Speaker 1: 0:31

Thank you, hey. Welcome back to fully modulated, the podcast where we decode broadcast tech, media shifts and the signal shaping our industry. I'm tyler woodward and I've got one hand on the console and the other on the pulse of broadcast engineering. Now here at Fully Modulated, we're normally going to talk about transmitters, towers, codecs, call letters, but today we're pivoting just a bit to talk about something that might not have blinking lights but will definitely level up your career. We're talking about those certifications because if you're in broadcast, whether RF, it, audio or any systems in between, you know SBE certification isn't just alphabet soup. It's a legit way to show you're serious, knowledgeable and ready for more. And now the good news is the Society of Broadcast Engineers has done something we've all been waiting for. The cert preview practice exams are finally online. No more installers, no more Windows compatibility drama. All you got to do is open a web browser and study wherever you are. So let's dive in what this means, why it matters and how it fits into the bigger evolution of how we train our broadcast engineers in the 21st century.

Speaker 1: 1:58

The SBE's cert preview practice exams, which help engineers prep for certification tests, are now fully web-based. This is huge, because for years these practice exams were kind of a hassle. You had to buy and install them locally, which meant you better hope you had a compatible machine or you were spending half your study time troubleshooting instead of reviewing theory. And if you moved around between work, home and the transmitter site, good luck. Accessing your study material on the fly Now you just need a device with a web browser. That's it. Log in, pick your cert area and get to work. Instant grading, random questions, retake as many times as you want. It's everything we wanted from the old system, minus all the headaches. And, let's be honest, the old system worked, but it wasn't exactly modern. It was like using dial-up when everyone else had broadband.

Speaker 1: 3:00

This shift shows SBE is listening. It knows that engineers today aren't chained to a single desktop. We're mobile, we're flexible, we're working on projects at multiple sites, sometimes across states, and our study tools have to kind of match that lifestyle. Cert Preview now supports a huge list of certifications, everything from entry level to advanced specialist tracks. So whether you're just breaking into the field or you've got 20 years under your belt and want that CBRE or CSRE, the tools are there, from CBT and CBNT to CBTE, cste, cbre, csre, even specialist certs like 8, vsb and AM Directional Cert Preview has you covered? This is especially helpful for engineers who had to cross train. These days, you're rarely just an RF person or just an IT person. The industry needs multiple skilled pros and these certs help you demonstrate you've got that range.

Speaker 1: 4:16

Picture this you're applying for a chief engineer gig at a, let's say, a mid-market station. You've got the chops, the hands-on experience, the late nights spent fixing STL links in the snowstorm. But the hiring manager says do you have a CSRE? If you've already been using CertPreview to drill down on your weak spots, you're not just nodding, you're emailing them the PDF copy of your cert that very next morning. So here's the prompt what certs are you eyeing this year and what's stopping you from going after it? Text me your answer. The link is in the episode description.

Speaker 1: 4:58

This upgrade to cert preview isn't just for convenience. It reflects a bigger industry trend. Engineers need on-demand, mobile friendly training Period full stop. We're not in the era of three-ring binders and night classes anymore. Today's broadcast workflows demand engineers who are constantly adapting, learning and leveling up, and they need the ability to do that during the odd hours and from anywhere. You're on a 3 am transmitter shift and want to review. Maybe let's say impedance theory between logs? Do it? Waiting at the airport, between site visits? Knock out 15 questions. That's the new normal.

Speaker 1: 5:41

According to the 2024 Broadcast Engineering Trends Report, 61% of engineers now say they prefer web-based training tools to traditional options like in-person classes or locally installed software. Let it sink in. Six out of 10. Six out of 10 engineers want flexible, browser-based learning and, honestly, that number is probably going to continue the rise. We expect our automation systems to be web-based our routers, our monitors, so why not our study tools as well? This isn't just about studying. It's about how we value time. Engineers don't have a lot of time lying around between site calls, maintenance windows and emergency backups. If you're going to study, it has to fit into the weird little cracks in our schedules.

Speaker 1: 6:35

Cert preview going online means you don't need to fight the tool, you just open it and focus on the content. That's a win for me. Ralph Hogan, chair of the SBE certification committee, put it nicely when he said quote. The web-based version is a significant advancement over the previous installed applications, and it all started with paper sample test unquote. And that's the thing. Cert Preview has come a long way, from printed packets to CD-ROMs, to Windows-only software and now finally, finally, to the cloud. This is the SBE catching up to how we actually live and learn today. So here's your big takeaway CertPreview isn't just a tool, it's a signal.

Speaker 1: 7:19

A signal that broadcast engineering is adapting, that professional development is more accessible and you don't have to put off getting certified just because the old tools were a pain. This matters for the future of our industry, because the more accessible we make training, the stronger and more diverse our engineering teams become. So if you've been sitting on the fence about getting certified, get off the fence. Certpreview is cheaper than most textbooks and way more flexible than any seminar, and now it fits right in your pocket. That's it for today's episode of Fully Modulated. We covered a major move by the SBE. Certpreview is now fully web-based, making it easier than ever to prep, pass and level up your engineering career if certification is on your radar, or even just something on your wish list. Head over to the show description. We've got links to the cert preview portal, pricing and more, and if you've already taken a cert recently, text me what helped you. I'd love to feature some listener tips in a future episode. Until next time.