SBE CERTIFICATION:
Why it IS critical
to your career
Why should I become certified?
•Your plumber is certified...
•Your auto mechanic is certified...
•Your accountant is certified...
Why shouldn’t you be certified as well?
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Why should I become certified?
You work more hours and face more
challenges than ever before!
It is important that you are recognized
for your accomplishments!
Certification helps our industry and our
profession!
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You owe it to yourself to...
•Continually upgrade your knowledge base.
•Improve your technical and communication skills.
•Further your own career development.
•Benchmark your achievements in an
industry-recognized way.
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• To raise the status of broadcast engineers by providing
standards of professional competence in the practice of
broadcast engineering and related technologies.
• To recognize those individuals who, by fulfilling the
requirements of knowledge, experience, responsibility
and conduct, meet those standards of professional
competence.
• To encourage broadcast engineers to continue their
professional development.
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Which level of certification
is for ME?
There are eight engineering certifications
One networking engineer certification
Two operator certifications
One broadcast networking technologist certification
Three specialist certifications
Each certification is valid for five years
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Certification Classifications
Operator Level Certifications
Certified Radio Operator® (CRO ®)
Certified Television Operator® (CTO®)
Broadcast Networking Certification
Certified Broadcast Networking Technologist® (CBNT®)
Certified Broadcast Networking Engineer (CBNE) AVAILABLE NOW!
Engineering Level Certifications
Certified Broadcast Technologist® (CBT®)
Certified Audio Engineer® (CEA®)
Certified Video Engineer ® (CEV®)
Certified Broadcast Radio Engineer (CBRE®)
Certified Broadcast Television Engineer (CBTE®)
Certified Senior Radio Engineer (CSRE®)
Certified Senior Television Engineer (CSTE®)
Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer® (CPBE®)
Which level of certification is for me?
You may attempt any level of certification
for which you are qualified by testing
directly at that level; there are no
prerequisite certification levels with the
exception of CPBE, for which you must
already hold an SBE senior certification.
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Certified Radio Operator (CRO)
Certified Television Operator (CTO)
Levels of certification
Targeted for the entry-level, non-technical
Master Control and Board Operator.
• Handbook covers keeping the log, the EAS, tower lights,
staying on the air, legal requirements, television and radio
signal fundamentals.
• The cost of the book is $49 for Television Operator and
$47 for Radio Operator which includes a sample test and
card that you will send in for the final testing. Upon
successful completion of the exam you will receive a wallet
card and certificate.
• One hour allotted for test completion.
• Exam is closed book and requires a 90% score.
Entry-Level
Levels of certification
CERTIFIED BROADCAST TECHNOLOGIST® (CBT ®)
• A Broadcast Technologist certification can be obtained by
achieving a passing grade on the proficiency exam. There is
no experience requirement to be eligible for the exam.
• Broadcast Technologist can also be obtained without
examination if you hold a valid General Radiotelephone
License or the FCC Amateur Extra Class license and have
two years of continuous satisfactory service in either
broadcast engineering or a related technology.
• Fee: $48 for SBE members, $116 for non-members
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Entry-Level
Levels of certification
CERTIFIED BROADCAST NETWORKING TECHNOLOGIST®
(CBNT ®)
• A Broadcast Network Technologist certification can be
obtained by achieving a passing grade on the proficiency
exam. Current employment in a broadcast or broadcastrelated field is required to be eligible.
•Fee: $57 for SBE members, $125 for non-members
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Five-Year Level
Levels of certification
CERTIFIED AUDIO ENGINEER® (CEA®)
CERTIFIED VIDEO ENGINEER® (CEV®)
CERTIFIED BROADCAST RADIO ENGINEER (CBRE®)
CERTIFIED BROADCAST TELEVISION ENGINEER (CBTE®)
• Broadcast Engineer certification requires five years of suitable
experience in broadcast engineering or a related technology and a
passing grade on the proficiency exam. You may choose either the
Radio track or Television track as your experience requires.
• Audio/Video Engineer certification requires five years of
suitable experience in Audio or Video engineering or related
technology and a passing grade on the proficiency exam. There
are no RF or FCC questions on these exams.
• Fee: $62 for SBE members, $130 for non-members
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Five-Year Level
CERTIFIED BROADCAST NETWORKING ENGINEER (CBNE)
• Broadcast Engineer certification requires five years of
suitable experience in broadcast engineering or a related
technology and a passing grade on the proficiency exam.
• This exam was designed for experienced broadcast
professionals having significant experience in IP networks
and associated storage and playout technologies employed in
radio and television operations.
• Fee: $75 for SBE members, $143 for non-members
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Ten-Year Level
Levels of certification
CERTIFIED SENIOR RADIO ENGINEER (CSRE®)
CERTIFIED SENIOR TELEVISION ENGINEER (CSTE®)
A Senior Broadcast Engineer requires 10 years responsible
broadcast engineering or related technology experience
and a passing grade on the proficiency exam. The Senior
examination also contains an essay question that is chosen
especially for you based on your experience and
employment history.
Substitution for experience:
Professional Engineer = 4 years
Bachelor’s Degree = 4 years
Associate’s Degree = 2 years
Up to 4 years related accredited education may be used.
Fee: $87 for SBE members, $155 for non-members
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Levels of certification
Twenty-Year Level
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL BROADCAST ENGINEER®
(CPBE®)
REQUIREMENTS
•Must currently be Senior Certified, with a minimum 20 years professional broadcast
engineering or related technology experience.
