The candidate must have a working knowledge of the installation itself wiring from tap to terminal including routing, clearances, safety, picture quality and a good working knowledge of all components and customer equipment used in the installation. Secondly, each candidate needs a working knowledge of outside plant conditions and equipment used to deliver signals to the house. Technicians need to know what these problems look like, and how to find and fix them. Next comes the final portion of the exam, in which a candidate demonstrates the ability to actually troubleshoot problems. This is a computer-based test where points are gained or lost based on the troubleshooting tests and checks you decide to do.
Importance is placed on the steps taken to solve a problem.
SCTE offers student-training manuals to support these examinations and help you gain the knowledge, not only to pass the exams and become certified but to further your own interests and make you a better service technician. If this sounds like a sales pitch, you bet it is. More importantly, it is a desire to have more qualified people work on the problems affecting a good portion of our plant. Any manager or supervisor responsible for maintaining picture and audio quality should endorse this program. It will pay big dividends in the quality of service work being performed.