Certified Broadcast Meteorologist

Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) is a rating for meteorologists given by the American Meteorological Society.

The Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) program was established to raise professional standards in broadcast meteorology and encourage a broader range of scientific understanding, especially with respect to environmental issues. The CBM program certifies that the holder meets specific educational and experience criteria and has passed rigorous testing in the knowledge and skills required to be an effective broadcast meteorologist.

In order to acquire CBM certification, new applicants who do not have prior AMS certification must hold at least a Bachelor of Science in meteorology (or equivalent) from an accredited college/university, pass a written examination, and have their work reviewed to assess technical competence, informational value, explanatory value, and communication skills. CBMs may retain their certification and display the CBM logo only so long as they pay their membership and renewal fees each year and complete a 28 point professional development requirement every five years. The only experience requirement is a nominal three consecutive days, for the purpose of filming demonstration tapes (this contrasts with the NWA's seal, which requires at least two years full-time experience, but allows those who do not have meteorology degrees to apply).

The CBM certification is awarded to "recognize broadcast and consulting meteorologists who have achieved a certain level of competency". [1] The CBM designation replaces the "Seal of Approval" program, which was discontinued in 2008 and was open to those without meteorology degree but who had undertaken minimal courses in meteorology from an accredited program as set forth by the AMS. This included at least 5 courses in meteorology and related sciences with at least 4 directly related to meteorological sciences. Though the original AMS Seal of Approval and the CBM designation are considered roughly equivalent, the AMS considers the CBM an "upgrade" over the original seal. Individuals who held the old Seal of Approval are not required to have a degree in meteorology to upgrade to the CBM seal, however many meteorologists with the AMS Seal of Approval do hold a degree in Meteorology or related sciences and/or a general meteorological certification from an accredited University program. Many of these candidates have chosen not to upgrade to the new CBM program and continue instead to maintain the original Seal. A person that holds an AMS Seal of Approval or CBM, a bachelors degree or higher in meteorology and/or certification from an accredited University program and has sufficient experience in the field is referred to in the broadcast community as a meteorologist.

The first person to receive the CBM seal was WRAL's Greg Fishel.

External Links

• AMS Certification Programs