The Society of Broadcast Engineers offers the Certified Broadcast Technologist (CBT) exam to anyone. You need no work experience to take it. This page has free practice sets for each topic, worked answers to sample questions, and the main exam facts: 50 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours, a 70% passing score, the fees, and the next test window.
The CBT has 50 questions, takes about 3 hours and costs $69[1][2] (Society of Broadcast Engineers, verified Oct 27, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 50 multiple-choice questions (AM/FM or TV)[1] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Time limit | 3 hours[1] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score | 70%[3] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $69 SBE members / $174 non-members[2] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake fee | $46 per retake[3] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake policy | One retake at the next scheduled testing period; subsequent attempts require a new application[2] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Validity | 5 years[4] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Renewal | Renew with 3 of the last 5 years of broadcast employment, or upgrade by exam[4] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Delivery | In person via local SBE chapters[5] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Eligibility | No experience required to take exam[1] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Score release | Pass/fail only, within a couple days after reaching SBE National office[3] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Next exam date | November 6–16, 2026[5] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | January 4, 2027 (for February 5–15, 2027 window)[5] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Testing window | February 5–15, 2027[5] | Society of Broadcast Engineers · Oct 27, 2026 |
According to Society of Broadcast Engineers, “Exams are three hours and consist of 50 multiple-choice questions relating to either AM/FM or TV.”[1]
The CBT is the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) certification for broadcast technologists. Some sites call it Certified Broadcast Technician, but the official name is Certified Broadcast Technologist. You need no work experience to take the exam.
Format and scoring. The exam lasts 3 hours and has 50 multiple-choice questions. The questions cover either AM/FM or TV, so you choose the version that fits your work. You need 70% to pass. You only find out whether you passed or failed. According to SBE, an exam with no essay question can be graded and the result sent back within a couple days of reaching the SBE National office.
Delivery and dates. Local SBE chapters usually run the exam in person, with proctors approved by the National Certification Committee. Registration for the November 6–16, 2026 window is closed. The next window is February 5–15, 2027, and you must register by January 4, 2027. Your local chapter sets the exact session time and place.
Fees, retakes and renewal. The exam costs $69 for SBE members and $174 for non-members. If you fail, you can retake it one more time at the next scheduled testing period for $46. After that, you need to send a new application. Certification lasts 5 years. To renew, you need broadcast employment in 3 of the last 5 years, or you can upgrade by passing another exam. Check current details on the official SBE site at sbe.org before you apply.
Prepare for the CBT - Certified Broadcast Technician exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
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.
Question: What distinguishes an advanced broadcast technician practitioner's approach to risk management & mitigation from that of a novice?
Answer: B. Establishing cross-functional teams with clearly defined roles
Explanation:
B is correct. Risk in a broadcast facility involves engineering, operations, IT and management. A mature approach brings these groups together and makes clear who owns each task: who monitors, who escalates and who signs off. A is wrong because giving every responsibility to a single department leaves gaps that department cannot see. C is wrong because competing teams tend to hide problems instead of sharing them, and risk control depends on sharing. D is wrong because random rotation removes accountability. Nobody builds depth in an area, and during an incident nobody is sure who should act. Rule to remember: on scenario questions about risk, quality or compliance, choose the answer that combines teamwork with clear ownership.
Question: What does 'headroom' mean when composing a camera shot for broadcast?
Answer: B. The space left between the top of a subject's head and the upper frame edge
Explanation:
B is correct. In camera framing, headroom is the space between the top of the subject's head and the top edge of the frame. Too much headroom makes the subject look like they are sinking in the shot. Too little makes the shot feel cramped or cuts off the top of the head. A is wrong because it describes audio headroom, the margin before a signal clips. That is a real term, but it is about audio levels, not shot composition. C is wrong because lighting grid clearance is a rigging matter, not a framing term. D is wrong because sensor dynamic range is about exposure, not framing. Rule to remember: some words mean different things in audio and video. Check the context of the question, here "composing a camera shot", before you choose.
Question: What is 'color correction' as performed in broadcast post-production?
Answer: B. Adjusting the color balance, contrast, and saturation of video to achieve a desired look or match
Explanation:
B is correct. Color correction means adjusting color balance, contrast and saturation so that shots match each other or reach an intended look. A is wrong because bit errors from compression are an encoding or transmission problem. They are fixed with error correction or re-encoding, not by grading. C is wrong because calibrating viewfinders is equipment setup, done before or during production, not in post-production. D is wrong because converting between color spaces is a format conversion. It can happen during a grading workflow, but it changes how color values are mapped to a standard. It is not a creative or matching adjustment. Rule to remember: correction is about how the picture looks. Conversion and calibration are about standards and equipment.
First decide whether you will take the AM/FM or the TV version, because the 50 questions cover one or the other. Then work through the sets in this order:
We wrote these questions with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Take each set without notes, then write down every question you missed in your own words. Look up each of those topics in official SBE material or a standard broadcast engineering reference. Later, retake the set and aim to score well above 70%, because the real exam is pass/fail at that mark. Close to test day, do a timed mixed run to practise pacing across 3 hours. Also confirm your session time and place with your local chapter.
The CBT exam costs $69 for SBE members and $174 for non-members. If you fail, a retake at the next scheduled testing period costs $46. Further attempts after that need a new certification application. Check the SBE applications page for current fees before you apply.
The exam has 50 multiple-choice questions on either AM/FM or TV, and you get 3 hours. You need 70% to pass. You only find out whether you passed or failed. SBE says an exam with no essay question can be graded and the result sent back within a couple days of reaching the SBE National office.
Registration for the November 6–16, 2026 window is closed. The next window is February 5–15, 2027, and you must register by January 4, 2027. Exams are usually held through local SBE chapters, so ask your chapter for the exact session date and place.
No. SBE states that there is no experience requirement to be eligible for the CBT examination. Experience does matter later, though: to renew without another exam, you need broadcast or broadcast-related employment in 3 of the past 5 years.
You can retake it one more time at the next scheduled testing period by paying the $46 retake fee. If you need another attempt after that, you have to submit a new certification application. Use your result to decide which practice sets to repeat before the retake.
SBE certification lasts 5 years. At the end of that period, you can renew the CBT if you have worked in broadcast or a broadcast-related industry for 3 of the past 5 years. You can also upgrade by passing an exam. See SBE's recertification page for the details.
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