- What the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Credential Is
- Who Qualifies: Degree, Coursework and On-Air Experience
- The Two-Part Structure: Written Test Plus Weathercasts
- Fees, Scheduling and Total Cost Mechanics
- The Fifteen Subject Areas You Must Master
- Sequencing Your Preparation Around the Fifteen Areas
- Preparing for the Weathercast Evaluation
- Keeping the Credential: Validity and Renewal
- Who Hires and Why the Seal Matters
- Frequently Asked Questions
- CBM here means Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, awarded through the American Meteorological Society (AMS), not any other credential sharing the acronym.
- The written test has 100 multiple-choice/true-false questions, closed book, with a 75% passing score.
- AMS lists fifteen subject headings for the written test but publishes no topic weights, so avoid any "highest-weight" claims.
- Candidates also submit two weathercasts of up to 5 minutes each, scoring above 3.0 average in each of three categories.
What the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Credential Is
The Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation is a professional certification administered by the American Meteorological Society. It exists to recognize on-air weather communicators who combine real atmospheric-science training with demonstrated skill in front of a camera. Unlike a degree, which proves you studied meteorology, this credential tests whether you can still apply that knowledge and then present it clearly to a general audience.
If you are new to the terminology, our explainers on what CBM certification is and what CBM stands for cover the basics. This article is a practical overview of how the whole pathway fits together: eligibility, the written test, the weathercast evaluation, costs, and renewal. For a deeper dive into preparation tactics, pair it with the CBM Study Guide.
Who Qualifies: Degree, Coursework and On-Air Experience
Eligibility is front-loaded. Before you can sit for anything, AMS reviews your academic and professional background. The core requirements are:
- An accredited meteorology or atmospheric-science degree, or an approved equivalent.
- The required coursework, documented with transcripts.
- Either 2 years of full-time or 3 years of part-time on-air experience.
Two details trip people up. First, student-station work does not count toward the on-air experience requirement, so a strong campus broadcast résumé will not substitute for professional airtime. Second, the "approved equivalent" pathway still hinges on AMS accepting your coursework, so submit transcripts early and resolve any gaps before you plan a test date. We walk through edge cases in CBM Requirements: Eligibility, Prerequisites and How to Qualify.
Key Takeaway
Start the application and transcript review well before you want to test. You apply through AMS first and only then schedule the exam, so paperwork delays directly push back your test date.
The Two-Part Structure: Written Test Plus Weathercasts
Many candidates focus entirely on the written exam and forget that certification has a second, equally gating component. You need to clear both.
| Component | What It Measures | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Written test | Meteorological knowledge across fifteen subject headings | 100 multiple-choice/true-false questions; closed book; 75% passing score |
| Weathercast evaluation | On-air communication skill | Two additional weathercasts, active and routine, maximum 5 minutes each |
| Scoring standard for weathercasts | Quality of delivery and content | Above-3.0 average required separately in Graphical Content, Explanation and Presentation |
The written test format
The written test contains 100 multiple-choice and true-false questions. It is closed book. The legacy-provider FAQ lists a 120-minute window, but the current testing provider is SMT/Prometric (older AMS material still names PSI), so reconfirm the time limit on your actual appointment confirmation. AMS does not disclose how many questions are scored versus unscored, and calculator and adaptive-testing rules were not verifiable in public materials, so plan to ask the testing provider before test day rather than assuming.
The passing mark is 75%. For a closer look at what that threshold means in practice, see CBM Passing Score: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
The weathercast evaluation
The second component is unlike anything on a typical professional exam. You submit two additional weathercasts, one active and one routine, each no longer than 5 minutes. Reviewers score them on Graphical Content, Explanation and Presentation, and you must average above 3.0 in each of those three categories separately. A strong score in one area cannot rescue a weak score in another. If you deliver in Spanish, you must include an English transcript.
