Columbia School of Broadcasting

Q. I’ve been told that all you need to get into broadcasting is an internship. Is that correct?

A. Anyone that promises you that you only need an internship to get started in the field of broadcasting has not kept current with the industry. In fact, unless you are enrolled in a legitimate state certified school, most stations owned by national broadcasting corporations won’t take you as an intern because of human resource issues and insurance liability. The purpose of an internship is to enhance and reinforce your learning experience, not to have the station find you a job.

Q. Are all broadcasting schools the same?

All broadcasting schools are not the same. They vary in training techniques, curriculum and price. You really need to understand that some schools offer a very general curriculum, meaning you pay one price and learn a little bit of everything to do with broadcasting, while a few schools like Columbia offer you very specialized training, that provide you the training you need to accomplish your career goals.

Q. How do I know if a school is right for me?

A. Discuss the curriculum with an Admissions person, then ask the school what their status is with the Better Business Bureau, Broadcasting Associations, and Career College or Proprietary School Associations. Also check to see if they have been approved for state aid programs. If they have no credentials, that should be a RED FLAG.

Q. What is an Apprentice Program?

A. An Apprentice program should be a position in the broadcasting business at an entry level, where you can get experience from a knowledgeable Mentor. The Mentor receives compensation from their employer, NOT A THIRD PARTY, for transferring skills peculiar to the station to new personnel. An apprentice gets paid while they are in training. Apprentices should never pay for training. Students, on the other hand perform internships and do not get paid, but you can't be a student if you're not enrolled in a legitimate school. The station assumes the role of providing students experience usually under a standardized routine that's the same for all interns, and the student receives grade credit from their school while getting hands on industry training. A mentor that receives pay from an outside source for bringing a third party into a Radio or TV station may soon find themselves in trouble with their employer. A Mentor program is not a qualified school nor is it sanctioned by any State as an educational institution. Always check with your Better Business Bureau for any outstanding unresolved issues.

Q. Who started the Columbia School of Broadcasting?

A. E. Kirsch Walters and William A. Anderson were the co-founders of Columbia School of Broadcasting in 1964. There were no other individuals involved with the school's origination.

Q. How long does it take to graduate from the Columbia School of Broadcasting Announcing Program?

A. It takes most students, eight to fourteen month to complete the Announcing curriculum. The school allows a maximum of eighteen months and does provide extensions for extenuating circumstances.

Q. Will I always have the same instructor at the school?

A. The Columbia School of Broadcasting assigns each assignment you produce to a different National Instructor that is current in the field of broadcasting. Our instructors are not "Professors" but real broadcasters that have years of experience ON THE AIR as well as the professional skills required by the school to provide positive guidance and success to all of our students. Each National Instructor, is well known in their broadcasting format and brings a wide variety of experience to each student when they review your recorded assignments.

Q. Does the school accept the Montgomery GI Bill?

A. The accepts the Montgomery GI Bill for the Television Announcing course and the Basic Radio Production Course.

Q. Will the school help me find a job when I graduate?

A. The school will provide job placement assistance to each graduate for a period of five years after you graduate. This includes, access to the Graduate Only Job Web Site that is continuously updated with new jobs around the country, access to the job hotline, Resume, Audition Tape and Cover Letter review, Hot Alert Recall ( When a job comes into the school that meets your Placement Profile - we'll call you to apply for it) and access to the National Radio, TV and Broadcast Association Information sheets. (Who's Who).

If you have additional questions, please call the school at 1-800-362-0660 or your can email us: djtrain@columbiaschoolbroadcas.com

We always appreciate your inquiries.