BICSI

Outside Plant (OSP) Designer

Credential: Outside Plant (OSP) Designer  GI Bill resource CA Eligible
Credentialing Agency: BICSI

Renewal Period: 3 years

BICSI, Outside Plant (OSP) Designer is for individuals who have knowledge in OSP technology and the ability to design aerial, underground and direct-buried infrastructures. OSP applicants must be able to demonstrate knowledge in OSP right-of-way and route design, OSP space design (maintenance, holes, ducts, vaults), underground direct-buried, and aerial plant design, OSP cabling and hardware and OSP grounding (earthing), bonding and electrical protection systems. To earn the OSP certification, applicants must hold a current BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) credential or meet specific education and experience criteria. Applicants must pass a written exam.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Outside Plant (OSP) Designer

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Attainability:    high

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

  • Credential Prerequisite
  • Experience: 2 years
  • Education: Semester/Course Hours
  • Training
  • Membership
  • Other
  • Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

  • Exam
  • Written Exam
  • Oral Exam
  • Practical Exam
  • Performance Assessment

Exam Administration (View Details)

  • In-person exam
  • Remote proctored on-line exam
  • Third-party test vendor

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 3 years

  • Continuing Education
  • Exam
  • Continuing Education OR Exam
  • Fee
  • Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

BICSI

8610 Hidden River Parkway
Tampa, FL  33637-1000

Phone: (800) 242-7405

Fax: (813) 971-4311
Email: bicsi@bicsi.org

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Option 1:

Applicants must hold a current BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) credential.

Option 2:

Applicants must have two years of verifiable full-time equivalent field experience in OSP design and/or installation AND a minimum of 32 hours of documented continuing education in OSP design and/or installation, which may include training provided by BICSI, manufacturer training, college courses, industry training, and/or vendor training.

The Outside Plant (OSP) Designer credential has the following other requirements:

Written Exam

  • Pre-Design Preparation (11%-12%)
    • Research types and capabilities of existing technology
    • Research existing infrastructure/information gathering
    • Research geography
    • Determination financial parameters
    • Comply with local, state, and national regulations
    • Assess program/client requirements and forecast for the future
    • Interpret customer's I.T. and facility master plan
  • Perform Site Survey (9%-10%)
    • Perform pre-job assessment for new and existing construction
    • Perform additional pre-job assessment for existing construction
    • Determine easements and requirements for right-of-way
    • Determine proposed routing
    • Verify network topology
  • Select Media, Platform and Cables (13%-14%)
    • Select appropriate media
    • Select copper AWG and sizing
    • Select fiber mode and type
    • Select coax
    • Select splicing hardware
    • Select termination hardware
    • Select splitters
    • Select alternative media
  • Design Underground Platform and Spaces (14%-15%)
    • Design underground support structure - Conduit
    • Design underground support structure - maintenance hole
    • Design underground support structure - hand hole/pull box
    • Design underground support structure - Contained Environmental Vault
    • Design underground grounding systems
    • Design utility tunnels pathways
    • Design storm/waste water and natural gas pipe support structures
    • Design transition structures
  • Design Buried Platform and Spaces (14%-15%)
    • Design buried application - Trench
    • Design buried application - Plowed
    • Design buried application - Bore
    • Design buried grounding systems
  • Design Aerial Platform and Spaces (14%-15%)
    • Design aerial support structure - existing
    • Design aerial support structure - new construction
    • Design aerial support structure - Messenger
    • Design aerial support structure - Anchors and Guys
    • Design aerial structure grounding - Multiground Neutral Distribution System
    • Design aerial structure grounding based on Delta Systems
    • Design aerial structure grounding based on Wye Systems
    • Design aerial structure grounding - Special Situations
    • Determine space allocation on pole
    • Select cable attachment method and associated hardware
    • Design aerial to underground transition structures
    • Design optical ground wire structures
    • Design All Dielectric Self Supporting support structures
  • Prepare Design (8%-9%)
    • Prepare preliminary design
    • Prepare critical design review scope/design development
    • Prepare final design (construction) package
    • Prepare rough order magnitude - ROM
  • Quality Control Process (7%-8%)
    • Develop quality control process
    • Implement design change process
    • Identify common mistakes
    • Design betterments/optimization
  • Professional Responsibilities (1%-2%)
    • Perform pre-award responsibilities
    • Perform post-award responsibilities
    • Stay professionally current
    • Serve as a mentor to new OSP designers

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Outside Plant (OSP) Designer examination:

An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.

Testing Information

  • Exam Administration

    Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the Outside Plant (OSP) Designer credential where checked:

    • In-person exam
    • Remote proctored on-line exam
    • Third-party test vendor

  • For more information on the BICSI testing process, visit the agency website.

RECERTIFICATION

Outside Plant (OSP) Designer

Renewal Period: 3 years

The Outside Plant (OSP) Designer credential has the following recertification information:

  • The OSP certification is valid for three complete calendar years, with an expiration date of December 31. To recertify, certification holders must obtain a minimum of 24 approved continuing education credits (CECs), agree to abide by the BICSI Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, and pay a recertification fee. 

    Additional information can be found in the OSP Certification Handbook.

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand. The U.S. Department of Labor sponsored CareerOneStop's analysis indicates the certification is frequently mentioned in online job postings.

Click for external link to CareerOneStop's Credentials Center.

COOL Bucks

See your installation Education Service Officer for credential exam information and coordinating instructions.

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Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

CA Eligible

This certification is eligible for CA.

Promotion Points

This certification has been approved for promotion points.

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Star

Star credentials are MOS enhancing, as designated by the Proponent. MOS enhancing credentials are directly related to an MOS or ASI, are taught either partially or completely as part of a Program of Instruction (POI), and improves the MOS technical proficiency.

Skill Level

The Skill Level reflects the level, based on MOS training and/or experience, the Soldier should be the most prepared to successfully earn the credential. See the Table Legend for details about each level.

Navy Bucks

Credential voucher or reimbursement for credential exam, re-certification, or maintenance fee has been approved for payment through the Navy's Credential Program Office. To get a voucher request form, click Menu at the top of any page, then click "2 Complete Voucher and Apply" under Credentialing Steps.

CG Bucks

Current Coast Guard policy states all credentials listed on CG COOL may be reimbursed assuming the enlisted service member meets the eligibility requirements as outlined in the Coast Guard Voluntary Credentialing Program Policy (COMDTINST 1540.1(series))

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted E1 through E4

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E5 through E6

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E7 through E9

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted “A” School through E5

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E6 through E7

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E8 through E9

Early Career

1-6 years experience; Officer O1 through O2

Mid Career

6-12 years experience; Officer O3 through O5

Late Career

12+ years experience; Officer O6 and Above

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click to go to the external link for GI Bill licensing and certification information.

ANAB (ANSI)

This credential has been accredited by ANAB (ANSI).

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ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC.

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ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC.

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NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA.

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IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS.

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Low

May be difficult to attain: minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree, and/or minimum experience is 10 or more years.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

Medium

Moderate ease of attainment: minimum education requirement = Associate's and/or prerequisite and/or minimum experience = more than 2 years and less than 10 years of experience.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

High

Highly attainable: minimum education requirement = HS or less and/or minimum experience = 2 years or less experience and no additional requirements.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty
AOC is Area Of Concentration Officer
Functional Area
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Registered Apprenticeship

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Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

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Updated: January 07, 2021
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