Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

The standards and/or benchmarks for this program were updated for the 2026-27 academic year.

Program Title:	IP Communications
Career Cluster:	Information Technology

College Credit Certificate	
CIP Number	0511100120	
Program Type	College Credit Certificate (CCC)	
Program Length	32 credit hours	
CTSO	PBL, BPA 	
SOC Codes (all applicable) 	For program SOC codes, please see the Program and Course Tables section of the CTE Program Resources page linked below.	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose

This certificate program is part of the Network Systems Technology AS degree program (1511100112).

A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS or AAS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment (Rule 6A-14.030, F.A.C.).

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Information Technology career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of the Information Technology career cluster. 

The content includes but is not limited to instruction in computer literacy; software application support; basic hardware configuration and troubleshooting; networking technologies, troubleshooting, security, and administration; and customer service and human relations skills.

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Program Structure

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 32 credit hours.

When developing the course sequence for the local implementation of this program, select courses that:
•	Meet the skill development requirements of the standards and benchmarks of this program.
•	Where reasonable and practicable, align with programs offered by your institution or other postsecondary institutions in Florida, including: 
o	Related AS and AAS degrees.
o	Baccalaureate degrees within the same career pathway and/or Federal CIP code.

Visit FloridaShines’ Discover Programs website to identify other institutions that offer similar programs to review their course sequencing. Where appropriate, course alignment between institutions offering related programs can facilitate interagency student articulation.

Visit FloridaShines’ Common Prerequisites Manual to identify courses that are prerequisites for admission into an upper division program.  When sub-baccalaureate courses are aligned to the course admissions requirements of baccalaureate programs with the same career pathway, students can enter upper division coursework seamlessly.   

Florida’s Career Readiness Skills for CTE Programs  

Employability Skills	
01.0	Apply academic skills to workplace scenarios.	
01.01	Use reading skills.	
01.02	Use writing skills.	
01.03	Use mathematical strategies and procedures.	
01.04	Use scientific principles and procedures.	
02.0	Design a solution to an industry problem.	
02.01	Use critical thinking.	
02.02	Use creativity.	
02.03	Make sound decisions.	
02.04	Solve problems.	
02.05	Reason. 	
02.06	Plan and organize.	
03.0	Manage resources within an industry project	
03.01	Manage time.	
03.02	Manage money or resources.	
03.03	Manage materials.	
03.04	Manage personnel.	
04.0	Oversee the subcomponents, operations and output of a technical or organizational system.	
04.01	Manage systems.	
04.02	Monitor systems.	
04.03	Improve systems.	
05.0	Use information for decision making.	
05.01	Locate information.	
05.02	Organize information.	
05.03	Use information.	
05.04	Analyze information.	
05.05	Communicate information.	
06.0	Apply relevant technology to workplace scenarios to aid productivity.	
06.01	Use technology.	
07.0	Interpret and express interpersonal communication.	
07.01	Communicate verbally.	
07.02	Listen actively.	
07.03	Comprehend written material.	
07.04	Convey information in writing.	
07.05	Communicate nonverbally.	
07.06	Interpret nonverbal communication.	
08.0	Interact with others to accomplish workplace goals.	
08.01	Collaborate with others in a team.	
08.02	Respond to customer needs.	
08.03	Exercise leadership.	
08.04	Negotiate to resolve conflict.	
08.05	Respect others.	
09.0	Manage personal behavior to maximize productivity and professional growth.	
09.01	Demonstrate responsibility and self-discipline.	
09.02	Adapt and show flexibility.	
09.03	Work independently.	
09.04	Demonstrate a willingness to learn.	
09.05	Demonstrate integrity.	
09.06	Demonstrate professionalism.	
09.07	Take initiative.	
09.08	Display positive attitude.	
09.09	Take responsibility for professional growth.	
Job Attainment	
10.0	Find, assess and apply to job opportunities.	
10.01	Identify online job posts relevant to his or her career aspirations.	
10.02	Compare and contrast the job posts’ required qualifications, job duties, compensation, benefits and employers. 	
10.03	Define what information, documentation and writing prompts are required for the positions.	
11.0	Communicate personal competence, character and fit for a job opportunity.	
11.01	Develop a resume.	
11.02	Write a cover letter.	
11.03	Curate a professional portfolio that includes work products.	
11.04	Prepare for and experience a mock job interview.	
12.0	Cultivate and leverage relationships to professionally advance.	
12.01	Request a signed reference letter, letter of recommendation and/or an online skill/professionalism endorsement. 	
12.02	Develop a plan to cultivate a professional digital footprint.	
12.03	Develop a networking plan for a specific industry of interest.	

