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When did the certification program change?
In September 2009, GVF launched a restructuring of the VSAT Installer Certification program. The changes improve the online learning experience for students and add flexibility for instructors and examiners, which will make the hands-on requirements more accessible world wide.
How did the certification program change?
- The Level 3S Certification has been renamed "Advanced" Certification. All students who have completed Level 3S under the previous structure will automatically be listed as holding Advanced Certification.
- The GVF iDirect Certification has been renamed "iDirect Specialist" certification.
- A new, entry-level certification has been added: GVF Basic Certification. It meets the minimum skill level necessary for activation of a VSAT terminal without creating excessive interference.
For more details, please see the new
Certification Program brochure.
How have the courses changed?
- There are three new online courses,
GVF510 (Core Skills for VSAT Installers)
,
GVF520 (SatCom Fundamentals)
, and
GVF521 (Practical Technique for VSAT Installers)
. Together, these three courses cover the knowledge topics from the old Level 1, Level 2, and the classroom theory part of the old Level 3S course.
- GVF 510 is an highly interactive, intensive course focusing on the core skills that all VSAT installers must have to avoid creation of interference.
- GVF 501 (Level 1) and 502 (Level 2) are being phased out. Current students will continue to have access until they complete them, but new students will enroll in the new GVF 510, 520, and 521 courses.
- The Level 3S classroom/hands-on class is also being phased out. In future, students will learn the require knowledge topics in GVF 521 online, and then attend a
Hands On Skills Test session with a GVF Examiner.
Why are you changing the program?
There are several reasons:
- The major satellite operators, including Intelsat, have launched an initiative to combat interference, which is having a serious impact on transponder capacity and service quality for all users. GVF has responded to this challenge by creating a new Basic certification and making it available at lowest cost to installers worldwide.
- We now have the technology to delivery much more realistic simulators for antenna pointing and polarization adjustment skills practice. This technology has been built into the new courses - in particular, GVF 510.
- We wanted to make certification more accessible worldwide by enable students to complete their hands-on requirements with an Examiner rather than being required to attend a complete classroom session. To do that, we upgraded the online courses to cover theory topics previously taught in the Level 3S class.
- We wanted to give instructors more flexibility in offering classroom and practical courses. In the new structure, instructors may offer "supplementary" classes (possibly including the mandatory Hands On Skills Test) to students who would like extra time, discussion in their own language, or more practical work than only the test.
What happened to Level 1, 2, and 3S?
In September 2009, we made significant updates and improvements to the online courses, and added a new entry-level ("Basic") certification. The learning content from our previous Level 1 and 2 online courses, plus the practical topics covered in the previous Level 3S classroom session, are now included (and enhanced) in the new GVF 510, 520, and 521 online courses. The Hands On Skills Test (HOST) is now offered stand-alone by regional or organizational Examiners, and additional supplementary classroom sessions may be offered by GVF instructors, at their discretion.
These changes have no effect on the validity of previous certifications and/or on courses taken toward Certification. If you completed the legacy Level 1 and Level 2 courses and wish to obtain an Advanced GVF Installer Certification, you still receive credit for passing these courses. Together with credit for GVF501 and GVF502 you would need to complete GVF521 and attend a HOST session. If you purchased a GVF513SWC package, you may have several options. First, there may be still a few seats open in the scheduled Level 3S classroom sessions (GVF503SCxx) which you may attend, or you can request to be registered for GVF521 in place of the Level 3S class -- but a HOST session will still be required.
Are the Level 1 and 2 online courses being discontinued?
Yes. GVF 501 and 502 will remain online indefinitely, but they are no longer in the catalog for new enrollments. Students currently enrolled in GVF 501 and 502 can certainly complete them and they are welcome to attend one of the Level 3S classes to achieve GVF Advanced Certification.
Are the Level 3S classroom courses being discontinued?
Yes. In future, students will take GVF 510, 520, 521 online and the Hands On Skills Test to receive Advanced certification. However, all currently scheduled Level 3S classes will be held as planned, so if you are already enrolled in a 3S class, you should attend it and you will receive your Advanced certification when you complete it.
I have already paid for a Level 1-2-3S or 1-2-3i-3S package but I am not enrolled in a Level 3S class. What must I do now that Level 3S is being discontinued?
Don't worry - we will assist you with enrolling you in the necessary online course(s) and a Hands On Skills Test so you can complete your Advanced certification requirements. There will be no extra cost.
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