CLEVELAND -- Power of 5 Meteorologist Jason Nicholas recently earned the AMS (American Meteorological Society) Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation. He is the only meteorologist in the Cleveland-Akron television market to own that distinction.

"Congratulations to Jason. What an honor," said Jim Scott, NewsChannel5’s interim news director. "It’s another exciting first for our television station and another reason viewers trust the Power of 5."

According to the AMS, the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist program is intended to raise the professional standard in broadcast meteorology and encourage a broader range of scientific understanding, especially with respect to environmental issues.

The goal of the CBM program is to certify that the holder meets specific educational and experience criteria and has passed rigorous testing in their knowledge and communication of meteorology and related sciences needed to be an effective broadcast meteorologist.

In order to acquire a CBM, new applicants must hold a degree in meteorology (or equivalent) from an accredited college/university, pass a written examination, and have their work reviewed to assess technical competence, informational value, explanatory value, and communication skills.

Nicholas was raised in nearby Medina and is a graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. He studied meteorology at Mississippi State University and successfully completed the Broadcast Meteorology Program there in 2004.

Viewers can get their Power of 5 forecast from Nicholas weekends on NewsChannel5 at 6 and 11 p.m.