Certification

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Outside Plant (OSP) Designer

Many organizations require the BICSI OSP credential for design and installation personnel on outside plant projects.  

The OSP credential will show your clients and employers that you are uniquely qualified and know the correct methods and approach to plan, develop, manage and supervise outside plant projects safely and effectively–which puts you and your company ahead of the competition.

OSP Design includes planning, development and documentation of workable and/or buildable OSP cabling systems.

OSP Installation includes procurement, deployment and verification of an OSP design.

Your knowledge and expertise will be tested in the following areas:
1. Pre-Design Preparation
2. Perform Site Survey
3. Select Media, Platform, and Cables
4. Design Underground Platform and Spaces
5. Design Buried Platform and Spaces
6. Design Aerial Platform and Spaces
7. Prepare Design
8. Quality Control Process
9. Professional Responsibilities 

Outside Plant (OSP) Designer Credentialing Process

  • Why

    Why Get Certified?

    • Positive Impact on Professional Image
    • New Job and Promotion Opportunities
    • Higher Salary Possibilities
    • Expands ICT Career Field
    • Recognized by the ICT Community and Employers
    • Provides a Unique Skillset to an ICT Designer
    • Uses the Latest Technologies, Methods and Best Practices
    • Critical in Modern High Bandwidth Applications
    • Engineered by OSP Experts
    • Recognized Globally
    • Built with Your Career in Mind
    • Meets the Highest Standards

  • Decide

    Download OSP Certification Handbook (PDF)

    Exam Eligibility Requirements
    Applicants must meet specific educational and/or work experience criteria at the time they submit their application in order to be eligible to take the OSP exam.

    REQUIREMENTS:

    Option #1
    Hold a current RCDD credential.

    OR

    Option #2
    Applicants must have 2 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. 

  • Prepare

    PREPARE FOR THE EXAM

    • Exam Blueprint
    • Knowledge Statement

    No two candidates come to the exam with the same knowledge base, as ICT experience and educational backgrounds vary. Most candidates spend time studying and preparing for the exams, which measure how well candidates can apply their ICT knowledge and experience. Therefore, it is not possible to train for or teach to the exam by reading certain books or memorizing specific information. The best way to prepare is to review and study the content in each functional area of the Exam Content Outline for the OSP Exam. 

    Suggested Study:

  • Apply

    The following items must be completed and submitted to BICSI World Headquarters:

    • A fully completed and descriptive OSP Exam Application

    • Proof of continuing education documentation

    OSP design experience will be verified. Based on the verification process of your OSP design experience, BICSI reserves the right to require additional submittal as proof of experience. Failure to provide these additional requirements will result in rejection of the application.

    Exam Application Fee (Exam Application Fee includes processing of exam application and first exam attempt)

    OSP Certification Handbook (PDF)

  • Test

    BICSI partners with Pearson VUE to deliver the OSP exam in a computer-based testing format.

    Pearson VUE will notify you of any changes to test site availability due to bad weather, technical issues or other unscheduled events. Once your application is approved, you will receive a BICSI Exam Authorization Letter by email confirming your approval. The authorization letter includes your candidate ID, as well as scheduling information. 

    We encourage you to schedule your exam appointment date as soon as you are approved. Scheduling early increases the chance you will receive your preferred testing date, time and location. 

    When scheduling an appointment, have the following information available:

    1. Your name exactly as it appears on your valid, unexpired government-issued ID
    2. Your candidate ID number
    3. The name of your exam sponsor (BICSI)
    4. The exam for which you are approved (OSP-002)
    5. Your preferred appointment date, time and location

    To schedule online, visit pearsonvue.com/bicsi and click on “create an account” or “sign in,” if you already have a Pearson VUE account.

    You can also schedule on the phone. To do so, call 888.602.6941. International phone numbers may vary. Please refer to the Pearson VUE website for alternate numbers, if needed.

    Retest Information

    During any exam eligibility period (one year from the date of application approval), there is a 30-day waiting period between each unsuccessful exam attempt. After a third unsuccessful attempt, a 90-day waiting period will begin. You may be allotted additional attempts after the 90-day waiting period if your exam eligibility period is still valid. Each exam retest requires the appropriate exam retest fee. If you do not pass the exam within your exam eligibility period, you can reapply for the exam by submitting a new application. 

  • Recertify

    OSP Credential Registration Period

    Your OSP credential is valid for three complete calendar years, with an expiration date of December 31. Your credential will be valid for the remainder of that calendar year in which you first passed the exam plus an additional three years, regardless of the month in which you passed the exam. For example, if you earned your OSP certification on September 20, 2017, your credential expiration date would be December 31, 2020.

    RECERTIFY NOW:

    1. Log onto BICSI Profile OR

    2. Submit New Renewal Application (PDF)

    Recertification Requirements

    Recertification is an important part of any respected credentialing program and it is required to maintain a certification after passing the exam. Recertification helps to ensure the validity and credibility of the OSP credential. BICSI views learning as a life-long endeavor and places an emphasis upon continuing education as part of maintaining your OSP status.

    It is the OSP credential holder’s responsibility to ensure that all requirements and conditions for recertification are satisfied and submitted to BICSI prior the credential period ending. BICSI issues recertification reminders as a courtesy, but it is the credential holder who is ultimately responsible for keeping track and documenting
    continuing education credits (CECs) and any other requirements of the recertification process.

    Within each three-year designation period, beginning when the exam is passed, all OSPs must obtain a minimum of 24 approved CECs to recertify. If you do not recertify by your designation period end date, you may no longer use your OSP credential or represent yourself as certified.

  • Get Started!

    Log into your Credential Dashboard to get started.

    LOG IN

OSP-Designer

 

"(The OSP) is the perfect companion to the ISP-heavy RCDD certification, and my position at the time required both inside plant and outside plant design. It has helped me obtain two OSP positions since I obtained the OSP certification.”
– Marty Emrick, RCDD, OSP
OSP Engineer, Black & Veatch
Tampa, Florida

“I knew I wanted further qualifications after gaining the RCDD designation. Achieving the OSP credential has been valuable in many aspects of my career. I’m now recognized as a confident and credible authority in OSP. I’ve enhanced my skill set. And I am continuously developing my professional status in the ICT industry.”
– Lindon Haigh, RCDD, OSP
Senior ICT Manager, Russell-Smith
Hobart, Australia

“Holding the OSP has allowed me to take part in the project management of outside plant construction and optical fiber networks of great importance.”
– Eduardo Belleza Zamora, RCDD, OSP, RTPM
Project Manager, B&Z Telecom
Lima, Peru

 

 

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