Obtaining a FCC Commercial Radio Operator License

FCC rules require that licensees of ship and aircraft stations permit only persons holding the appropriate FCC-issued commercial operator license to perform specified transmitter operation, maintenance and repair duties. To obtain a new or upgraded FCC commercial operator license, you must pass an examination administered by one of the Commercial Operator License Examination Managers (COLEMs).

Who Needs A Commercial Operator License?

You need a commercial operator license to operate, and/or to repair and maintain, specified ship, and aircraft radio communication stations. The licensing requirements for operating such radio stations and the licensing requirements for repairing and maintaining such radio stations are discussed separately below.

Radio Operations

You need a commercial radio operator license to operate the following:

• Ship radio stations if:
• the vessel carries more than six passengers for hire; or
• the radio operates on medium frequencies (MF) or high frequencies (HF); or
• the ship sails to foreign ports; or
• the ship station transmits radiotelegraphy; or
• the ship is larger than 300 gross tons and is required by law to carry a radio station for safety purposes.
• Aircraft radio stations, except those which operate only on very high frequencies (VHF) and do not make foreign flights.

Written Examination Elements

[Note: From time to time, the Commission may change the number of questions to be included in the examination for a particular element and/or the number of answers needed to pass the examination. The Commission will issue a public notice or take other action to inform the public of any such change.]

Element 1: Basic radio law and operating practice with which every maritime radio operator should be familiar. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 18 out of 24 questions.

Element 3: General Radiotelephone. Electronic fundamentals and techniques required to adjust, repair, and maintain radio transmitters and receivers. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer 75 out of 100 questions, from the following categories:

• operating procedures
• radio wave propagation
• radio practice
• electrical principles
• circuit components
• practical circuits
• signals and emissions
• antennas and feed lines

Element 6: Advanced Radiotelegraph. Technical, legal, and other matters applicable to the operation of all classes of radiotelegraph stations. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 75 out of 100 questions.

Element 7: GMDSS Radio Operating Practices. GMDSS radio operating procedures and practices sufficient to show detailed practical knowledge of the operation of all GMDSS sub-systems and equipment. The exam consists of questions from the following categories: general information, narrow-band direct-printing, INMARSAT, NAVTEX, digital selective calling, and survival craft. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least at least 75 out of 100 questions.

Element 7R: Restricted GMDSS Radio Operating Practices. Fifty questions concerning those GMDSS radio operating procedures and practices that are applicable to ship stations on vessels that sail exclusively in sea area A1, as defined in sections 80.1069 and 80.1081 of the Commission's Rules. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 38 out of 50 questions.

Element 8: Ship Radar Techniques. Specialized theory and practice applicable to the proper installation, servicing, and maintenance of ship radar equipment in general use for marine navigation purposes. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 38 out of 50 questions.

Element 9: GMDSS Radio Maintenance Practices and Procedures. Requirements set forth in IMO Assembly on Training for Radio Personnel (GMDSS), Annex 5 and IMO Assembly on Radio Maintenance Guidelines for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System related to Sea Areas A3 and A4. The exam consists of questions from the following categories: radio system theory, amplifiers, power sources, troubleshooting, digital theory, and GMDSS equipment and regulations. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 38 out of 50 questions.

Telegraphy Examination Elements

Element 1 - 16 code groups per minute.

Element 2 - 20 words per minute.

Telegraphy exams may consist of both transmitting and receiving tests or just a receiving test. Although the FCC rules provide that passing a telegraphy receiving examination is adequate proof of an examinee's ability to both send and receive telegraphy, a COLEM may nonetheless include a sending segment in a telegraphy examination. Examinees must copy by ear and, if subject to a sending test, send by hand plain text and code groups in the international Morse code using all the letters of the alphabet, numerals 0-9, period, comma, question mark, slant mark, and prosigns AR, BT, and SK. Examinees must copy and send at the required speeds for one continuous minute without making any errors. Each test lasts approximately five minutes. The failing of any code test automatically terminates the examination. Code speeds are computed using five letters per word or code group. Punctuation symbols and numbers count as two letters each.

Question Pools and Study Guides

Examination question pools, with answers, are available for downloading below.

[Note: From time to time, the Commission may change the number of questions to be included in the examination for a particular element and/or the number of answers needed to pass the examination. The Commission will issue a public notice or take other actions to inform the public of any such change.]

• Element 1 (pdf)
• Element 3 (pdf)
• Element 6 (pdf)
• Element 7 (pdf)
• Element 7R (pdf)
• Element 8 (pdf)
• Element 9 (pdf)

The FCC does not certify schools or review study materials, and the FCC does not recommend any particular school or publication.

File FCC Forms 159 and 605 along with the appropriate Proof of Passing Certificate(s) (for the requisite written and/or telegraphy examination element(s)) to apply for a Commercial Operator License with the FCC, through electronic filing in ULS. Per Public Notice DA 15-72, the FCC no longer mails license authorizations. You are required to provide an email address on your application, a link to print your official copy of your license will be automatically emailed to you when the application has granted. Licensees may also log into ULS to download official authorizations. Instructions can be found at How to Obtain Official Authorizations from ULS.

There is one EXCEPTION: You do NOT have to submit a Proof of Passing Certificate when applying for a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RR).

Most Commercial Operator License Examination Managers (COLEMs) file these documents for applicants who test with them. Ask your COLEM if it provides this service to its customers. Applicants filing the required documentation directly with the FCC should follow the steps below.

