The SBE National Certification Committee, in cooperation with the Ennes Educational Foundation Trust, developed the Television Operator Certification to target the entry-level, non-technical pool of applicants that fill master control positions in today's television marketplace. It also provides a good first step for those interested in pursuing a technical career in broadcast engineering. There was once a requirement that television operators hold a First Class FCC license. This provided employers with an indication that the applicant had demonstrated enough technical knowledge to pass elements one through four of a federal government exam. In 1994, SBE developed the Television Operator Certification to assist employers in evaluating applicants. Many stations now make certification a requirement for employment for their operators.
