New Workforce Credential Access Offers Low-Cost Entry to Fiber Technology Jobs in North Carolina

Fiber Broadband Association’s OpTIC Path™ Program Gains North Carolina Workforce Credential Status, Expanding Access to Fiber Careers

Christy Barbaran
Connect2 Communications for the Fiber Broadband Association
FBA@connect2comm.com

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is pleased to announce that its Optical Telecom Installer Certification (OpTIC Path™) program, a comprehensive fiber optic technician certification course, has been submitted by Wilson Community College and officially endorsed by the North Carolina Workforce Credential Advisory Council. The OpTIC Path program is now listed on the NC Careers site, placing it among a select group of high-value, non-degree credentials sought by employers. This designation offers students a direct pathway to sustainable-wage careers in the expanding fiber technology field.

The Workforce Credential designation connects the OpTIC Path certification to key state funding opportunities, including scholarships and short-term workforce training support. As a result, North Carolina students may now be able to complete the certification at little to no cost, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for those interested in pursuing a career in fiber optics.

“The OpTIC Path program offers students a new pathway to meaningful careers while supporting the connectivity needs of communities throughout North Carolina,” said Wes Hill, Dean of Continuing Education at Wilson Community College. “By making this certification accessible and affordable, we’re empowering students to enhance their local infrastructure and contribute to lasting community development.”

The OpTIC Path program’s recognition comes at a critical time, as North Carolina will receive over $1.5 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding- making it the fifth-highest allocation in the country. The anticipated influx of resources will drive broadband expansion across the state, spurring demand for skilled fiber technicians capable of building and maintaining the advanced networks needed to support equitable connectivity.

Currently, Wilson Community College (WCC) and the College of the Albemarle (COA) in North Carolina offer the OpTIC Path program, making these institutions early adopters of a certification course poised to attract new enrollments and draw the attention of additional colleges statewide. Plans to expand the program to other North Carolina institutions are underway for 2025, as demand for skilled fiber technicians continues to grow.

Developed by the FBA, the OpTIC Path course equips students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills through a building-block approach. The 144-hour curriculum combines classroom instruction with hands-on training, preparing graduates to install, test, troubleshoot, and maintain fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks and other critical broadband infrastructure. Graduates earn a certificate upon completion, valid for three years, along with a one-year complimentary membership to access exclusive FBA research, resources, and networking opportunities.

Designed to address the urgent need for skilled labor in the broadband sector, the OpTIC Path program is part of FBA’s nationwide initiative to accelerate fiber deployments and close the digital divide. Through partnerships with community and technical colleges, veteran’s programs, and industry organizations, the OpTIC Path program continues to expand access to high-demand career opportunities in the telecommunications industry. The OpTIC Path program is on track to graduate 1,200 new fiber technicians each year, for the next five years.

For more information about FBA and the OpTIC Path program, visit and enrollment opportunities, https://fiberbroadband.org/

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policy makers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

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