ETA FTAA Exam Study Guide (2026)
Everything the ETA Fiber To Any Antenna (FTAA) tests, topic by topic: what each section covers, the facts that come up most, and how to study it. Pair it with the free 15-question practice test.
The exam at a glance
| Questions | 75 multiple-choice questions |
|---|---|
| Time | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Format | Closed book; scratch paper and a non-programmable calculator are allowed. ETA requires a special course, fee and hands-on exam from an ETA-approved school before the knowledge exam, so this prep covers only the written knowledge exam |
| Certifying body | ETA International (Electronics Technicians Association), accredited by ICAC under ISO/IEC 17024 |
| Test provider | ETA-approved schools with an ETA Course Approval, which run the required FTAA course and hands-on exam; the written exam is proctored by an ETA Certification Administrator online (Trapeza) or on paper |
Mind map: the whole exam on one screen
Read the complete ETA FTAA study notes for “Light, Transmission and Fiber Theory”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 12 minutes of reading: The fiber link and dB · Light and the spectrum · Refraction, TIR and Fresnel reflection · Fiber construction and modes, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
1. Light, Transmission and Fiber Theory
ETA competency areas 1.0 to 3.0: the parts of a fiber link, transmitters and receivers, dB and dBm, light as electromagnetic energy, refraction, total internal reflection, Fresnel reflection, and how multimode and single-mode fibers guide light. ETA does not publish topic weights.
Key facts
- A fiber link has three parts: a transmitter (electrical to optical), the fiber cable plant, and a receiver (optical to electrical).
- Loss and gain in dB = 10 log (P2/P1); 3 dB is half the power and 10 dB is one tenth. dBm is power relative to 1 mW, so 0 dBm = 1 mW and -10 dBm = 0.1 mW.
- Operating windows: 850 and 1300 nm for multimode; 1310 and 1550 nm for single-mode. Radio and microwave signals are far lower in frequency than light in the same electromagnetic spectrum.
- Index of refraction n = speed of light in a vacuum / speed in the material. Glass fiber is about 1.46 to 1.48, so light travels about 5 µs per km.
- Total internal reflection keeps light in the core because the core index is slightly higher than the cladding index and light strikes the boundary beyond the critical angle.
- Fresnel reflection occurs at any index change, such as glass to air; about 4% (about -14 dB) at a flat open end.
- Single-mode fiber: about 8 to 9 µm core, 125 µm cladding, 250 µm coating; mode field diameter is slightly larger than the core and grows with wavelength.
- Multimode step index fiber has high modal dispersion; graded index reduces it by slowing the rays near the center of the core.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Most theory questions turn into arithmetic. Know 3 dB = half, 10 dB = one tenth, and n = c/v cold, and draw the core, cladding and ray before you choose.
2. Fiber Characteristics and Designations
ETA competency area 4.0: attenuation and its causes, attenuation versus wavelength, dispersion, microbends and macrobends, bend-insensitive fiber, and how fibers are designated by ISO/IEC 11801, IEC 60793-2, TIA-568 and the ITU-T.
Key facts
- Attenuation comes from absorption (impurities such as water, OH ions) and scattering (mostly Rayleigh), plus bending losses in installed cable.
- Single-mode attenuation is lowest near 1550 nm (typically about 0.2 to 0.25 dB/km) and higher at 1310 nm (about 0.35 dB/km).
- Macrobends are visible bends tighter than the minimum radius; loss rises with wavelength, so test at 1310 and 1550 nm to find them.
- Microbends are tiny distortions from crushing, poor cable design or temperature; they also add loss.
- G.657 bend-insensitive fibers (A1, A2, B3) tolerate much tighter bends than G.652.D; some designs use a low-index trench around the core.
- Chromatic dispersion spreads pulses because different wavelengths travel at different speeds; modal dispersion affects only multimode fiber.
- ISO/IEC 11801 names cabled fiber classes OM1 to OM5 (multimode) and OS1a and OS2 (single-mode); ITU-T uses G.65x numbers.
