Many of our more popular optical fibre and copper cabling training courses now have qualifications or awards from licensed awarding bodies. These courses are currently listed under the appropriate awarding body below.
City & Guilds 3667 – Level 2 Certificate in Communications Cabling
The City and Guilds 3667 programme (previously 3466, 3663 and 3666) is the industry standard qualification in the UK and several other countries around the world. The programme has four units:
- unit 1: Basic principles of communications systems
- unit 2: Fibre optic cabling in an internal environment
- unit 3: Fibre optic cabling in an external environment
- unit 4: Copper cabling in an internal environment
To gain the full “certificate in communications cabling” candidates must pass the ‘core’ unit 1, plus one of units 2, 3 or 4. Candidates who elect to just do the unit relevant to their job or the skills they are seeking will gain a Certificate of Unit Credit.
Relationship to the FIA Qualification Scheme
The City & Guilds 3667 programme is seen as a foundation block for the FIA qualification scheme, and hence it is important that candidates have, as a minimum, successfully completed one of units 2, 3 or 4.
| Awarding body & award |
NQF Level
|
Guided learning hours
|
| City & Guilds 3667 – unit 1 |
2
|
|
| City & Guilds 3667 – unit 2 |
2
|
40
|
| City & Guilds 3667 – unit 3 |
2
|
40
|
| City & Guilds 3667 – unit 4 |
2
|
40
|
For more on the FIA unit approval and the FIA Qualification Scheme, please see www.fia-online.co.uk or contact us.
Open Awards Certified Qualifications:
- Fibre Optics Introduction
- Advanced OTDR Testing
- Advanced Polarisation Mode Dispersion (PMD) & Chromatic Dispersion Testing
- Distribution-Side Copper Telecoms Cable Jointing
- Distribution-Side Copper Telecoms Cable Testing
- Laser Safety
The Open Awards (previously Open College Network North West Region, OCNNWR) is a licensed awarding body that operates at the national level within the UK. Lucid are members of the Open Awards, and as an approved qualification provider we are inspected annually by an External Verifier from Open Awards. The flexible nature of the Open Awards and their methods of operation, enable us at Lucid to develop new awards quickly and at a reasonable cost. This can enable the practices and skills used in your business to be recognised as a formal qualification, even if these skills are not applicable to a huge group of people.
Please contact us if you would like Lucid to develop a training programme with appropriate Open Awards certification for your job function, organisation or business.
Relationship to the FIA Qualification Scheme
The Open Awards programmes are seen as an important part of the FIA qualification scheme, since they can cater for both mainstream and niche parts of our industry that could otherwise be excluded from appropriate vocational qualifications.
| Award Title |
Awarding body
|
NQF Level
|
Guided learning hours
|
| Fibre Optics Introduction |
Open Awards
|
2
|
30
|
| Advanced OTDR Testing |
Open Awards
|
3
|
30
|
| Advanced PMD & CD Testing |
Open Awards
|
3
|
30
|
| D-side Copper Cable Jointing |
Open Awards
|
2
|
90
|
| D-side Copper Cable Testing |
Open Awards
|
3
|
30
|
| Laser Safety Introduction |
Open Awards
|
2
|
30
|
Note: Guided learning hours provide an indication of the number of hours of learning required for an average trainee. In some cases training courses will be longer than the indicated number of guided learning hours, and in some cases they may be slightly shorter.
Learning Hours and Accreditation for Prior Learning (APL)
For both the Open Awards and City & Guilds, the exact number of actual learning hours are not important since the emphasis is on ensuring that the learner or trainee has met the required learning or skills outcomes. For learners who have previously completed suitable training or who have suitable experience, it is possible, in some circumstances, to just complete the required assessments. The duration of assessments varies depending on the practical skills and tests to be completed.
In cases where prior learning is deemed appropriate to sitting assessments without going through a full training programme, a short refresher training session is highly recommended. We are happy to discuss this option with you.
FIA Qualification Scheme and FIA Approved Training Provider Status
Lucid is not only a member of the Fibreoptic Industry Association, but we are also an FIA Approved Training Provider and a supporter of the FIAs innovative qualification scheme for those working in the fibreoptics and communication cabling industry.