CommScope Infrastructure Academy ID Badges & Certification

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CommScope Infrastructure Academy ID Badges

& Certification

Emma Tett

9 February 2016

Revision: v25

1. Introduction to the certification program

Customers and consultants are requesting more frequently that vendor trained and certified Designers and Installers are used in projects. It is also becoming more common for a percentage of all installers on site to have attended vendor backed training and a method of validation is required. Since June 2002 a globally available series of ID badges have been in use in the CommScope training programs and compliments the certification program. The qualification and certification is also linked directly to the CommScope Partner Program and is visible via the Partner Locator on CommScope.com. This document outlines the qualification programs and certification rules for all CommScope Infrastructure Academy courses.

2. Infrastructure Specialist Certifications

The Infrastructure Specialist certifications are designed to leverage CommScope’s in depth experience and expertise in the wired and wireless infrastructure market to provide detailed knowledge of infrastructure technology, terminology and applications. Unlike CommScope’s other certifications, they are not CommScope product or solution specific, however examples of

CommScope products are used in the courses. Certification is achieved by completing one of the relevant online courses producing certification, an ID Badge and entry to the qualified database. The certificates are available to be printed from the online course area by the student, and ID badges will be sent, provided student photo has been supplied and badge requested. The courses require recertification every 3 years by retaking the same course (refreshing). Students who complete these certifications are encouraged to use the badge/certification and associated letters (CFOIS etc) to recognize their achievement.

ID Badge (single badge) Initial Certification Recertification Options Expiry Period

Field Testing Infrastructure Specialist(CFTIS)

Field Testing of Cabling Systems – SP3500

3 years

Fiber Optic Infrastructure Specialist (CFOIS)

Fiber Optic Infrastructure Specialist - SP4420

3 years MicroWave Infrastructure

Specialist (CMWIS)

Microwave Radio Antenna Site Planning - SP6180

Microwave Radio Antenna Site Planning - SP6180 3 years RF Wireless Infrastructure Specialist (CRWIS) RF Wireless Infrastructure Fundamentals - SP6500 RF Wireless Infrastructure Fundamentals - SP6500 3 years Data Center Cabling

Specialist (CDCCS)

Pre Terminated Data Center Solutions – SP8850

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3. SYSTIMAX Certifications

Authorized SYSTIMAX Engineer (ASE) - The Design and Engineering (D&E) and Installation and Maintenance (I&M) courses form the two key certifications required to be a SYSTIMAX partner and register a SYSTIMAX warranty. The SP3351 Masterclass course is the online recertification course for both Design and Engineering and Installation and Maintenance. SP3351 is ideal for students qualified in BOTH D&E and I&M as it recertifies BOTH courses in a single recertification. I&M ‘only’ students can recertify by re-attending the ND3361 Classroom or retaking an FC3361 ‘In-House’ course or taking the online SP3361R, which is the same course material as the SP3351 Masterclass with only Installation topic assessments.

Authorized SYSTIMAX Engineer (ASE)

SYSTIMAX Design and Engineering - SP3321

SYSTIMAX MasterClass - SP3351

2 years SYSTIMAX Design and

Engineering - SP3321 and SYSTIMAX Installation and Maintenance - ND3361 (formerly ND3341)

SYSTIMAX MasterClass - SP3351

2 years

SYSTIMAX Installation and Maintenance Only - ND3361 (formerly ND3341) Retake SYSTIMAX Installation and Maintenance - ND3361 or SYSTIMAX Installation and Maintenance ‘In House Training’ - FC3361 or SYSTIMAX I&M

Recertification - SP3361R (online)

2 years

Certified imVision (iPatch) Support Specialist (CISS) - The Intelligent Infrastructure management solution imVision uses a combination of software and intelligent iPatch Panels. It requires a very

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specific mix of skills from the Partner to design and implement, this is recognized with the CISS Qualification.

ID Badge (single badge) Initial Certification Recertification Expiry

Period

Certified imVision Support Specialist (CISS) SYSTIMAX Certified imVision Support Specialist - GL5555 (CISS exam) SYSTIMAX Certified imVision Support Specialist Recertification -GL5555R (CISS assessment) 1 year

Specialist Courses – A number of SYSTIMAX specialist courses are available and, if they are up to date and appropriate, the course icon is added to the student’s ASE ID badge and listed on the Partner locator. These are important as a consultant or customer may be choosing a Partner for a specific project based upon their specialization experience. These may include courses that can be grouped to form a specialist status:

Fiber Specialist – SP4400 SYSTIMAX Enterprise Fiber Solutions and SP4410 SYSTIMAX Fiber OSP Design and Engineer

Data Center Specialist – SP8800 SYSTIMAX Data Center Fundamentals, SP8810 SYSTIMAX Data Center Design and Engineering and SP8820 SYSTIMAX Data Center Solutions (all are required to be up to date for specialization to be valid)

Other Specialist courses include: – Security systems & Intelligent Building

NOTE: For all specialist certifications to be recognized on ID badge and locator (except Fiber), the pre-requisite requirement is SP3321 Design and Engineering course, as the content of specialty courses assumes this prior knowledge.

