New Mexico is building a broadband workforce

The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access & Expansion (OBAE) is working collaboratively to mobilize and support building a broadband workforce in New Mexico. Learn more below about the new Building Industry Consulting Services International (BICSI) Broadband training opportunities. The program is fully funded by the US Department of Labor.

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2026 Training Schedule 
​BICSI - INST1 Introductory Course and Installation Program

APPLY NOW

Please click the “Apply Now” button and complete the form if interested.
Applicants will be contacted once enrollment opens for each class.
One enrollment has opened for a regional course, you can contact the regional contact listed.

For more information contact:
Andy Exell,
OBAE Project Manager
(505) 490-2818
[email protected]

Upcoming Classes:

Enrollment will open approximately two months before the class.
​Enrollment for July and August classes will open soon!

• June 1-5, 2026 Class is full!
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Farmington
  ​San Juan College - Main Campus
  4601 College Blvd  Room 1019 (Next to Mary's Kitchen)
  Farmington, NM 87402 
  To enroll, contact America's Job Center:
  Janessa Velasquez
  (505) 566-4212​​

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• ​June 8-12, 2026 Only a few spots left!
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Ruidoso 
  Inn of the Mountain Gods: Enrolling Now
  287 Carrizo Canyon Rd, Mescalero, NM 88340 
  To enroll, contact America's Job Center:
  Francisco Juarez 
  (575) 258-4781
  ​
  ​Enrollment for July and August classes opening soon!​
  
  
• July 13-17, 2026 
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Las Cruces
  America's Job Center
  
  
• July 20-24, 2026 Enrollment is now open!
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Carlsbad
  Southeast New Mexico College
  SENMC Workforce Training Center 
  505 Alta Vista, Carlsbad, NM 88220
  
  To enroll, contact America's Job Center:
  Erica Peterson
  [email protected] 
  575-236-4992
  ​
• August 3-7, 2026
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Socorro
  America's Job Center
  
  
• August 10-14, 2026 Enrollment is now open!
  Installer 2 (Copper)
  Carlsbad
  South East New Mexico College
  SENMC Workforce Training Center 
  505 Alta Vista, Carlsbad, NM 88220
  To enroll, contact America's Job Center contact:
  Erica Peterson
  [email protected] 
  575-236-4992
  
  
• September 14-18, 2026
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Pueblo of Laguna/Acoma
  
  
• September 21-25, 2026
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Santo Domingo Pueblo
  
  
• October 12-16, 2026
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Raton​
  
  
• October 19-23, 2026
  Installer 2 (Copper)
  Farmington
  San Juan College (Campus TBD) 
  
  
• November 9-13, 2026
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Taos 
  
  
• November 16-20, 2026
  Installer 2 (Fiber)
  Farmington
  San Juan College (Campus TBD) 
  
  
• December 7-11, 2026
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Albuquerque
  America’s Job Center 
  
  
• December 14-18, 2026
  Installer 2 (Copper)
  Location TBD  
  
  

Apply Now

Community Sites
​If you are interested in hosting a training in your region in the future, contact Andy Exell. Host sites must be prepared to provide:

• Training room, minimum of 1000 square feet
• Sufficient tables and space for 2 students per 6’x30” table & chairs
• Instructor’s head table and chair
• Two 6’x30” tables at rear of room for equipment & work/demo area
• 12’x4’ space at front and rear for equipment racks

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Available BICSI Trainings

​Installer 1 Training and INST1 Certificate

•  The introductory course in the Installation Program.
•  Skills needed to function safely & effectively on the job.
  
  

Installer 2 Copper Training and INSTC Certification

•  Hands-on/application focused on copper-base cabling installation.
•  Exam requirements must have 1 year experience to sit for the exam.

Installer 2 Optical Fiber Training and INSTF Certification

•  Hands-on/application to pull, terminate, splice & test fiber cabling
•  Exam requirements must have 2 years of experience to sit for the exam.
  
