My broadcast career began in the days of the FCC First Class Radiotelephone license.  As a 20-year-old broadcast engineer, being a licensed professional was a definite point of pride.  Soon my license qualified me for my next two positions in the industry.

The rate of change in broadcasting is swift, and quickly the topics I mastered for the license exam became less and less relevant to my career -- then the FCC did away with the licensed operator requirement.  For me, the SBE's certification program more than filled this gap.

Most of my career has involved television news operations, mainly as a news department employee.  At times my CBTE certification helped establish my technical credibility with fellow broadcast engineers, and it certainly made a difference when pursuing new career opportunities.

Despite my 30-year career in television broadcast technical operations and engineering, my certification remained at the CBTE level.  There was no pressure from my various employers to advance my certification level, but last year I finally decided it was about time I challenge myself by sitting for the Senior-level certification exam. 

To make it truly a test of my knowledge and abilities, I sat for the CSTE exam without preparation.  Passing that exam, especially in that way, was a major achievement, both personally and professionally.

Obtaining SBE certification has helped me professionally, by documenting for prospective employers my technical competency, and personally, by providing a sense of achievement and advancement.