The specialty courses will remain recognized for 4 years (see appendix), and will then expire unless re-taken (refreshed) prior to expiry.

4. Uniprise Certifications

Uniprise Certified Installer (UCI) - The Uniprise Installation course is SPUCI ‘Uniprise Certified Installer’ and for contracted Partners, allows them to register the CommScope Uniprise 20 year warranty. For Partners already qualified in SYSTIMAX Installation and Maintenance they can qualify by taking the online course SPUCIC which is an SPUCI Cross-Certification course. The certification requires recertification every 3 years using the SPUCIR which is the SPUCI Recertification course. The Uniprise courses are supported by a number of specialty courses including the SPUEND Uniprise Design course, Fiber Optic, and Security courses to name a few. These specialty courses will remain recognized for 3 or 4 years (see appendix), and will expire unless retaken (refreshed) prior to expiry.

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Certification Initial Certification Recertification Expiry Period

Uniprise Certified Installer Uniprise Certified Installer – SPUCI

Uniprise Certified Installer Recertification - SPUCIR

3 years

5. Andrew Wireless Certifications

The CommScope Infrastructure Academy wireless certifications begin by completing one of the relevant online wireless courses producing certification, an ID Badge and entry to the qualified database. The certificates are available to be printed from the online course area by the student, and ID badges will be sent, provided student photo has been supplied and badge requested. The courses require recertification every 3 years by retaking the same course (refreshing). Additional icons will be added to the ID Badge for any additional wireless courses completed after the initial course. The courses will remain recognized for 3 years (see appendix) and need to be retaken (refreshed) prior to expiry.

6. Broadband Certifications

Broadband Certified Installer (BCI) – The CommScope Infrastructure Academy broadband certification begins by taking the SP1100 Broadband Drop Installation Fundamentals course, producing certification, an ID Badge, and entry to the qualified database. The SP1100 course requires recertification every 3 years by retaking the same course (refreshing). Additional specialty courses will follow and icons will be added to the BCI ID Badge, these include solution specific courses. These specialty courses will remain recognized for 3 or 4 years (see appendix) unless retaken (refreshed), prior to expiry.

Certification Initial Certification Recertification Expiry

Period Broadband Certified Installer (BCI) CommScope Broadband Drop Installation Fundamentals - SP1100 CommScope Broadband Drop Installation Fundamentals - SP1100 3 years

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7. Certification policy

Students whose certification has lapsed for more than one year will be required to re-take the foundation (original courses) instead of recertification courses.

Where certification supports CommScope warranties, students must be ‘up to date’ in the appropriate certification and he/she MUST be working for the CommScope Authorized Partner. Certification relating to warranty support is not supported if the student moves to another company not contracted to CommScope. The certification may transfer with the student to another

Authorized Partner providing the local CommScope team supports the request (see FAQ for process).

CommScope Infrastructure Academy reserves the right to withhold certification and student registration to the partner approved database until the course fees have been paid in full.

8. FAQs

We are often asked questions about the badges and certification so have formulated these into the following FAQ, which we hope you find useful.

9 When does my certification expire?

Your certification or recertification will expire either 1, 2, 3 or 4 years (depending on the course) from the date that you completed the course or subsequent re-certification courses. Please see the appendix for specific expiration periods.

9.1 What if I recertify in advance?

If you take your recertification course before your original is due to expire, your new certification will be dated from the completion date of the recertification course.

9.2 How do I renew my certification?

Please go to www.commscopetraining.com

The I&M (3361) course is recertified by the SP3351, SP3361R, ND3361 or FC3361. The D&E (3321) course is recertified by the SP3351.

The GL5555 is recertified by the GL5555R. The UCI is recertified by the SPUCIR.

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All other courses are refreshed by retaking the same course, they do not have separate

recertification courses but are updated regularly with new content. (For example SP7700 is taken to refresh SP7700). A ‘refresh’ is a revisiting of the original course material for specialist courses, whereas a recertification is mandatory to update your current certification for warranty support.

9.3 What is the Self-Print facility?

We have introduced a Self-Print facility for all course certificates. Once you have passed your course and we have generated your certificate*, you will see an option to ‘Print Certificate’ with your course details under the ‘Training Center’ area.

We will continue to send hard copies for your ND/FC coded course certificates, GL5555, SP3321, SP3361R and SP3351. However, there is now an option to ‘Print Copy.’ So that you can generate a copy for yourself while waiting for your hard copy to arrive.

*Please allow up to 48 hours after course completion

9.4 Can duplicate hard copies of my certificate be issued

on request?

If you are unable to print a copy from the Training Center, please contact Cabling Science. Please note, there may be a charge applied for issuing duplicate copies of certificates to cover printing, postage and package.

