The Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) Certified Broadcast Technologist (CBT) exam tests your knowledge across core broadcast engineering disciplines. The exam covers broadcast signal fundamentals, transmission systems, audio and video systems, FCC regulations, and safety procedures.
You need a strong grasp of RF spectrum allocation, modulation types including AM, FM, and ATSC digital television, and how signal propagation behaves in real-world environments. Understanding path loss, multipath interference, and antenna patterns is essential for the exam.
Questions on transmitters cover both solid-state and tube-based designs, power output calculations, and efficiency ratings. Antenna theory — including gain, polarization, and radiation patterns — combines with feedline types (coaxial, waveguide, and hardline) and STL (studio-to-transmitter link) system design.
Broadcast facilities depend on signal routing, monitoring, and proper level alignment. The CBT exam tests analog and digital audio levels (dBu, dBFS), video signal timing, sync generators, and distribution amplifiers. Understanding SDI, HDMI, and IP-based video transport is increasingly important.
SBE certification candidates must understand FCC Part 73 (broadcast stations), Part 74 (auxiliary broadcast services), and EAS requirements. Knowing license maintenance, public inspection file obligations, and main studio rules is tested directly.
FCC RF exposure guidelines (OET Bulletin 65) define maximum permissible exposure limits for workers and the general public. Tower climbing safety, fall protection, RF burn awareness, and OSHA tower safety standards round out the safety section of the exam.
Start with the SBE Study Guide for the Certified Broadcast Technologist exam, which maps directly to the exam content outline. Focus your early study sessions on RF fundamentals — many candidates underestimate how heavily the exam weights signal propagation and modulation theory.
The CBT exam includes scenario-based troubleshooting questions. Practice a systematic approach: verify the signal source, trace the signal path, isolate the fault to a single stage, and confirm the repair. Common fault scenarios include mismatched impedance, failed finals in transmitters, and audio level misalignment.
To sit for the CBT exam, you register through the SBE website, pay the examination fee, and schedule your appointment at a Prometric center. After passing, you receive your certificate and SBE membership benefits. Maintaining certification requires earning SBE Technical Education (STE) points through training, teaching, or attending SBE events over a five-year cycle.
Using a printable practice test PDF lets you simulate pencil-and-paper study conditions, annotate questions, and review problem areas without screen fatigue. Work through each question, note the topic area, and revisit the relevant section of your study guide before moving on.
Print this PDF and work through every question under timed conditions. The CBT exam rewards candidates who can recall facts quickly, so timed practice is more valuable than open-book review alone. After scoring your practice test, group your wrong answers by topic area and spend focused study time on each weak zone before attempting another full practice round.
Broadcast technology evolves quickly. Make sure your study materials reflect current ATSC 3.0 standards, IP audio routing, and updated FCC EAS rules, as older study guides may not cover these areas adequately. The SBE website publishes the current exam content outline — use it as your checklist to confirm you have covered every topic before your test date.