Five-Week Fiber Optics Course at SSCC Hillsboro Prepares Students for CFOT

Todd Guden, a Southern State Community College alumnus in the Computer Science department, will teach a five-week Fiber Optic training course at SSCC’s Central Campus, 100 Hobart Drive in Hillsboro, beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2026, with a registration deadline of Friday, March 6, 2026 and a course fee of $850 that covers study materials, exams and a one-year membership in the Fiber Optics Association.

The program runs 15 total classes and combines classroom theory with lab work that sources describe as 85 percent hands-on; classes meet 6 to 8 p.m. in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with online sessions on Wednesdays, producing a reported 30 hours of in-person instruction and 10 hours of online study. The Certified Fiber Optic Technician - CFOT - test, sanctioned by the Fiber Optics Association, will be administered and graded on the final class day.

Course curriculum listed in SSCC materials and local coverage includes instruction on fiber optic industry standards, how to identify fiber types, recognition of connectors used in installation, plus installation, termination, splicing and properly testing installed fiber cable to current standards. The program also covers basic testing and troubleshooting and surveys the history and future of fiber optics, preparing students specifically to sit for the CFOT credential that employers in telecommunications and utilities commonly request.

Cost and funding details are consistent across multiple reports: the $850 tuition is said to include study guides, the CFOT exam and a one-year FOA membership; limited funding support is available for those who qualify. Wilmington News Journal notes payment is required in advance to complete registration. To register by phone, contact Amanda Lewis at 937-393-3431, Ext. 3520; SSCC also accepts online registration through the college’s website.

Previous local reporting shows the course has run in multiple terms: a Times Gazette item documented a March 25–April 24, 2025 session and quoted Blaine Parker, identified there as course instructor, saying, “Fiber optics is an integral part of modern communications and technology infrastructure. This course will provide participants with the skills they need to be competitive in the workforce, whether they’re just starting or looking to enhance their current technical skillset.” Record-Herald coverage recorded a prior Jan. 6–Feb. 5 session with an earlier registration deadline.

Prospective students seeking the March 17, 2026 session or details on limited funding should call Amanda Lewis at 937-393-3431, Ext. 3520 now; the CFOT exam will be held on the final class day at SSCC’s Central Campus, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro.