1. Certification: Method
and Application
Pam Nobles, Director Education & Certification, SCTE
John Fountain, Jr.
Director Network Technology – CB/HN Las Vegas
President Red Rock Chapter

2. Presentation Goals The Method: Overview SCTE Certification
Answer the question "why certify?"
Getting Started in SCTE Certification
Prepare
Getting Certified
Staying Certified
Benefits
The Application: Promoting Certification

4. HFC Network Segments Premises Distribution Transport TelecomCenter Hub

5. Broadband Premises (BPI, BPT, BPE)
Technology, Systems, Requirements
Premises Devices
Installation
Troubleshooting and Maintenance
Standards
Safety
These Certifications include 3 Lines of Business: Video – Voice – Data
Broadband Premises Installer (BPI) and Technician (BPT)
Broadband Premises Expert (BPE)

6. Broadband Distribution Specialist (BDS)
System Architectures
Distribution Components
Signal Types
Troubleshooting and Maintenance
Construction
Safety

7. Broadband Transport Specialist (BTS)
Fiber Optic Theory
Optical Transport Systems
Link Performance
Troubleshooting and Maintenance
Alternative Transport Systems
Hub

8. Broadband TelecomCenter Specialist (BTCS)
Facilities
Baseband Signals
Digital Telephony over Cable
RF/Photonic Signals
Tests and Measurements

9. HFC Network Segments BCT/E Certification (will be retired)
Hub
Hub
Hub
Broadband Premises Installer (BPI)
Broadband Premises Technician (BPT)
Broadband Premises Expert (BPE)
Broadband Distribution Specialist (BDS)
Broadband Transport Specialist (BTS)
Broadband Telecomm Center Specialist (BTCS)
BCT/E Certification (will be retired)

10. Engineering Professional

11. BCT/E BCT/E certifications will retire 12/31/10
BCT/E designation will continue to be recognized!
If certified, no action required (Renew, as usual)
Options for those in progress:
Complete
Convert BCT (see for details)
Consider taking other SCTE certifications

12. Certification Platform
OLD Platform
Current Platform
Two-Step Process: Enroll; take the exam
One-Step Process: Take the exam
Two Fees: Enrollment fee; testing fee
One Fee: Exam fee
Multiple Logins: Login to SCTE; login to exam site
One Login: Login to SCTE
48-Hour Wait: Enroll; take exam 48 hours later
Internet Speed: Take exam immediately
One Value: All certifications have the same value and price
Tiered Value: Exams requiring advanced technical knowledge have different value and price

13. Questions?

14. Why Certify? Individuals Our industry Operators
SCTE Certification Benefits…
Individuals
Our industry
Operators

15. Why Certify? What SCTE certification does for an individual
Professional certification demonstrates solid knowledge
Demonstrates drive, self-discipline, professionalism
Career advancement
Consistency - transportable

16. Why Certify? What SCTE certification does for our industry
SCTE certifications raise the bar on technical knowledge
Certification provides a competitive advantage
Certification inspires the confidence of your customers

17. Why Certify? What SCTE certification does for Operators
Used in conjunction with career path, improves performance
Lowers service call rates
Reduces repeat calls
Reduces customer churn

18. Getting Started
Preparing to Certify
Getting Certified
Staying Certified

19. Preparing to Certify
Study Guides – Exam Topics
Books, Manuals, and Personalized Prep Guides
Jones/NCTI Courses
Corporate Universities
SCTE Bookstore
Study Groups
Individual Mentors

20. SCTE Certification Programs
What About Jones/NCTI?
Jones/NCTI
Helps prepare individuals for certification
SCTE Certification Programs
Industry-recognized
Criteria are established by industry members
Recertification component

21. Getting Certified
Online
50 question multiple-choice exams
Immediate feedback
Fee per exam
Example Exam Page (next slide)

22. Example exam screen shot

23. Tiered Pricing Pricing Exam Member Rate Non-Member Rate BPI $ 45 $ 75
BPT
BPE
BPS 
BDS 
BTS 
$ 50
$ 80
BTCS 
$ 60
$100
BCT 
BCE 
$120
DVEP 
$125
$165
IPEP
$ 125
$ 165
Recertification
$ 25

24. Certification Valid for Three Years To Maintain Certification Status:
Staying Certified
Certification Valid for Three Years
To Maintain Certification Status:
Retake exam
Earn Recertification Units (RUs)
SCTE membership
Company-sponsored training
Seminars
Speaking or presenting
Other activities

25. Staying Certified, continued
Recertification Window
Apply 6 months before or 12 months after expiration date
Failure to apply within time period will result in loss of current certification status
RUs needed (total within 3 years)
Specialist & BCT: need total 12 RUs
BCE and the Engineering Professional exams: need total 21 RUs

26. Staying Certified, continued
Complete SCTE Recertification Form
Form on
Use “Recertification Unit” Table as a Guide
Document Your RUs
Keep track of all your RUs!
Record your events on “Members Only Homepage – Submit Certification Units (RUs)”