Flashcards
Exam tip: If a question gives two wavelengths and a loss difference, think bends first. Dirt and splices lose about the same at both.
3. FTAA Safety: RF, Towers and Lasers
ETA competency area 5.0: PPE, OSHA's role, fiber shard handling, laser hazard classes, chemicals and Safety Data Sheets, electrical hazards, safe inspection, RF and antenna safety, and work at height including falling objects, fire, lockout/tagout, confined spaces and climbing.
Key facts
- OSHA publishes and enforces US workplace safety rules; employers must provide training and suitable PPE.
- Laser classes run from Class 1 (safe under normal use) through 1M, 2, 2M, 3R and 3B to Class 4. Telecom lasers are invisible infrared, so never look into a fiber or connector.
- Use a video inspection probe and confirm the fiber is dark with a power meter before inspecting.
- Fiber shards can pierce skin and eyes: wear safety glasses, work on a dark mat, collect scraps in a labeled sealed container and don't eat or drink at the work area.
- Safety Data Sheets (formerly MSDS) describe chemical hazards such as flammable isopropyl alcohol and cleaning solvents.
- RF exposure: the zone in front of transmitting antennas can exceed FCC exposure limits; follow the site RF safety plan, signage and power-down procedures.
- Climbing: trained and authorized climbers only, 100% tie-off, inspected equipment, and a drop zone kept clear below to manage falling objects.
- Lockout/tagout isolates energy sources such as DC power to radios before work; each worker applies their own lock.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Safety answers in ETA exams pick the procedure that removes the hazard before the work, not the fastest way to finish.
Test yourself on these topics
Take the free 15-question ETA FTAA test, then save your results to unlock your Readiness Score and the mistakes bank.
4. Light Sources, Receivers and Attenuators
ETA competency area 6.0: laser types and performance, transmitter characteristics, photodiodes, receiver components, dynamic range and operating wavelength, and why optical attenuators are used.
Key facts
- Fabry-Perot (FP) lasers have several spectral lines and suit shorter single-mode links at 1310 nm; DFB lasers have one narrow line for long or high-speed links and DWDM.
- VCSELs are low-cost 850 nm lasers used with multimode fiber.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Attenuator questions are three steps: received power = launch minus loss, compare with overload, then choose the pad that lands mid-range.
5. Fiber and Hybrid Cabling for Cell Sites
ETA competency area 7.0: cable cross sections, loose tube and tight buffer designs, strength members, jackets, cordage, distribution, breakout, armored, ribbon, hybrid, composite, microduct, ADSS and OPGW cables, NEC cable types and listing, jacket markings, TIA-598 color codes and power cabling for remote radios.
Key facts
- Loose tube cable isolates fibers in gel-filled or dry water-blocked tubes and suits outdoor and long runs; tight buffer (900 µm) suits indoor and short runs.
- Strength members: aramid yarn in most cables, plus central fiberglass (FRP) or steel members in outdoor cables. Pull on the strength member, never on the fibers.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Write the 12 TIA-598 colors at the top of your scratch paper at the start of the exam. Color-count questions are then quick marks.
6. Connectors, Cleaning and Inspection
ETA competency area 8.0: connector parts and ferrule materials, UPC and APC endfaces, reflectance and return loss, TIA-568 connectors and color codes, small form factor and splice-on connectors, loopbacks for top-of-tower testing, dry and wet-dry cleaning, IEC 61300-3-35 inspection, connectors at BBUs, RRUs and MIMO antennas, and intrinsic and extrinsic loss.
Key facts
- A connector has a ferrule (usually zirconia ceramic) holding the fiber, a body, a coupling mechanism and a boot.
- UPC endfaces are domed for physical contact; APC endfaces are angled 8° so reflected light leaves the core, giving the lowest reflectance.
Flashcards
Exam tip: The rule ETA tests over and over: inspect, clean if needed, re-inspect, then connect. Never mate APC with UPC.
7. Cable Installation, NEC and Bonding
ETA competency area 9.0: manufacturer specifications and methods of procedure (MOP), TIA-568 cable performance specs, static and dynamic loading, installation types from tray to aerial, NEC Article 770 locations, grounding and isolation, NESC, entrance bonding and duplex polarity.