9.5 Can I get a soft copy of my original certificate?

Usually requested for project bid support - can be requested free of charge by contacting either your CommScope channel manager or Cabling Science direct. State your name, company and an email address to receive the copy, we will verify and email a duplicate certificate that is sent in PDF format to your email address.

9.6 Are replacement certificates available?

Replacements for lost certificates or changes to certificates can be requested by contacting either your CommScope channel manager or Cabling Science (we reserve the right to apply a discretionary charge of $40 depending upon circumstances). State your name, company and company address to receive the replacement. We will verify your qualification and company’s current Partner status and apply, if applicable, the Company Transfer rules below, then dispatch a full replacement certificate/s.

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9.7 What if I transfer company?

Should a certified Design or Installation authorized person change employment to another CommScope Partner, upon approval by the CommScope manager and completion of the

recertification Masterclass, a full new certificate will be issued in the new company name. Payment for the course will be required unless the company holds a training passport.

9.8 Are replacement badges available?

ID Badges that are lost or damaged can be replaced by contacting a Regional Training Administrator. Company name changes can also be completed providing the company is a current partner and the rules on company transfer above are applied if applicable. A handling charge is levied at a standard rate of $50 per badge.

9.9 Why isn’t my course showing on my badge?

Some courses are specialty courses where corresponding qualifying courses need to be completed in order for the course to show. For example, the SP7700 won’t be included unless D&E (3321) is completed. Other courses are overwritten – a 4400 will come off the badge if the 4410 has been completed. And other courses, such as the 5602, don’t go on the badge at all.

For a full list of courses and their pre-qualifying courses, please see the appendix.

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10. Appendix 1- ID Badge Icon Policies

Infrastructure Specialist Courses

Field Testing Infrastructure Specialist (CFTIS)

Field Testing of Cabling Systems – SP3500

3 years

Fiber Optic Infrastructure Specialist (CFOIS)

Fiber Optic Infrastructure Specialist - SP4420

3 years MicroWave Infrastructure

Specialist (CMWIS)

Microwave Radio Antenna Site Planning - SP6180

Microwave Radio Antenna Site Planning - SP6180 3 years RF Wireless Infrastructure Specialist (CRWIS) RF Wireless Infrastructure Fundamentals - SP6500 RF Wireless Infrastructure Fundamentals - SP6500 3 years Data Center Cabling

Specialist (CDCCS)

Pre Terminated Data Center Solutions – SP8850

3 years

SYSTIMAX Courses

Course

Exp.

Renewal/Refresher

Badge

SP3321 2 years SP3351 Included ND/FC3361 2 years SP3351/SP3361R/ND3361/ FC3361 Included GL5555 1 year GL5555R Included SP5602 4 years SP5602 No SP4210 4 years SP4210 Included if 3321 completed SP4400 4 years SP4400 Included if 3321 completed. Overwritten by 4410 SP4410 4 years SP4410 Included if 3321 and 4400 completed. SP7700 4 years SP7700 Included if 3321 completed SP7710 4 years SP7710 Included if 3321 completed SP8800 4 years SP8800 Included if 3321 completed. Overwritten by 8810 SP8810 4 years SP8810 Included if 3321 and 8800 completed. Overwritten by 8820

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SP8820 4 years SP8820 Included if 3321, 8800 and 8810 completed SPCCCS 4 years SPCCCS Included if 3321 or 3361 completed

Andrew Wireless Courses

Course

Exp.

Renewal/Refresher

Badge

SP6000 3 years SP6000 Included SP6101 3 years SP6101 No SP6103 3 years SP6103 No SP6104 3 years SP6104 No SP6105 3 years SP6105 Included SP6107 3 years SP6107 No SP6140 3 years SP6140 Included SP6160 3 years SP6160 Included SP6170 3 years SP6170 Included SP6910 3 years SP6910 Included SP6920 3 years SP6920 Included Broadband Courses

Course

Exp.

Renewal/Refresher

Badge

SP1100 3 years SP1100 Included SP1010 3 years SP1010 Included if 1100 completed SP1020 3 years SP1020 Included if 1100 completed SP1030 3 years SP1030 Included if 1100 completed SP1040 3 years SP1040 Included if 1100 completed SP1050 3 years SP1050 Included if 1100 completed

SP4400U 3 years SP4400U Included if 1100

completed. Overwritten by 4410. SP4410 4 years SP4410 Included if 1100 and 4400 completed SPCCCS 4 years SPCCCS Included if 1100 completed

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Uniprise Courses

Course

Exp.

Renewal/Refresher

No Badge

SPUSO 4 years SPUSO N/A

SPUCI 3 years SPUCI/SPUCIR N/A

SPUCIC 3 years SPUCI/SPUCIR N/A

SPUEND 4 years SPUEND N/A

SP4400U 3 years SP4400U N/A

SP4410 4 years SP4410 N/A

SPCCCS 4 years SPCCCS N/A

CommScope Infrastructure Academy ID Badges & Certification