Apparatus and methods for fiber optic links having a built-in test are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical component includes a signal source, and a controller operatively coupled to the signal source. The signal source is adapted to output a first combined optical signal having a first optical signal portion of a first frequency and a second optical signal portion of a second frequency. The first frequency is substantially greater than the second frequency. The controller is adapted to induce the signal source to output the first and second optical signal portions, the first optical signal portion being associated with a main communication function and the second optical signal portion being associated with a monitoring function.