Charleston, WV – The BridgeValley Community and Technical College, in conjunction with the West Virginia Office of Technology (WVOT), kicked off its inaugural class for a new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Cabling Certification Program this week, the first of its kind in West Virginia. Licensed by Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) Inc., the program introduces entry-level technicians, or those individuals who wish to enter the field of cable installation, to communication technology cabling standards, general safety practices related to installation and termination of cabling, transmission theory, and more.
“This is a huge benefit to our area, especially with technology evolving the way that it's evolving today," said WVOT Lead Cabling Manager James Bowles, who also serves as the BICSI certified trainer teaching the course. “We here at BridgeValley, as well as the Office of Technology, are proud to be a part of the first-ever authorized training facility (ATF) for BICSI in West Virginia."
Offering this program in state allows public sector agencies and private sector businesses to develop their existing workforce by equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to complete this type of work in house, as well as builds the base of individuals qualified in the state to perform this type of work.
Bowles said it took about two years to obtain approval by BICSI. In that time, Bowles and his cabling team from the WVOT built the certification lab for the ATF with more than $200,000 of in-kind donations from Corning, State Electric, Leviton, Fluke Networks, and the State of West Virginia. The team was required to follow a set of guidelines and standards when building the lab, which uses the same quality curriculum, classroom equipment and materials offered in a BICSI-conducted class.
All courses will be taught by a BICSI-certified instructor, with plans to increase the number of instructors in the future. This replicated classroom environment provides the same quality learning experience as a BICSI-delivered course, but with a significant cost savings to participants due to reduced course fees, travel expenses, and other expenses related to out-of-state trainings, and state taxpayers, since much of this type of work for public projects can now be completed in house.
“At BridgeValley, our mission is to train West Virginians to support our local and regional workforce needs," said Dr. Casey Sack, acting BridgeValley Community and Technical College President. “The BICSI program does that by offering a high-tech infrastructure-based certificate that we know from labor market data is needed in West Virginia. We are proud to be a partner in the work."
The first five-day course wraps up October 8, 2021, with eight participants, the limit required by BICSI per instructor. Upon successfully completing a hands-on assessment, the students will take a written test at a Pearson VUE testing center.
About BICSI Certifications
BICSI offers progressive installation training opportunities and credentialing exams to validate an individual's installation knowledge and experience. Regardless of if an individual is completely new to the industry or a 20-year veteran, there is an opportunity that fits everyone's needs. The four levels of certification and credentialing include BICSI Installer 1; BICSI Installer 2, Copper; BICSI Installer 2, Optical Fiber; and BICSI Technician.
To learn more about BICSI cabling certifications, visit https://www.bicsi.org/education-certification/certification/cabling-installation. For more information on the BICSI certification offered through BridgeValley Community and Technical College, see the video at https://vimeo.com/623673401/da56fa6b56.