Communication Technician: Job Description, Duties and Requirements
Communication technicians work in many settings within the broadcast world. Hired by radio stations, recording studios, cell phone companies and television stations, communication technicians are responsible for the maintenance and proper usage of technical equipment. Requirements vary by job, but all technicians need to complete either a degree or training program from a postsecondary vocational or technical school.
Communication Technician Job Description
Though job specifics vary by employer, a communication technician is generally responsible for the technical aspects of media broadcast and must ensure that all equipment is working properly. A communications technician may be hired under many job titles, such as sound engineer, video production technician or radio operator. In all of these positions, they are in charge of the upkeep of complex, high-tech equipment.
Additional Duties
Communication technicians are responsible for the correct connection and maintenance of the equipment used by their employer, and they are frequently in charge of checking the finished product to see that all inputs were received correctly and everything either sounds or looks exactly right.
Technicians must be aware of multiple things at all times; they must constantly check to see that everything is going smoothly. When there is a technical difficulty, it is the communications technician who is responsible for determining and fixing the problem.
Training Requirements
Since the job requires an in-depth familiarity with all the equipment used in making a broadcast, a communication technician needs to have some level of formal education. Some employers require their technicians to have either an associate or bachelor's degree in a related field, while others prefer job candidates who have completed specialized programs in vocational or technical schools.
Technicians working in television or radio stations need to get a college degree in broadcast technology, while technicians in recording studios can attend a vocational school for an audio engineering program that can take between six months and two years.
In addition to the necessary schooling, most communication technicians must get work experience before being hired as a technician. In an entry-level position, potential technicians work under executive technicians and learn how to properly operate all the equipment.
The Society of Broadcast Engineers offers eight levels of certification for experienced audio and visual engineers. These can be earned through examinations and give technicians credentialed proof of competency. It is not required for a communication technician to become certified, but it gives employers assurance that the technician meets national standards of excellence in the field.
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11 Popular Schools
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arkansas (1 campus)
- California (3)
- Colorado (2)
- Columbia (D.C.) (1)
- Florida (3)
- Georgia (2)
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- Indiana (1)
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- Kentucky (1)
- Michigan (2)
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Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
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Online Programs
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Master
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- MA in Communication
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- MA in Communication: New Media & Marketing
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- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
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Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Georgia (1 campus)
Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Florida (2 campuses)
- Illinois (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Nevada (1)
- Washington (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Florida (1 campus)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
- Master
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Bachelor
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- Bachelor of Science - Media Communications
- BS in Digital Cinematography
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must have some prior college credit.
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Bachelor
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- BS - Communication
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Florida (1 campus)
Classroom-Based Programs
- Associate
