Certification General FAQs


What certifications does SCTE•ISBE offer?
How does one earn a certification?
How do I sign up for a certification course?
After I purchase an exam, how soon do I need to take the exam?
How do I prepare for an exam?
What is my certification username? What is my certification password?
Do I need to enroll?
How much does it cost to take an exam?
How can I pay for my exam?
How do I submit a company issued Purchase Order (PO) to SCTE•ISBE?
How do I use a Purchase Order (PO) to take an exam?
Why doesn't my Purchase Order (PO) work?
What happens if I fail a certification exam?
How long is my certification valid?
How do I renew my certification?
My certification lapsed. What can I do to renew it?
How do I become an SCTE•ISBE certification proctor?
What will I need when I'm ready to proctor?

Other questions? Contact certification@scte.org or call 800-542-5040.

Q: What certifications does SCTE•ISBE offer?

A:Look at the part of the network in which you work. 

 

Broadband Premises Installer (BPI)
Broadband Premises Technician (BPT)
Broadband Premises Expert (BPE)
Broadband Wireless Specialist (BWS)
Broadband Fiber Installer (BFI)
Business Class Services Specialist (BCSS)
Broadband Distribution Specialist (BDS)
Broadband Transport Specialist (BTS)
Broadband TelecomCenter Specialist (BTCS)
Digital Video Engineering Professional (DVEP)
Internet Protocol Engineering Professional (IPEP)
DOCSIS® Engineering Professional (DEP)

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Q: How does one earn a certification?

A: Passing the required exam(s).

Certification Exam(s) Format Passing Score Time Limit
BPI One 50-question, multiple-choice exam
Online
76%

2 hours
BPT
BPE
BWS 
BFI
BCSS
BDS
BTS
BTCS
DEP 3 hours
DVEP 3 hours
IPEP 3 hours

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Q. How do I sign up for a certification course?

A:A. Visit the SCTE•ISBE training courses page and select the certification prep course that corresponds with the certification you’d like to earn. SCTE•ISBE has prep courses for most SCTE•ISBE certifications and recommended study resources are available for each SCTE•ISBECertification exam.

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Q: After I purchase an exam, how soon do I need to take the exam?

A: your exam will expire one year from the date of purchase and the fees will be forfeited.

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Q: How do I prepare for an exam?

A:SCTE•ISBE provides a variety of study resources including a study guide, reference materials, mentors and study groups. No single course teaches all of the information needed to pass SCTE•ISBE’s certification exams but SCTE•ISBE has certification prep courses to help you prepare.

 

SCTE•ISBE Certifications:

Related Industry Certifications:

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Q: What is my certification username? What is my certification password?

A: Your username and password are the username and password you create in order to log in to the SCTE•ISBE website.

If you are not an SCTE•ISBE member and you are taking an SCTE•ISBE exam for the first time, you need to create an account. When you create your account, you will be asked to create your username and password.

If you have forgotten your username or password, you can retrieve them easily from the SCTE•ISBE log in page.

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Q: Do I need to enroll?

A: No, you do not need to enroll in a certification program. You simply purchase the exam(s) you want to take and then you can take them immediately.

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Q: How much does it cost to take an exam?

A:

SCTE•ISBE Certification Member Rate NonMember Rate
BPI
$85
$110
BPT
$85
$110
BPE
$105
$135
BWS   $85  $110
BFI $80 $110
BCSS
$120
$160
BDS
$105
$135
BTS
$120
$160
BTCS
$120
$160
DEP
$160
$210
DVEP
$160
$210
IPEP
$160
$210
Recertification
$30
$45
Remote Proctoring
$45
$60

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Q: How can I pay for my exam?

A: Payment can be made by credit card or SCTE•ISBE-approved Purchase Order.

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Q: How do I submit a company issued Purchase Order (PO) to SCTE•ISBE?

A: POs for certification exams can be submitted to SCTE•ISBE at certification@www.SCTE.org or faxed to Certification at 610-363-5898 . After SCTE•ISBE approves the PO (a credit check may be required), the company is responsible for providing the PO number to employees who are authorized to use it.

The same PO can be used by employees who are SCTE•ISBE members as well as those who are nonmembers, and it can be used for any SCTE•ISBE exam.

SCTE•ISBE will invoice the company monthly for exams administered under the PO during the previous month. All POs will be closed at the end of the calendar year.

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Q: How do I use a Purchase Order (PO) to take an exam?

A:Enter the PO number in the Purchase Order field on the payment page when you purchase the exam. Your SCTE•ISBE certification account must indicate that you are employed by the organization that issued the PO.

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Q: Why doesn't my Purchase Order (PO) work?

A: Your personal SCTE•ISBE certification account must indicate that you are employed by the organization that issued the PO. To see the organization on your account, login to the My Personal Certification Exam Homepage and select My Account.

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Q: What happens if I fail a certification exam?

A: Don’t give up! Review the email that describes your performance within each exam topic to determine which topics you need to study. When you’re ready to retake the exam select the Take an Exam link. You can retake the exam beginning one day after the original exam date. You need to purchase the exam each time you take it. See Retake an Exam for details.

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Q: How long is my certification valid?

A:Your certification is valid for three years.

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Q: How do I renew my certification?

A: Within six months of your expiration date (noted on your certificate), you need to submit a certification renewal form with the processing fee and documentation of your recertification units (RUs).

Twelve RUs (21 RUs for DVEP, IPEP, and BCE) are required to maintain one’s certification without having to re-take the exam.

If you have not earned the minimum RUs, you may retake the exam, incurring the cost of the testing fee.

Visit the Maintaining Your Certification section for more information.

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Q: My certification lapsed. What can I do to renew it?

A:Failure to apply for recertification within six months before the expiration date or twelve months after the expiration date will result in the loss of your certified status and will require complete repetition of the certification process and related fees.

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Q: How do I become an SCTE•ISBE certification proctor?

A:Follow these four steps to apply to become an SCTE•ISBE certification proctor:

  1. Check the Proctor Eligibility Requirements
  2. Read the Online Certification Handbook
  3. Agree to the SCTE•ISBE Proctor Code of Ethics and the Proctor Confidential Information Agreement
  4. Complete the Online Proctor Application

For more details, see Proctors.

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Q: What will I need when I'm ready to proctor?

A:Download Proctor Tips

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Other questions? Contact certification@scte.org or call 800-542-5040.