Fees, Scheduling and Total Cost Mechanics
Costs are straightforward but easy to underestimate because the testing fee is separate from the application fee. The application fee is $330 for AMS members and $660 for nonmembers. On top of that, each testing scheduling carries a delivery charge: $60 for remote proctoring, $75 at a US test center, or $85 at an international center.
| Scenario (first attempt) | Member | Nonmember |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $330 | $660 |
| Remote testing add-on | $60 | $60 |
| First-attempt total, remote | $390 | $720 |
Those totals exclude AMS membership dues and any preparation materials. Because the testing charge applies each time you schedule, a retake adds another scheduling fee. Weigh the membership discount against dues: the $330 gap between member and nonmember application pricing is meaningful, but only you can judge whether joining makes sense for your situation. The full breakdown is in CBM Certification Cost: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and timing considerations are covered in CBM Exam Dates: Testing Windows, Deadlines and Scheduling.
The Fifteen Subject Areas You Must Master
AMS publishes a written-test reference list containing fifteen substantive subject headings, running from General Meteorological Knowledge through Winter Weather. A general Glossary of Meteorology entry precedes them, but it is a terminology resource rather than a subject area, so do not count it as a sixteenth topic. Importantly, AMS publishes no percentages or weights for these headings. They are an issuer-published topic list, not a weighted or exhaustive blueprint, and the public reference list carries no numbered exam version. Any claim that one area is "worth the most" is guesswork.
The fifteen areas are:
- General Meteorological Knowledge
- Climatology & Climate Change
- Cyclones and Jets
- Data & Instruments
- Flooding
- Numerical Weather Prediction
- Physical Meteorology
- Radar Meteorology
- Regional Weather
- Satellite
- Severe Storm Structure/Tornadoes
- Station Scientist
- Tropical Meteorology
- Weather Safety
- Winter Weather
For a full breakdown of each heading, read CBM Exam Domains: Complete Guide to All 15 Content Areas. Below are the clusters that deserve special attention.
Observation and Remote Sensing: Data & Instruments, Radar Meteorology, Satellite
These three headings test whether you can interpret what instruments and sensors actually show, which is core daily work for a broadcaster.
- Know what surface and upper-air observing tools measure and their limitations.
- Be able to read radar products and recognize artifacts versus real signatures.
- Understand satellite channels and what each is best suited to reveal.
Hazards: Severe Storm Structure/Tornadoes, Flooding, Winter Weather, Tropical Meteorology
These are the high-stakes subjects viewers rely on you for during life-threatening events.
- Distinguish storm modes and the structures associated with tornado development.
- Understand the processes that produce flooding, not just the warnings that announce it.
- Be fluent in winter precipitation types and the tropical cyclone life cycle.
Forecast Foundations: Numerical Weather Prediction, Cyclones and Jets, Physical Meteorology
This cluster is the dynamic and physical backbone behind every forecast graphic you show.
- Understand how models work, where they fail, and how forecasters weigh guidance.
- Connect jet-stream and cyclone behavior to day-to-day pattern changes.
- Review the physical processes, such as moisture, stability and radiation, that drive weather.
Communication and Context: Weather Safety, Regional Weather, Climatology & Climate Change, Station Scientist
These headings tie science to audience, geography and the role of the on-air scientist.
- Know safety messaging principles and appropriate protective actions.
- Be able to describe regional patterns and climatological norms.
- Understand responsibilities that come with serving as a station's resident scientist.
Because the exam is multiple-choice and true-false, expect questions that probe understanding of concepts, interpretation of products and appropriate decisions, rather than lengthy derivations. Calibrate your effort against reality using How Hard Is the CBM Exam?, and keep a condensed reference handy with the CBM Cheat Sheet.
Sequencing Your Preparation Around the Fifteen Areas
Since AMS gives no weights, a sensible approach is to build knowledge from the physical foundations outward, then finish with the hazard and communication topics you likely use daily. One possible ordering, which you should adapt to your own weak spots:
Foundations
- General Meteorological Knowledge and Physical Meteorology, because later topics assume this vocabulary.