  

Technician Training and BICSI Technician Certification

•  Couse focused on transitioning from a contributing team member to leading a crew.
•  Cable termination, testing, troubleshooting as well as bonding and grounding, firestopping and project management.
•  Exam requirements must have 3 years of experience to sit for the exam.

BICSI provides lab equipment, student workbooks, tools/consumables and all audio-visual equipment. The practical exam can be taken on the last day of class and participants have up to one year to take the written exam. Written exams can be scheduled and taken at any Pearson Vue test center. There are twenty-five Pearson Vue test sites in New Mexico. The written exam can be retaken if needed within the one-year deadline.

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CONTACT
Andy Exell
OBAE Program Coordinator
[email protected]
​(505) 490-2818

Download Flyer

The program is fully funded by the US Department of Labor.

Read the Newsblast:
State Broadband Office Joins Sen. Ben Ray Lujan in Workforce Development Roundtable 02.17.2026

2026 Archive of Classes:

• February 9-11
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Santa Fe
  America's Job Center 
• Feb 16-20
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Pueblo of Jemez 
• April 20-24
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Farmington
  San Juan College- West Campus
• May 11-15
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Luna County
  Mimbres Valley Learning Center
• June 1-5
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Farmington
  San Juan College - Main Campus
• ​June 8-12
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Ruidoso
  Inn of the Mountain Gods
• July 13-17
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Las Cruces
  America’s Job Center
• July 20-24
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Carlsbad
  Southeast New Mexico College
• August 3-7
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Socorro
  America’s Job Center
• August 10-14
  Installer 2 (Copper)
  Carlsbad
  Southeast New Mexico College
• September 14-18
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Pueblo of Laguna/Acoma
• September 21-25
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Santo Domingo Pueblo
• October 12-16
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Raton
• October 19-23
  Installer 2 (Copper)
  Farmington
  San Juan College (Campus TBD) 
• November 9-13
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Taos 
• November 16-20
  Installer 2 (Fiber)
  Farmington
  San Juan College (Campus TBD) 
• December 7-11
  Installer 1 (Basic)
  Albuquerque
  America’s Job Center 
• December 14-18
  Installer 2 (Copper)
  Location TBD  

BICSI Training Descriptions 
​

BICSI Installer 1

Training - IN101

BICSI's IN101 course is a 4.5-day course (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) and offers 35 continuing education credits (CECs) for existing credential holders. The optional exam is conducted in two parts: the hands-on exam is on Friday afternoon, and the written exam is conducted at any Pearson VUE Testing Center of the examinee’s choosing. 

Course Description
IN101: BICSI Installer 1 Training is a hands-on/application-focused course providing entry-level installers with the background knowledge and skills needed to function safely and effectively on the job and in accordance with the requirements, recommendations, and best practices outlined in the 8th edition of the Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM). It is the introductory course in the Installation Program.

Course Materials
BICSI’s Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM 8th Edition) is required for each student in this course.

Preparation
Studying the ITSIMM a minimum of 50 hours before class begins is recommended for class and exam success.

Exam Requirements
There is no prior ICT industry installation experience requirement for individuals preparing to sit for the Installer 1 exam. Please review the BICSI Exam Handbook for further details at bicsi.org/installer1.

Exam Process
A completed exam application must be received by BICSI for processing 15 business days prior to the hands-on exam date. Applications cannot be accepted less than 5 business days prior to the exam date. 

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BICSI Installer 2

Copper Training and INSTC Certification - Building IN225

BICSI's IN225 course is a 4.5-day course (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) and offers 35 continuing education credits (CECs) for existing credential holders. The optional exam is conducted in two parts: the hands-on exam is on Friday afternoon, and the written exam is conducted at a Pearson VUE Testing Center of the examinee’s choosing. BICSI class minimum  is 8 students.