• Submission of evidence supporting appropriate engineering background, experience
and training.
• Letters of reference from two Certified Professional Broadcast Engineers, Certified
Senior Broadcast Engineers, or State Registered Professional Engineers. A third letter
must be from a person who has supervised your work. This person need not be certified.
• A personal letter to the National Certification Committee stating why you believe your
professional experience, educational background and training qualify you for this level
of certification
• Fee: $112 for SBE members, $180 for non-members
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SPECIALIST CERTIFICATIONS
Levels of certification
To establish a benchmark of individual strengths,
the Certification Committee created the concept of
Specialist Certifications.
The SBE Program of Certification designed the
following certifications to help evaluate an
individual’s ability to perform the necessary tasks
to keep facilities operating properly:
8-VSB Specialist (8-VSB)
AM Directional Specialist (AMD)
Digital Radio Broadcast Specialist (DRB)
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Specialist
AM DIRECTIONAL Specialist (AMD)
• The exam will cover the operation, maintenance and repair of a
directional antenna system
• AM radiators
• Understanding of the principles of phase addition and
cancellation
• Familiarity with the various components used in a directional
antenna system
• Ability to correctly make necessary measurements and take
proper procedures to make repairs and adjustments to the
system.
• FCC rules concerning directional operation, test equipment and
safety procedures.
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Specialist
8-VSB Specialist (8-VSB)
The exam will cover these areas of competency:
•
•
•
•
•
Transport stream
Audio (AC-3)
Video (MPEG-2)
PSIP, DTV standards documents
Transmission system.
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Specialist
DIGITAL RADIO BROADCAST Specialist (DRB)
The specialist exam will include:
• Knowledge of importers
• Exporters
• The various methods of combining analog and digital
transmitters to antenna systems
• Delivery of digital audio signals and data to transmitter
sites
• Transmitter emission mask measurements
• AM and FM FCC rules
• Monitoring of digital signals and bandwidth
requirements for AM antenna systems
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To apply for a specialist certification, you
must currently hold certification at the
Broadcast Engineer or Senior Broadcast
Engineer or Professional Broadcast
Engineer Certification level.
Please visit the SBE website to obtain
applications for any SBE Certification
www.sbe.org
I haven’t had to take a test in years.
Why should I test?
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CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS
• SBE Certification exams reflect what you do every day
and you can utilize the tools you use every day to take the
exams. All questions are prepared by broadcast engineers!
• Examinations are based on 50 multiple-choice questions,
computer-selected to reflect the particular discipline being
tested. The multiple-choice exam is open book.
• The degree of difficulty increases as the seniority level
increases. Senior levels include supervision and
management questions along with an essay question suited
to the certification sought. This essay question is closed
book. You may chose one of three related questions.
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When and where are the tests given?
• Examinations are given through the local chapters four
times a year: February, June, August and November.
• Exams are also given during the NAB spring convention in
Las Vegas.
• Exams may also be proctored through local universities,
colleges and tech schools as well as through the offices of
educational professionals throughout the world.
•Private, confidential proctoring is also available.
IF YOU ARE WILLING, WE WILL FIND A WAY!
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What about Recertification?
• Just as you expect your doctor to keep up
with the latest in medical developments
over the course of a career, so too does the
SBE expect certified members to keep
abreast of new media/communications
technology.
• You can renew your certification every
FIVE years without taking another test, if
you meet minimum requirements set by the
SBE for career development!
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Once you hold an SBE certification, you may use the
SBE Certified logo on your business cards, letterhead,
resume, website and email signature
To download the SBE Certified logo and to learn
about when and how you can use it, please visit the
SBE website under:
About Us/Press Releases/Logo Use
www.sbe.org
Who is behind this program?
• The National Certification Committee, whose chairman
is appointed by the SBE President. The Committee is
comprised of 14 working engineers who meet in person
at least twice a year and correspond frequently through
email throughout the rest of the year.
•
The National Certification Committee works in
conjunction with Local Chapter Certification
Chairmen and Committees and the National
Certification Director.
•
The National Certification Committee reviews all
applications for certification.
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The National Certification Committee
and the SBE National Staff are committed to this program
and to the broadcast engineering profession. The
Committee and Chapter Certification Chairmen have
dedicated hours and hours of volunteer time to make sure
that certification tests reflect current technology and are
fairly administered. The integrity of this program speaks
for itself. The test questions, scoring methodology and
certification administration have never been
compromised.
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Certification FAQ
Q. What is a passing grade on the Technologist, Broadcast
Engineer, Audio and Video Engineer, and Senior Broadcast
Engineer Exams?
Q. What happens if I don’t pass?
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Certification FAQ
Q. How long will it be once I’ve taken the test before I know the
results?
Q. After I pass, then what?
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Certification FAQ
Q. How many books may I bring to the examination?
Q. How about written notes?
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Certification FAQ
Q. Are calculators and computers allowed during the test?
Q. Why aren’t computers allowed?
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Certification FAQ
Q. Will success in a Certification Test guarantee a pay
increase for me?
Q. How current are the exam questions?
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Any Questions?
Contact the SBE
Certification Director
Megan Clappe
[email protected]
317-846-9000
9102 N. Meridian St., Suite 150
Indianapolis, IN 46260
www.sbe.org
www.sbe.org