INSTF Exam Information

• Exam Eligibility

  Toggle accordion
  • Option 1:
    Six months of verifiable full time equivalent structured cabling systems (SCS) field experience which may be obtained on-the job, in a trade school, or in an apprenticeship program AND have passed the BICSI Installer 1 certificate program. 
  • Option 2:
    One year of verifiable full time equivalent structured cabling systems (SCS) field experience which may be obtained on-the job, in a trade school, or in an apprenticeship program AND attend and successfully complete the BICSI’s instructor led hands-on training in Optical Fiber structured cabling systems (SCS) training.*
  • Option 3:
    Two years of verifiable full time equivalent Optical Fiber structured cabling systems (SCS) field experience which may be obtained on-the job, in a trade school, or in an apprenticeship program AND have completed a minimum of 35 hours of documented continuing education in Optical Fiber structured cabling systems which may include training provided by BICSI, manufacturer training, college courses, industry training and/or vendor training. 

   
  *Exam approval is contingent upon successful completion of the training course.

  Installer 2, Optical Fiber experience in installation is defined as: hands-on experience with code compliant optical fiber cabling installation which includes preparation of pathways and spaces, integration, cable installation, termination and testing of optical fiber, and field documentation.

• Exam Blueprint

  Toggle accordion

  The Installer 2, Optical Fiber Exam Blueprint shows the competency areas that are covered on the exam and should be reviewed prior to taking the exam.

  INSTF Exam Blueprint

• Suggested Study

  Toggle accordion
  • Attend the IN250: BICSI Installer 2, Optical Fiber Training course
  • 50 hours of independent study of BICSI Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM)
  • Training on mechanical, non-mechanical, and fusion splicing
  • Safety and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) training

• Exam Specifics

  Toggle accordion

  Examination
  The Installer 2, Optical Fiber exam is currently based on BICSI’s ITSIMM and is a two-part exam – hands-on and written. To become a BICSI Installer 2, Optical Fiber, you must successfully pass both parts.

  Hands-On Examination
  The Installer 2, Optical Fiber hands-on exam is given the last day of the IN250 course, which is generally on a Friday afternoon (see course schedule). The hands-on performance exam consists of completing six tasks to industry standards, within a 20-minute per-task time limit. Proctors will give the pass/fail results after each task. If you fail to successfully complete one of the hands-on exam tasks, you will be given the opportunity to retest after each task on the same day at no additional cost. If you fail the same task twice or fail a total of two hands-on tasks, the hands-on exam will need to be retaken on another date.

  Written Examination
  The written exam can ONLY be taken after the hands-on exam has been completed successfully. The computer-based exam is two hours in length and consists of 100 questions drawn from BICSI’s ITSIMM. The exam is multiple choice, with questions based on both knowledge and application.

  Exam Specifics

  • Number of Questions: 100
  • Allotted Examination Time: 2 hours

• Application Process

  Toggle accordion

  An exam application must be submitted online on the Credential Holder Dashboard at least 7 days prior to the scheduled hands-on exam date.

  • Exam application Fee: $335
  • Exam Retest Fee: $135
  • Hands-on Walk-In Exam Scheduling Fee: $50

   
  How to Apply

  • Downloadable PDF