Key facts
- Follow the manufacturer's specs and the carrier's MOP for tension, bend radius, clamp spacing and hoisting.
- Dynamic (loaded) limits apply during the pull; static (unloaded) limits apply once installed. Bend radius is typically 20 times OD under load and 10 times OD at rest.
Flashcards
Exam tip: When a question mixes pulling and resting, decide first whether the cable is under load. That chooses between the 20x and 10x rules.
8. Testing: OLTS, OTDR and Documentation
ETA competency area 10.0 and the largest list in the outline: NIST-traceable calibration, continuity tests, VFL, OLTS and measurement-quality jumpers, the TIA-526-7 30 mm loop, loss budgets, TIA-568 Annex E Tier 1 and Tier 2 testing, OTDR setup and launch and receive cables, power meter readings, documentation, power circuit testing, PIM and ORL.
Key facts
- Test equipment should be calibrated to standards traceable to NIST, typically every year.
- A visual fault locator (red laser around 650 nm) shows breaks, bad connectors and tight bends by visible glow over short distances.
Flashcards
Exam tip: OTDR distance and loss budget questions are certain to appear. Write out the formula each time instead of doing it in your head.
How to pass
- ETA's competency list names exact standards: TIA-568 Annex E Tier 1 and Tier 2 testing, TIA-526-7 for single-mode loss, IEC 61300-3-35 for endface inspection and ITU-T G.671 for connector loss. Learn what each one covers.
- Safety is broader than in other fiber exams: RF exposure near antennas, climbing and fall protection, lockout/tagout and confined spaces all appear alongside laser safety.
- Bring a non-programmable calculator and practise dB and dBm arithmetic, OTDR distance, attenuator sizing and loss budgets until each takes under a minute.
- 75 questions in 2 hours is 96 seconds each, and you need 75%. Answer every question; ETA allows one free retake within a year if needed.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I study for the ETA FTAA exam?
Most working candidates need 4 to 8 weeks at 45 to 60 minutes a day. Book your exam once your Readiness Score has stayed at 80 or higher for about a week.
Can I take the ETA FTAA exam online?
BICSI's v15 handbook describes the RCDD exam at Pearson VUE test centers, not remote proctoring. Format: closed book; scratch paper and a non-programmable calculator are allowed. eta requires a special course, fee and hands-on exam from an eta-approved school before the knowledge exam, so this prep covers only the written knowledge exam. Check pearsonvue.com/bicsi for the options in your country.
What score do I need to pass the ETA FTAA exam?
75%. The exam has 75 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of 2 hours.
What are the most tested topics?
The outline covers light, transmission and fiber theory, fiber characteristics and designations, ftaa safety: rf, towers and lasers, light sources, receivers and attenuators, fiber and hybrid cabling for cell sites, connectors, cleaning and inspection, cable installation, nec and bonding, testing: olts, otdr and documentation. Use the free practice test to see which ones you need most.
The premium ETA FTAA study path
Premium ETA FTAA prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1Light, Transmission and Fiber Theory8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2Fiber Characteristics and Designations8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 3FTAA Safety: RF, Towers and Lasers8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 4Light Sources, Receivers and Attenuators8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 5Fiber and Hybrid Cabling for Cell Sites7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 6Connectors, Cleaning and Inspection7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 7Cable Installation, NEC and Bonding7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 8Testing: OLTS, OTDR and Documentation7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams75 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.Premium
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- The RCDD exam: full prep for the v15 blueprint
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
- Video lessons as they release
- Content updates during your access
- 5 bonuses: numbers and formulas sheet, standards atlas, study planner and more
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Renews once a year until you cancel. We email you before each renewal. Cancel any time from your account; you keep access until the end of the year you've paid for.
Summarized from BICSI's official candidate information and the rules cited, checked October 2026. Confirm current requirements with ETA International (Electronics Technicians Association), accredited by ICAC under ISO/IEC 17024.