IS

•
Your plumber is certified...
•
Your auto mechanic is certified...
•
Your accountant is certified...
www.sbe.org

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!
www.sbe.org

• Continually upgrade your knowledge base.
•
Improve your technical and communication skills.
• Further your own career development.
•
Benchmark your achievements in an industry-recognized way.
www.sbe.org

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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. www.sbe.org

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There are eight engineering certifications
One networking engineer certification
Two operator certifications
One broadcast networking technologist certification
Three specialist certifications www.sbe.org
Each certification is valid for five years

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
®
)

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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.
www.sbe.org

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 www.sbe.org

Levels of certification
Entry-Level
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 www.sbe.org

Five-Year Level
CERTIFIED AUDIO ENGINEER
®
(CEA
®
) Levels of certification
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 www.sbe.org

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 www.sbe.org

Levels of certification
Ten-Year Level
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 www.sbe.org

Twenty-Year Level Levels of certification
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 www.sbe.org

Levels of certification
SPECIALIST CERTIFICATIONS
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) www.sbe.org

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.
www.sbe.org

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.
www.sbe.org

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 www.sbe.org

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

www.sbe.org

•
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.
www.sbe.org

•
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!
www.sbe.org

• 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!
www.sbe.org

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

•
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.
www.sbe.org

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.
www.sbe.org

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?
www.sbe.org

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?
www.sbe.org

Certification FAQ
Q.
How many books may I bring to the examination?
Q.
How about written notes?
www.sbe.org

Certification FAQ
Q.
Are calculators and computers allowed during the test?
Q.
Why aren’t computers allowed?
www.sbe.org

Certification FAQ
Q.
Will success in a Certification Test guarantee a pay increase for me?
Q.
How current are the exam questions?
www.sbe.org

Contact the SBE
Certification Director
Megan Clappe mclappe@sbe.org
317-846-9000
9102 N. Meridian St., Suite 150
Indianapolis, IN 46260 www.sbe.org

www.sbe.org