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Demonstrate the understanding of IP Communications. 
02.0	Explain digitizing voice traffic and voice compression standards.
03.0	Identify and explain Quality of Service (QoS) requirements in a converged data and voice network.
04.0	Explain the types of IP communication-design options.
05.0	Demonstrate proficiency in troubleshooting IP communications. 
06.0	Explain deployment of advanced Voice over IP (VoIP) and Data Bundle solutions to provide a single network connection for phone services and high-speed Internet.
07.0	Illustrate knowledge of using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) sessions to exchange data by using the TCP/IP communications access method.
08.0	Identify key concepts for Video over IP.

Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Program Title:	IP Communications
CIP Number:		0511100120
Program Length:	32 credit hours

This certificate program is part of the Network Systems Technology AS degree program (1511100112).  At the completion of this program, the student will be able to:	
01.0	Demonstrate the understanding of IP Communications.  The student will be able to:	
01.01	Describe the supported multivendor hardware platforms for VoIP technology, their limits, and their boundaries.	
01.02	Describe how Voice Gateways function in an IP Telephony (IPT) solution.	
01.03	Identify and describe the Local Area Network (LAN) switching products useable in an IPT solution.	
02.0	Explain digitizing voice traffic and voice compression standards.  The student will be able to:	
02.01	Identify the steps required for analog to digital conversion in a VoIP network.	
02.02	Identify the signaling steps required to complete a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) call.	
02.03	Define the function of Private Branch eXchanges (PBX) or key systems.	
02.04	Configure Foreign eXchange Subscriber (FXS) and Foreign eXchange Office (FXO) interfaces on a Voice Gateway.	
03.0	Identify and explain Quality of Service (QoS) requirements in a converged data and voice network.  The student will be able to:	
03.01	Identify the steps required to minimize jitter, packet loss and serialization delay in a VoIP network.	
03.02	Explain the function of IP precedence and different Class of Service (CoS) types.	
03.03	Identify and list the types of traffic coming into the interface and defining their relative priority.	
03.04	Configure a priority or custom queuing list.	
04.0	
Explain the types of IP communication-design options.  The student will be able to:	
04.01	Identify the most appropriate gateway in IP communication design.	
04.02	Identify and describe dial plan architecture in IP communication design.	
04.03	Identify the correct route patterns, filters, and use of wild cards in VoIP design scenarios.	
04.04	List available classes of services in IP communication design and their constraints.	
04.05	Describe how to use digit manipulation in VoIP design.	
04.06	Identify the appropriate QoS tools needed for the proper operation of voice traffic on a network.	
05.0	Demonstrate proficiency in troubleshooting IP communications.  The student will be able to:	
05.01	Identify the appropriate method for providing redundancy in VoIP design.	
05.02	Describe the tools used in troubleshooting IP communication networks.	
05.03	Identify and describe the different call flows and series of events through the call traces and debug outputs when troubleshooting.	
05.04	List the alarms used in IP communication troubleshooting.	
06.0	Explain deployment of advanced Voice over IP (VoIP) and Data Bundle solutions to provide a single network connection for phone services and high-speed Internet.  The student will be able to:	
06.01	Identify the required bandwidth speeds needed for uninterrupted service and fast uploads and downloads.	
06.02	Describe the impact of voice samples, codecs, and packet size on bandwidth.	
06.03	Describe on demand use of voice/data and voice prioritization, delivered over a private/secure line.	
06.04	Describe features for a VoIP and data bundle.	
06.05	Describe VoIP and data bundle used to dynamically alternate between voice and Internet as call volume needs dictate.	
07.0	Illustrate knowledge of using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) sessions to exchange data by using the TCP/IP communications access method.  The student will be able to:	
07.01	Identify that a SAS/SHARE server ID has been added to the TCP/IP SERVICES file.	
07.02	Describe how to invoke SAS sessions utilizing TCP/IP communications access method.	
07.03	Describe syntax used to identify port numbers, defined in the client TCP/IP SERVICES file.	
08.0	Identify key concepts for Video over IP.  The student will be able to:	
08.01	Describe video over IP systems using existing standards to reduce the data to a bitstream and then an IP network to carry the encapsulated data in a stream of IP packets.	
08.02	Describe the quality of service requirements which must be fulfilled for use in broadcast carrying video over IP networks.	
08.03	Describe bandwidth requirements, the maximum allowable packet loss rate, and approaches to achieve acceptable bandwidth such as quantity of service, network admission control, bandwidth reservation, traffic shaping, and traffic prioritization techniques.	
08.04	Describe latency variation and its effect on making synchronization more complex by making the recovery of the underlying timing of the video signal far more difficult.	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students.

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

CTSOs are co-curricular career and technical student organizations providing leadership training and reinforcing specific career and technical skills. Career and Technical Student Organizations provide activities for students as an integral part of the instruction offered. Other CTSOs not listed in this curriculum framework or recognized by the Florida Department of Education are permissible provided they support student mastery over the standards and benchmarks of this curriculum framework.

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their counselor and/or instructors. Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.