- Data & Instruments to anchor how observations are collected.
Dynamics and Guidance
- Cyclones and Jets, then Numerical Weather Prediction.
- Climatology & Climate Change alongside, as context for pattern interpretation.
Remote Sensing and Hazards
- Radar Meteorology and Satellite.
- Severe Storm Structure/Tornadoes, Flooding, Tropical Meteorology and Winter Weather.
Application and Review
- Regional Weather, Station Scientist and Weather Safety.
- Mixed practice sets covering all fifteen areas.
Rotate through all fifteen headings at least once before test day, and spend any extra time on the areas where practice questions expose gaps. You can run timed sets on our CBM practice test platform. Note that any distribution of practice questions across topics is editorial, not an official allocation. For a fuller plan, see the CBM Study Guide and our notes on CBM training.
Preparing for the Weathercast Evaluation
Candidates comfortable with textbooks sometimes underprepare for the video portion, yet it carries the same pass-or-fail weight. Because you must average above 3.0 in each of Graphical Content, Explanation and Presentation, treat each category as its own target.
- Graphical Content: Are your maps and graphics accurate, uncluttered and genuinely supportive of the story?
- Explanation: Do you convey the "why" behind the forecast clearly and correctly, without jargon overload?
- Presentation: Is your delivery composed, natural and well paced within the 5-minute limit?
Submit one active-weather cast and one routine cast, and choose examples that showcase different skills. An active event lets you demonstrate hazard communication; a routine cast shows everyday clarity. Review your own footage critically, ideally with a colleague or news director, before submitting. If your content is in Spanish, remember the English transcript requirement.
Keeping the Credential: Validity and Renewal
Certification is not permanent. It is valid for 1 year, and you renew annually at $206 for members or $515 for nonmembers. In addition, you must accumulate 28 professional-development points every 5 years. Plan for these recurring obligations from the start so a lapse does not force you back through the process. Weigh them honestly when you assess long-term value in Is the CBM Certification Worth It?
Who Hires and Why the Seal Matters
The natural employers are television stations and broadcast groups that put meteorologists on the air, plus other media outlets and weather-communication organizations that value credentialed forecasters. The certification serves as an independent, peer-reviewed signal that you pair scientific training with presentation skill, which can matter when you are competing for on-air roles, negotiating, or building a case for advancement. It does not guarantee a particular position or pay level, and we avoid quoting earnings figures we cannot verify. For market context, browse CBM jobs and the CBM salary guide, and treat any specific number you see with caution unless it cites a source.
When you are ready to test your knowledge across all fifteen subject headings, try the full set of practice questions at CBM Exam Prep.
Frequently Asked Questions
It stands for Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, a credential from the American Meteorological Society. The acronym is shared by unrelated credentials in other fields, so make sure any fees or dates you rely on come from AMS. See What Does CBM Stand For? for more.
The written test has 100 multiple-choice and true-false questions, is closed book, and requires a 75% to pass. The split between scored and unscored questions is not disclosed, and you should confirm the time limit on your appointment since the legacy-provider FAQ listed 120 minutes.
No. AMS lists fifteen substantive subject headings, from General Meteorological Knowledge through Winter Weather, but publishes no percentages. Treat any claim about which area is weighted highest as unverified.
The application fee is $330 for members and $660 for nonmembers, plus a $60 remote testing fee, $75 at a US center or $85 at an international center. A remote first attempt therefore totals $390 for members or $720 for nonmembers, excluding dues and study materials. Details are in CBM Certification Cost.
You still must complete the weathercast evaluation: two additional casts, one active and one routine, each up to 5 minutes. You need an average above 3.0 separately in Graphical Content, Explanation and Presentation. The credential is then valid for 1 year and renewed annually, with 28 professional-development points required every 5 years.