27. Special Certification Status
Emeritus Certification Status
Continuously certified 21 years
SCTE Retired Certification Status
Retired SCTE Member

28. How do we promote?
Whether supporting SCTE or company certifications, continue to prepare candidates:
Partner with local operators and contractors
Provide mentoring and study groups
Maintain the “link” to SCTE certification
Provide technical training prep sessions
Encourage chapter members to certify

29. Learn From other Chapters!
Incentive / Scholarship Programs
Southern California Chapter:
Central California Chapter:
Study Groups – Red Rocks Chapter

30. Why won’t field service certify?
They…
…don’t believe it will help them in their job
…don’t want to show that they don’t have the skills
…don’t either have or want to spend the money
…don’t have the motivation

31. What can you do about it?
They don’t believe it will help them in their job
repetitively let them know how it looks good on their resume
Work to add the designations as “preferred” or “desired”
They don’t want to show that they don’t have the skills
This is what the presentation is trying to address…next slide
They don’t either have or want to spend the money
Need to find a way to buffer the hit…next slide
They don’t have the motivation
Next…

32. Created a “study group”
What we did…
Created a “study group”
Provided FREE books
Provided a reading schedule and group setting to meet
Provided donuts and coffee
Motivated vendor participation/presentation through sponsorships
Held class outside work hours as much as possible
Made sure that when techs asked math questions or other “side questions” we would dive deep or offer a separate meeting – we had a couple of math sessions to teach logarithms
Offered a free membership to anyone who passed a test

33. BPS Specifics Materials: From Tap to Home 8 weeks
1 ½ hours from 6:30am to 8:00am
Read 2 chapters per week
Slowed down if the class was not keeping up; sped up when they showed “no questions”
Ten of 11 passed the first time (3 months later on the second try the one guy passed)

34. Red Rock Chapter BPS Certification Training 2008
Objective: Provide information and support to SCTE members to pass the BPS Certification.
Books provided for the first 12 participants who sign up
Training sessions will be 6 weeks, 1 ½ hrs each: 6:30am to 8:00am
Each session will cover at least 2 chapters and sometimes 4 chapters
Each student will be expected to read the chapters before each class and review the materials in class each week.
The 6th week will be a TEST SESSION. All students who take the test MUST be SCTE members ($68 per year) and must pay a TEST FEE.
We are seeking volunteers to teach each chapter of “From Tap to Home” The Jones/NCTI Installation Manual

35. Example Schedule Date Chapter/Topic Instructor Location
Week 1 – Mar 12
1. Introduction
Fountain
Indiana Jones
2. Customer Relations
3. Safety
4. Tools and Materials
Week 2 – Mar 19
5. Cable and Connectors
6. Aerial Drop Installations
7. Underground Drop Installations
8. Exterior and Interior Wiring
Week 3 – Mar 26
9. Bonding and Grounding
Casablanca
10. Terminal Devices
11. Connecting Customer Equipment
12. Building Prewires
Week 4 – April 9
13. Multiple Dwelling Units
14.Digital Signals and the Return Path
15. Telephony
Week 5 – April 16
16. Cable Modems
17. Troubleshooting and Repair
Week 6 – April 23
Certification Testing
Toll

36. BDS Specifics
Materials: We created a slide deck + Foundations for Delivering Quality Broadband Services
14 weeks
1 ½ hours from 6:30am to 8:00am
Read 2 to 3 chapters per week
We slowed down if the class was not keeping up, we sped up when they showed “no questions”
6 of 6 passed the first time

37. Sample Slides for Chapter 1

38. Line of sight transmission
TV station
No reception
Signal blockage 38 38

39. Low Band 2 3 4 5 6
54.0 MHz
88.0 MHz
Radio Astronomy

40. The Geostationary Satellite System
24 Transponders
Downlink
22,000
miles
Uplink 40

41. Transportation Conventional Coaxial Service Area
Reliability Issues Many Actives Limited Bandwidth
Noise/Distortion High Maintenance
AML Microwave 12.7 – 13.2 GHz
Service
Area
Hazardous Line-of-Sight Problems
Heat Sensitive FCC Permitting
Fiber Optic Link
Service
Area
No Actives Needed Unlimited Bandwidth
Scalable/Upgradeable Versatile

42. Fiber Network
The Fiber backbone transports the signals from the MTC via an optical light to service areas called “Node Areas”, where the light is converted back into electrical signal.
Light
RF In
Light Out
Light In
RF Out
Core
LASER Driver
Focusing Lens
Fiber Cable
PIN Receiver (NODE)
Transmitter

43. Learn From other Chapters!
Incentive / Scholarship Programs
Rocky Mountain Chapter
Gateway Chapter

44. Communication - Share the News! Certification News:
Chapter Leader’s Role
Communication - Share the News!
Certification News:
Go to > Certification > Certification News
Questions???