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The AETCA provides a comprehensive assessment that validates your audio knowledge and technical expertise. Here you'll find everything you need to begin your journey, from understanding logistics to getting ready for registration.

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Congratulations on your decision to take the first step toward demonstrating your knowledge and skills in the audio engineering field. Whether you’re aiming to enhance your professional credentials, demonstrate your expertise to potential employers, or simply challenge yourself, the AETCA is designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of your audio engineering technical abilities. This guide will walk you through the steps you need to begin your journey toward examination and ensure you are fully prepared for the assessment.

Who Should Take the AETCA

The Audio Engineering Technical Competency Assessment (AETCA) is specifically designed to evaluate the fundamental skills and knowledge that audio engineers acquire at the start of their careers. While advanced topics such as complex electronics and in-depth acoustics play a crucial role in the broader field of audio engineering, they are not essential for those just beginning their professional journey. Furthermore, unlike certifications from organizations such as AES, SBE, or ETAI, which emphasize deep technical theory, the AETCA prioritizes practical, hands-on skills that are directly applicable to the daily work of an audio engineer. This ensures that the assessment remains relevant to real-world industry demands, equipping aspiring professionals with the competencies they need to succeed.

Given this structure, engineers who have already earned certifications from organizations like AES, SBE, or ETAI have likely covered the technical concepts assessed in the AETCA in depth. However, they may still find value in the exam’s practical application and critical listening components.

Prerequisites for the AETCA

The AETCA is open to audio engineers of all experience levels, with no prior qualifications required for registration. However, due to the technical nature of the assessment, it is recommended that examinees have a foundational understanding of audio engineering concepts and hands-on experience with both analog and digital audio equipment. The assessment does not include questions specific to certain brands or models of technology (such as how to change the sample rate on a Yamaha console), but it may ask questions about ubiquitously used tools from specific brands (such as identifying a speakON cable).

Prepare for the AETCA

The AETCA covers a broad range of topics, including audio physics, system design, mixing techniques, problem-solving, and critical listening. To ensure success, it’s important to familiarize yourself with these areas and understand how they apply to real-world scenarios. The assessment focuses on the knowledge and skills most commonly used in professional audio engineering settings, so practical experience will be essential. By reviewing the materials, going through example questions, and honing your technical and listening abilities, you’ll be well-prepared to take the AETCA with confidence.

View the Prepare page for more detailed information on how to prepare. 

Requirements for the AETCA

The AETCA is administered via Canvas, an online learning management platform. Examinees will need to create a free Canvas account if they do not have one already. Canvas accounts associated with your school or workplace may not be able to join the AETCA site, in which case you will need to create a separate Canvas account with a personal email address. Examinees will need access to a computer or a tablet that is connected to the internet. Additionally, for the Critical Listening (CL) portion of the exam, examinees will need audio playback equipment, including headphones or speakers. 

Headphones should ideally be over-ear, closed-back, and provide a flat frequency response for accurate listening, while speakers, if used, should be placed in a quiet, neutral space to avoid acoustic distortion. High quality earbuds (such as AirPods, Bose, or Sony models) will also be sufficient. Audio playback equipment does not need to be studio grade, but should be of sufficient quality to accurately reproduce sound across a wide frequency range without distortion or significant coloration, and it should also be free from any EQ, compression, or other processing. 

A quiet environment free from distractions is also highly encouraged to ensure accurate responses.

Cost of the AETCA

The first-time registration fee for the AETCA is $60 USD. This price includes access to one attempt of the full exam and a detailed score report upon completion. Additionally, your score and personal information to be retained indefinitely in the AETCA database for employer verification at no additional cost. If you have been provided with an AETCA Employer ID code, then these fees will not apply to you. The full fee schedule is outlined below. 

A majority of the fees that we collect are donated to organizations that support young and new artists and technical professionals. Learn more on our About page. Complete and partial fee waivers are available for students, educators, or examinees experiencing financial hardship. Please reach out using the Contact page for more information. 

Score Validity

AETCA scores are valid for three years from the date on which you take the assessment. After this three-year period, examinees will need to retake the AETCA to ensure their skills and knowledge are up to date with the latest industry standards and practices. Scores are no longer reported to employers once the three-year period has elapsed. 

Retaking the AETCA

If an examinee does not achieve their desired score or wishes to improve their results, they may retake the AETCA at any time before their scores expire. A retake exam will contain different questions than the initial exam. Only the most recent results will be included on any score reports. 

For more information on retaking the AETCA, please visit the Retake page. 

Accommodations

If you have any accessibility needs or require accommodations to take the AETCA, please contact us in advance to make arrangements. Options for extended time or alternate formats are available.