be a more strategic option. These certifications are designed with the company’s unique needs in mind, reducing the risk of employee turnover after training and ensuring a better return on investment. By investing in tailored training, companies can enhance employee loyalty and minimize the potential loss of talent to competitors.
Tailored Training for Larger Organizations 🔥🔥🔥
If you're part of a larger organization, often the best option is to choose tailored training programs over generic courses.
Tailored training is a custom-designed approach to workforce development that focuses on identifying an organization's specific needs and objectives to create tailored solutions that enhance technical skills and overall performance.
Creating and delivering customized, high-impact training designed to meet your specific needs offers a better ROI by addressing your unique challenges and goals, which is where our company Knowledge on Demand LLC excels! 🚀
At Knowledge on Demand LLC, we offer end-to-end solutions using next-gen learning systems and educational technology, along with recognized options to meet all your fiber optics workforce development needs. We have proven expertise in both technical fields and organizational development, to ensure your training aligns with your business objectives.
With tailored programs, you have full control over your investment, whether you're focusing on organization-specific areas, integrated programs, manufacturer certifications, or industry-standard options.
Need Help Deciding?
For basic compliance or entry-level needs, there are many free online training resources worth exploring before committing to more comprehensive options.
If you have some experience and are simply looking to fulfill a requirement with a certification, there are affordable online options available to get a certification. Feel free to reach out—DM us, and we’ll point you in the right direction.
However, if looking for high-impact, tailored, and personalized training, look no further than to Knowledge on Demand LLC (KoD™) and FiberWizards! 🚀
In Conclusion
Choosing the right certification program is about finding what will help you succeed in the long run, not just about checking boxes. Do your research and invest in something that will truly benefit your career and organization!
Take some time to assess your priorities and what you truly need to advance your career or develop your team. Don’t get caught up in the hype—choose a program that will genuinely move the needle for you and your organization!
Jerry Morla, MBA, MSL, PMP, CPD leverages close to three decades of experience in the industry, including project management and workforce training for top-tier telecom and ICT clients and Fortune 500 companies globally. Jerry has taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels in higher education, and holds an MBA, a Master of Science in Leadership, and has completed full coursework for a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership program, focusing on organizational performance and next-gen leadership models. He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology and Online Instruction, Project Management Professional, and Certified Project Director designations by PMI and CPI respectively.
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