CEA Practice Test

The CEA is the Certified Audio Engineer credential from the Society of Broadcast Engineers. This page is for candidates preparing for the open-book, in-person exam. It collects free practice sets by topic, worked questions, a study plan and the key exam facts from SBE, so you can see what to practise and where to check the official details.

CEA Exam at a Glance

What changed for CEA in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Testing window changed to Next window accepting applications: February 5–15, 2027 (previously Next open window: February 5–15, 2027 (then June 4–14, 2027 and August 6–16, 2027)).^[8]
• Oct 25, 2026: Registration deadline changed to January 4, 2027, for February testing (previously January 4, 2027 (for Feb 5–15, 2027 window)).^[8]
• Oct 25, 2026: Exam fee changed to USD $88 member / $193 non-member / $303 Non-Member Plus (previously $88 member / $193 non-member / $303 non-member plus).^[3]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake fee changed to USD $46 per retake (previously $46 retake fee).^[4]
• Oct 25, 2026: Number of questions changed to 50 multiple-choice questions; 2 points each (previously 50 multiple-choice questions (2 points each)).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Score release changed to Results can be sent within a couple of days after SBE receives the exam (previously Pass/fail within a couple of days of receipt at SBE HQ).^[4]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake policy changed to One retake at the next scheduled period; subsequent attempts require a new application (previously One retake at the next testing period; further attempts need a new application).^[5]
• Oct 25, 2026: Renewal changed to 20 professional credits per five-year cycle, or re-examination (previously 20 professional credits per 5-year cycle (or re-examination)).^[7]
• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery changed to In-person SBE proctoring, normally through local chapters; open book (previously In person, proctored by SBE at local chapters; open book).^[8]
• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility changed to 5 years of suitable experience; qualifying education may substitute (previously 5 years of audio/video engineering experience (education may substitute)).^[1]

What the CEA is and how it works

According to Society of Broadcast Engineers, “must have five (5) years of suitable experience in audio/video engineering or related technology.”^[1]

The Certified Audio Engineer (CEA) credential is issued by the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE). It is aimed at people working in audio and video engineering or related technology. To apply, you need 5 years of suitable experience, although qualifying education may substitute for some of it. SBE decides what counts, so check the certification page before you apply.

The exam is open book and is proctored in person, normally through a local SBE chapter. It has 50 multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each, and you must finish within 3 hours. The passing score is 70%. SBE says results can be sent soon after its national office receives your exam.

Fees listed on the SBE application are $88 for members, $193 for non-members and $303 for Non-Member Plus. A retake costs $46. You may retake at the next scheduled period; after that, further attempts need a new application. Applications are accepted at any time, but each testing window has its own deadline, so confirm dates on the SBE exam schedule.

Certification is valid for 5 years. To renew, you either earn 20 professional credits in each cycle or sit the exam again. Fees, dates and rules can change, so treat SBE's own pages as the final word and use this page to plan your preparation.

CEA content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CEA content outline published by Society of Broadcast Engineers. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CEA questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: In room treatment, what is the role of 'mass-loaded vinyl' (MLV)?

1. To absorb mid and high frequencies on walls
2. To add mass to walls and reduce sound transmission between spaces (soundproofing)
3. To diffuse low-frequency energy in corners
4. To decouple floating floors from building structure

Answer: B. To add mass to walls and reduce sound transmission between spaces (soundproofing)

Explanation:

The correct answer is that mass-loaded vinyl adds mass to a wall and reduces sound transmission between spaces. It is a dense, limp barrier, so it belongs to soundproofing. Absorbing mid and high frequencies on walls describes porous absorbers such as mineral wool or foam, which shape the sound inside a room rather than stop it leaving. Diffusing low-frequency energy in corners describes bass trapping or diffusion, which also affects room response. Decoupling a floating floor from the building structure is about breaking vibration paths, and MLV does not do that job. Rule to remember: isolation keeps sound in or out and relies on mass and decoupling, while treatment changes how a room sounds from the inside.

