Partnership with Fiber Optic Association, Inc. qualifies recipients to design fiber optic systems for use across the transportation industry. The demand for fiber optic skills continues to grow as data demands increase with connected vehicles and other ITS and smart city technologies.
ROCKLEDGE, Florida, March 21, 2023 – The International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA), North America’s most respected trade and certification association representing thousands of transportation and public safety professionals, today announced the creation of a new and more advanced certification for the traffic and ITS industries: Certified Fiber Optic Specialist/Design. The new certification will ensure that recipients have improved skill sets and are qualified to design fiber optic communications systems. It fills a huge workforce need as data hungry ITS and traffic technologies require more fiber optic systems to handle the growing connected vehicle revolution.
“This certification is a significant step forward in helping create the transportation and public safety workforce of the future,” said Toby Cummings, IMSA Executive Director. “It represents the next step in our modernization and certification expansion efforts focused on advanced technologies that are critical to ensuring a safe, efficient and functioning traffic infrastructure.”
The certification is a collaboration with the Fiber Optic Association, Inc., and is designed to take participants through the entire process of planning, designing and managing the installation of fiber networks. The course is intended for network owners, IT personnel, facility managers, network designers, estimators or technicians who are involved in ITS and traffic management, or related fiber optic fields.
“Every aspect of today’s communications networks, even wireless, depends on fiber optic networks for connectivity. Properly designed networks are vital to create networks that meet the communications needs of today and tomorrow,” said Jim Hayes, President of the Fiber Optic Association (FOA). “The FOA is proud to partner with IMSA to add this important certification to the IMSA/FOA CFOT® Certified Fiber Optic Technician now offered by IMSA which will improve a critical workforce development component that is key to building smart cities and transportation agencies.”
The new course goes beyond the current Certified Fiber Optic Technician certification, which covers the basic installation of ITS, Traffic, Fire Alarm and Communications systems. It is part of IMSA’s current ambitious overhaul of the organization, designed to embrace evolving technology by creating new updatable certifications that reflect what agencies, contractors and public sector companies see in the field every day. The entire process is a direct result of a membership, peer, vendor and industry partner research study.
“IMSA is proud to be the industry standard for public safety and certification, and we’re on a distinct path to becoming a stronger organization,” said Kevin Musick, IMSA’s board president. “Our new certifications, including the Fiber Optic Specialist/Design course, are intended to meet the modern technology needs of agencies across the U.S. so they can build the transportation infrastructure needed to move people today, and in the future.”
About IMSA
IMSA (the International Municipal Signal Association) is the oldest known association of its kind in the world. It dates back to 1896 and counts Thomas A. Edison and the Edison Electric Company among its earliest esteemed members. IMSA has issued over 150,000 certifications and stands as the most regarded name in public safety certification. The organization is dedicated to providing quality certification programs for the safe installation, operation and maintenance of public safety systems. IMSA membership is comprised of employees of governmental organizations and private corporations who are interested in promoting public safety in the most economical manner. IMSA’s objectives are to improve the efficiency, installation, construction, and maintenance of public safety equipment and systems by increasing the knowledge of its members on traffic controls, fire alarms, radio communications, roadway lighting, work zone traffic control, emergency medical services and other related systems.
For more information, please visit https://www.imsasafety.org/.
About the Fiber Optic Association, Inc.
The Fiber Optic Association Inc. is the international professional association of fiber optics and recognized industry certifying body for fiber optic technicians. Founded in 1995 to promote professionalism in fiber optics through education, certification and standards, the FOA has certified over 90,000 individuals worldwide.