A method of pre-terminating a fiber optic connector sub-assembly, comprising: providing a pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assembly that includes: a ferrule comprising a ferrule body having a front end and a rear end and at least one ferrule bore extending between the front end and rear end of the ferrule body, wherein the ferrule comprises a ceramic material; and at least one optical fiber stub disposed in the at least one ferrule bore, the at least one optical fiber stub having at least one rear end disposed within the at least one ferrule bore, and wherein the at least one rear end of the optical fiber stub is not directly accessible through the ferrule body; inserting at least one front end of at least one optical fiber (50, 142) through at least one rear opening of the ferrule and into the at least one ferrule bore, to be adjacent to the at least one rear end of the at least one optical fiber stub; and fusion splicing the at least one rear end of the at least one optical fiber stub with the at least one front end of the at least one optical fiber (50, 142) within the at least one ferrule bore to terminate the at least one optical fiber (50, 142), wherein the fusion splicing comprises: directing a laser beam (158, 170) of at least one wavelength to an outer surface of the ferrule, wherein the ferrule does not include a fiber access port in the outer surface to directly access the at least one optical fiber stub disposed in the at least one ferrule bore, and further wherein the ferrule comprises a ceramic material that is transmissive to at least 50% of the at least one wavelength of the laser beam (158, 170) and the at least one optical fiber stub transmits less than 50% the at least one wavelength of the laser beam (158, 170), such that the thermal energy of the laser beam is transmitted through the ferrule to the at least one rear end of the at least one optical fiber stub that is disposed adjacent to the at least one front end of the at least one optical fiber (50, 142). providing a pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assembly that includes: a ferrule comprising a ferrule body having a front end and a rear end and at least one ferrule bore extending between the front end and rear end of the ferrule body, wherein the ferrule comprises a ceramic material; and at least one optical fiber stub disposed in the at least one ferrule bore, the at least one optical fiber stub having at least one rear end disposed within the at least one ferrule bore, and wherein the at least one rear end of the optical fiber stub is not directly accessible through the ferrule body; a ferrule comprising a ferrule body having a front end and a rear end and at least one ferrule bore extending between the front end and rear end of the ferrule body, wherein the ferrule comprises a ceramic material; and at least one optical fiber stub disposed in the at least one ferrule bore, the at least one optical fiber stub having at least one rear end disposed within the at least one ferrule bore, and wherein the at least one rear end of the optical fiber stub is not directly accessible through the ferrule body; inserting at least one front end of at least one optical fiber (50, 142) through at least one rear opening of the ferrule and into the at least one ferrule bore, to be adjacent to the at least one rear end of the at least one optical fiber stub; and fusion splicing the at least one rear end of the at least one optical fiber stub with the at least one front end of the at least one optical fiber (50, 142) within the at least one ferrule bore to terminate the at least one optical fiber (50, 142), wherein the fusion splicing comprises: directing a laser beam (158, 170) of at least one wavelength to an outer surface of the ferrule, wherein the ferrule does not include a fiber access port in the outer surface to directly access the at least one optical fiber stub disposed in the at least one ferrule bore, and further wherein the ferrule comprises a ceramic material that is transmissive to at least 50% of the at least one wavelength of the laser beam (158, 170) and the at least one optical fiber stub transmits less than 50% the at least one wavelength of the laser beam (158, 170), such that the thermal energy of the laser beam is transmitted through the ferrule to the at least one rear end of the at least one optical fiber stub that is disposed adjacent to the at least one front end of the at least one optical fiber (50, 142).