Example 2

Question: What is the purpose of 'audio description' (AD) in broadcast audio?

1. A narrated commentary track added to a broadcast describing visual elements of a program for blind and visually impaired viewers
2. An embedded metadata track that describes the audio codec and channel configuration of a broadcast stream
3. A closed-caption format specifically designed for audio-only radio broadcasts
4. A stereo downmix algorithm used when 5.1 broadcasts are played on 2-channel TVs

Answer: A. A narrated commentary track added to a broadcast describing visual elements of a program for blind and visually impaired viewers

Explanation:

Audio description is a narrated commentary track that describes visual elements of a program for blind and visually impaired viewers, usually placed in pauses in dialogue. The metadata option describes codec and channel layout, which is technical signalling and not narration. The closed-caption option is wrong because captions are text, and audio description is spoken audio for television and film, not a radio caption format. The downmix option describes folding 5.1 to 2-channel playback, which is a separate processing task. Rule to remember: audio description is an accessibility service that adds content for the listener, whereas metadata and downmixing change how existing audio is labelled or delivered.

Example 3

Question: What recording technique does a 'mid-side (M/S)' microphone configuration use?

1. Two cardioid microphones angled at 90 degrees facing left and right
2. A cardioid microphone facing forward (Mid) and a figure-8 microphone placed at 90 degrees (Side)
3. Two omnidirectional microphones spaced 17 cm apart
4. A hypercardioid and a shotgun microphone in an ORTF arrangement

Answer: B. A cardioid microphone facing forward (Mid) and a figure-8 microphone placed at 90 degrees (Side)

Explanation:

Mid-side uses a cardioid microphone facing forward as Mid and a figure-8 microphone at 90 degrees as Side. The left channel is decoded as M+S and the right as M-S, which gives adjustable stereo width and good mono compatibility. A pair of cardioids angled at 90 degrees facing left and right is an X-Y style arrangement, not M/S. Omnidirectional microphones spaced 17 cm apart describe a spaced pair. A hypercardioid with a shotgun in an ORTF arrangement mixes up terms, because ORTF is its own stereo technique. Rule to remember: M/S needs a figure-8 on the side axis, and the width comes from the decoding, not the microphone placement alone.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official SBE exam preparation page and note the content areas: basic electronics, operating practices, problems, safety and theory. Then take one of our practice sets cold for each area and record which questions you miss. Do not worry about the score at this stage; you are looking for patterns.

Next, spend your study time on the weakest areas. Read the explanation for every miss, including questions you guessed correctly, and write the general rule in your own words. Return to the same set after a break and see whether the rule holds on questions you have not seen before.

Because the exam is open book, practise looking things up quickly. Decide in advance which references you will bring, mark the sections you use most, and time yourself finding an answer. Practise reasoning through a question first and only then confirming it in a reference, so you are not reading the book for every item.

In the final days, run mixed sets across all areas under the 3-hour limit, then review safety and any topic you still miss. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to build understanding, not to predict what will appear. Check your registration deadline and testing details with your SBE chapter well before test day.

Sources & last verified

1. Society of Broadcast Engineers — number of questions, eligibility, other (official source). “50 multiple-choice questions” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
2. Society of Broadcast Engineers — time limit, passing score (official source). “Each examination must be completed within three hours.” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
3. Society of Broadcast Engineers — exam fee (official source). “MEMBER FEE*: $88  NON-MEMBER FEE: $193 Non-MemberPlus: $303” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
4. Society of Broadcast Engineers — retake fee, score release (official source). “$46 fee” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
5. Society of Broadcast Engineers — retake policy, registration opens (official source). “Further attempts require submission of a new certification application.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
6. Society of Broadcast Engineers — validity (official source). “SBE Certification is valid for a period of five years.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
7. Society of Broadcast Engineers — renewal (official source). “Audio Engineer or Video Engineer (CEA or CEV) | 20” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
8. Society of Broadcast Engineers — delivery, registration deadline, testing window (official source). “are proctored in person by qualified and approved representatives of the SBE.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.