Network Cable Installer

On a network cable installer apprenticeship course, you’ll help install, terminate, test and certify network cable infrastructure components.

Installing, terminating, testing, and certifying network cable infrastructure components is the responsibility of a network cable installer. This network infrastructure serves as the communications backbone for the digital infrastructure ecosystem, allowing computers, servers, smart devices, security equipment, wireless access points, access control, building management systems, and lighting systems to communicate internally, nationally, and globally.

As an installer, you will work within and outside buildings and structures, installing cable connecting buildings, cities, and countries.

The task in which you may be involved can range in size from a single outlet point in a customer’s premises to thousands of outlets in a new office block, or from a single fibre cable termination in a building to the installation of hundreds of fibres over many kilometres in local, national, and international communities.

This physically demanding profession often requires lifting and transporting heavy equipment.

What you’ll learn

On a network cable installer apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:

• Install copper wire to support Local Area Networking (LAN).
• Install fibre optic cable for LAN and WAN systems. 
• Carry out copper cabling testing under the equipment manufacturer’s guidelines and industry standards.
• Carry out fibre optic cabling testing under the equipment manufacturer’s guidelines and industry standards, using an optical loss test set.
• Analyse the results of copper and fibre tests and provide customer certification
• Prepare, construct, and install telecommunications equipment cabinets that are pre-built or flat-pack. Install fixtures and fittings that are appropriate for the intended use. Selects network equipment components correctly for cabinet installation, differentiating between switches and routers.
• Reduce the dangers of working in confined spaces by taking appropriate health and safety precautions and wearing and maintaining personal protective equipment.
• Install network cables on public roads per the 1991 New Roads and Street Works Act.
• Analyse designs, make equipment selection and quantity decisions, and estimate time periods correctly.
• Assess the requirements for cable confinement by type and size before designing a route suitable for routing data cables. Safely install containment systems, utilising the proper tools and methods for cutting, shaping, and installing the tray, basket trunking, and conduit.
• Interpret the customer’s statement of requirements to determine the quality of components used in the cable network.
• Calculate equipment requirements and durations for tasks to be performed using your reading and numeracy skills.
• Communicate effectively with key stakeholders within the client’s organisation, including the customer, the Construction Design and Management (CDM) co-ordinator, the project manager, and the Information Technology (IT) security officer.
• Work hard to maintain cyber security by establishing rules and processes that protect data confidentiality.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• Depending on the employer, likely GCSEs or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience for an advanced apprenticeship.
• Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this before taking the end-point assessment.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assessment comprises two distinct assessment methods: 

• Practical Demonstration and Questions 
• Professional Discussion

Duration level and potential salary upon completion

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 3 Network Cable Installer Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.