The Society of Broadcast Engineers has added an entry-level certification category called Certified Production Technologist or CPT.
“While the Core Four levels — CBT, CBRE/CBTE, CSRE/CSTE, CPBE — are the foundation of the program, advances in technology have spurred the need for other relevant skills to be evaluated,” the organization said in its announcement.
“Examples of this include the Certified Broadcast Networking Technologist (2001) and Certified Broadcast Networking Engineer (2012), the specialist certifications (8-VSB, AMD, ATSC3 and DRB), and the Certified Audio Engineer and Certified Video Engineer.”
It said CEA and CEV were created for people who perform the functions of a CBRE or CBTE but don’t work with RF or regulatory issues; that includes broadcast facility production personnel but also those working in production houses and live venues and now people who work for streaming services.
“The candidate for Certified Audio Engineer (CEA) or Certified Video Engineer (CEV) must have five years of suitable experience in audio/video engineering or related technology,” it noted. “The Audio/Video Engineer multiple choice examination consists of questions on operating practices, problems, theory, safety and basic electronics.”
But Certification Committee Chair Ralph Hogan said CEA and CEV were created more than 20 years ago and that SBE realized that it needed an entry-level certification covering the same skills but without a career service requirement, given the proliferation of streaming services and the increase in media facilities not directly involved in broadcast distribution.
“Like the CEA and CEV, there are no RF or FCC questions on the exam,” he said.
Noting that the Certified Broadcast Technologist (CBT) is actually two certifications that use the same name, focusing on either radio or television, SBE said the Certified Production Technologist (CPT) will do the same.
“It will be identified with one name, but it has two tracks: audio or video. Again, no experience is required as it is an entry-level certification.”
The CPT exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions in an open-book format that allows personal notes and internet access. “It’s important to know the technology, but just as important to know where to find a solution when it’s needed,” SBE explained.
The exam question pool is being finalized and a CertPreview sample test is in the works. Applications can be made through the SBE website.
SBE began issuing certifications in 1975.