Course Description
IN225: BICSI Installer 2, Copper Training is a hands-on/application-focused course which sets the foundation of a copper-based structured cabling system installation. The course includes topics on professionalism, copper transmission principles and general safety practices associated with copper cabling. A significant amount of course time is spent on BICSI best practices for the installation, termination and testing of copper cable as outlined in the 8th edition of the Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM).

Course Materials
BICSI’s Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM 8th Edition) is required for each student in this course.

Preparation
Studying the ITSIMM a minimum of 50 hours before class begins is recommended for class and exam success.

Exam Requirements
Students must have one year of verifiable experience within the last five years to sit for the Copper exam.
Please review the BICSI Exam Handbook for further details at bicsi.org/in2copper.

Exam Process
A completed exam application must be received by BICSI for processing 15 business days prior to the hands-on exam date. Applications cannot be accepted less than 5 business days prior to the exam date. Click here to watch the “How to Apply” tutorial or share with your examinees.

Course Materials
BICSI’s Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM 8th Edition) is required for each student in this course.

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BICSI Installer 2

IN250: Optical Fiber Training

BICSI's IN250 course is a 4.5-day course (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) and offers 35 continuing education credits (CECs) for existing credential holders. The optional exam is conducted in two parts: the hands-on exam is on Friday afternoon, and the written exam is conducted at a Pearson VUE Testing Center of the examinee’s choosing. 

Course Description
IN250: BICSI Installer 2, Optical Fiber Training is a hands-on/application-focused course that prepares installers to pull, terminate, splice, and test fiber cabling as part of an information and communications technology (ICT) system. The course includes topics on fiber transmission principles and general safety practices associated with working with fiber cabling. A significant amount of course time is spent on BICSI best practices for installing, terminating, splicing, and testing fiber cable as outlined in the 8th edition of the Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM). Course Materials BICSI’s Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM 8th Edition) is required for each student in this course.

Preparation
Studying the ITSIMM a minimum of 50 hours before class begins is recommended for class and exam success.

​Exam Requirements
Students must have two years of verifiable experience within the last five years to sit for the Optical Fiber exam. Please review the BICSI Exam Handbook for further details at bicsi.org/in2fiber.

Exam Process
A completed exam application must be received by BICSI for processing 15 business days prior to the hands-on exam date. Applications cannot be accepted less than 5 business days prior to the exam date.

BICSI Technician Training & Technician Certification - TE350

BICSI's TE350 course is a 4.5-day course (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) and offers 35 continuing education credits (CECs) for existing credential holders. The optional exam is conducted in two parts: the hands-on exam is on Friday afternoon, and the written exam is conducted at a Pearson VUE Testing Center of the examinee’s choosing. 

​Course Description
TE350: BICSI Technician Training is a hands-on/application-focused course aimed at helping learners make a smooth transition from being an individual contributing team member to leading a crew in a supervisor capacity. This course includes modules on cable termination, splicing, testing and troubleshooting as well as covering topics such as bonding and grounding (earthing), firestopping
practices, and project management as outlined in the 8th edition of the Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM).

Course Materials
BICSI’s Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual (ITSIMM 8th Edition) is required for each student in this course.

Preparation
Studying the ITSIMM a minimum of 50 hours before class begins is recommended for class and exam success.

Exam Requirements
Students must have three years of verifiable experience within the last five years to sit for the Technician exam. Please review the BICSI Exam Handbook for further details at bicsi.org/technician.

Exam Process
A completed exam application must be received by BICSI for processing 15 business days prior to the hands-on exam date. Applications cannot be accepted less than 5 business days prior to the exam date. 

BICSI Supplies
Approximately one ton of mobile lab equipment, student workbooks, lab racks, ladders, tools and consumables will be provided for use in lab exercises. Also, BICSI provides all audio-visual equipment including instructor laptop computer, data/video projector, projector screen, flipchart and easels, markers, and power cords; and classroom materials including workbooks, pencils, writing pads and certificate of attendance.

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New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS)
will support BICSI and OBAE in screening, enrolling, tracking and reporting on BICSI broadband training program participants.

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