Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
General-Purpose Training
General-purpose training is provided by educational institutions and by industry
organizations. Many colleges and universities have begun to respond to the need for
advanced education in wiring technology. Some notable institutions that offer such
programs include Mississippi State University, Texas A&M University, and
Washington State University.
Many others offer such education, but are too numerous to mention here. Also,
the programs are constantly changing and expanding. You may consult the LAN
wiring Web site, www.LanWiringGuide.com, for links to these and other training
resources.
The “granddaddy” of general-purpose training is BICSI (pronounced “bik'-
see”). BICSI is an industry association that was originally called Building Industry
Consulting Services, International. It was formed in the 1970s as an association with
ties to the corresponding Bell System units that provided commercial building
telecommunications system designs. In the 1990s, the association realigned its offi-
cial name to BICSI: A Telecommunications Association to emphasize the tie to the
telecommunications industry.
BICSI offers extensive training and certification testing for the telecommunica-
tions cabling industry. In addition to direct training, BICSI also licenses organiza-
tions to give BICSI-approved training to individuals.
The BICSI Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual ( TDMM ) is one
of the most comprehensive standards and practices manuals available. In many
areas, the methods go far beyond the general-purpose international standards to
illustrate and describe virtually all installation techniques that BICSI endorses.
BICSI offers training at several levels. The Registered Communications
Distribution Designer (RCDD) track includes courses in introductory voice/data
cabling, telecommunications design, grounding and protection, LAN and internet-
working, fiber-optic design, and project management.
The installation program has three levels, Apprentice, Installer, and Technician.
The installation track includes extensive cable pulling, termination, testing, and
cabling technology. Attendees receive a certificate of completion for each course.
BICSI also hosts a number of seminars and conferences that include basic and
supplementary training as well as manufacturers' displays. One of BICSI's major
goals is to educate its members, and the meetings are organized to forward this aim.
The Association of Cabling Professionals (ACP), in conjunction with the
Cabling Business Institute, offers another general-purpose training program. Installer
training includes information on all aspects of copper and fiber cabling, from basic
cable termination to detailed installation practices. The training is layered into phases,
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