Determine the qualifications your broadcast career goals require. Identify whether you need a combination of experience and education.
Seek out apprenticeship opportunities through local vocational schools, high schools or radio stations. Listen to the radio stations for advertised opportunities, call the schools and stations or visit their websites to learn more about available apprenticeships.
Identify local colleges or technical schools that offer a training program in broadcasting. In addition to referrals from members of hobbyist clubs and your apprenticeship contacts, contact your state agency that handles employment and unemployment issues. This agency, often the state Department of Labor, may have relevant information and strong contacts with local community colleges and vocational schools that may offer broadcasting programs.
Determine if an Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree best suits your career objectives. Although many radio stations will not require more than an Associate’s degree, a Bachelor’s degree may provide you with more choices. Evaluate the time and tuition expenditure versus the likely return on that investment in expanded career choices when determining which option best suits your pre-licensing training needs.
Enroll in a broadcasting degree program and attend the program as scheduled until completion. Completion of such a broadcasting degree program will qualify you for radio broadcast licensure.
Gain experience before graduation by working at college radio station or by joining an audio-visual club. Also, consider joining a professional organization like the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), which offers a certification program for some broadcast engineers.