File FCC Form 605 in ULS to renew your license. IMPORTANT NOTE: All commercial radio operator licenses issued on or after May 20, 2013 are valid for the lifetime of the holder, and do not need to be renewed. For licenses issued before that date, see Terms of Licenses to ascertain if your license needs to be renewed.

The FCC does not administer commercial operator license examinations. To obtain a new or upgraded FCC commercial operator license, you must pass an examination administered by a COLEM. The COLEMs listed below are authorized by the FCC to administer examinations nationwide and, in some instances, at foreign sites. Contact a COLEM to obtain current location and schedule information. Upon passing the examination(s), the COLEM will issue you one or more Proof of Passing Certificates (PPCs) that you must include with your license application (unless the application is filed electronically by the COLEM).

To obtain an FCC commercial operator license, an applicant must submit an original Proof of Passing Certificate issued by a Commercial Operator License Examination Manager (COLEM), or have the application filed electronically by the COLEM, demonstrating that the applicant has passed the required written and/or telegraphy elements, as illustrated in the table below.

Type of LicenseElementsRadiotelegraph Operator LicenseWritten Element(s) 1 & 6

Telegraphy Element(s) 1 & 2General Radiotelephone Operator LicenseWritten Element(s) 1 & 3Marine Radio Operator PermitWritten Element(s) 1GMDSS Radio Operator's LicenseWritten Element(s) 1 & 7Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator's LicenseWritten Element(s) 1 & 7RGMDSS Radio Maintainer's LicenseWritten Element(s) 1, 3 & 9Ship Radar EndorsementWritten Element(s) 8

Written Examination Elements

[Note: From time to time, the Commission may change the number of questions to be included in the examination for a particular element and/or the number of answers needed to pass the examination. The Commission will issue a public notice or take other action to inform the public of any such change.]

Element 1: Basic radio law and operating practice with which every maritime radio operator should be familiar. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 18 out of 24 questions.

Element 3: General Radiotelephone. Electronic fundamentals and techniques required to adjust, repair, and maintain radio transmitters and receivers. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer 75 out of 100 questions, from the following categories:

• operating procedures
• radio wave propagation
• radio practice
• electrical principles
• circuit components
• practical circuits
• signals and emissions
• antennas and feed lines

Element 6: Advanced Radiotelegraph. Technical, legal, and other matters applicable to the operation of all classes of radiotelegraph stations. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 75 out of 100 questions.

Element 7: GMDSS Radio Operating Practices. GMDSS radio operating procedures and practices sufficient to show detailed practical knowledge of the operation of all GMDSS sub-systems and equipment. The exam consists of questions from the following categories: general information, narrow-band direct-printing, INMARSAT, NAVTEX, digital selective calling, and survival craft. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least at least 75 out of 100 questions.

Element 7R: Restricted GMDSS Radio Operating Practices. Fifty questions concerning those GMDSS radio operating procedures and practices that are applicable to ship stations on vessels that sail exclusively in sea area A1, as defined in sections 80.1069 and 80.1081 of the Commission's Rules. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 38 out of 50 questions.

Element 8: Ship Radar Techniques. Specialized theory and practice applicable to the proper installation, servicing, and maintenance of ship radar equipment in general use for marine navigation purposes. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 38 out of 50 questions.

Element 9: GMDSS Radio Maintenance Practices and Procedures. Requirements set forth in IMO Assembly on Training for Radio Personnel (GMDSS), Annex 5 and IMO Assembly on Radio Maintenance Guidelines for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System related to Sea Areas A3 and A4. The exam consists of questions from the following categories: radio system theory, amplifiers, power sources, troubleshooting, digital theory, and GMDSS equipment and regulations. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 38 out of 50 questions.

Telegraphy Examination Elements

Element 1 - 16 code groups per minute.

Element 2 - 20 words per minute.

Telegraphy exams may consist of both transmitting and receiving tests or just a receiving test. Although the FCC rules provide that passing a telegraphy receiving examination is adequate proof of an examinee's ability to both send and receive telegraphy, a COLEM may nonetheless include a sending segment in a telegraphy examination. Examinees must copy by ear and, if subject to a sending test, send by hand plain text and code groups in the international Morse code using all the letters of the alphabet, numerals 0-9, period, comma, question mark, slant mark, and prosigns AR, BT, and SK. Examinees must copy and send at the required speeds for one continuous minute without making any errors. Each test lasts approximately five minutes. The failing of any code test automatically terminates the examination. Code speeds are computed using five letters per word or code group. Punctuation symbols and numbers count as two letters each.

Question Pools and Study Guides

Examination question pools, with answers, are available for downloading below.

[Note: From time to time, the Commission may change the number of questions to be included in the examination for a particular element and/or the number of answers needed to pass the examination. The Commission will issue a public notice or take other actions to inform the public of any such change.]

• Element 1 (pdf)
• Element 3 (pdf)
• Element 6 (pdf)
• Element 7 (pdf)
• Element 7R (pdf)
• Element 8 (pdf)
• Element 9 (pdf)

The FCC does not certify schools or review study materials, and the FCC does not recommend any particular school or publication.

Testing Managers, Locations, Schedules and Fees.

Examination Procedures

Use of reference materials in commercial operator license examinations is not permitted. Do not bring any books, papers, notes, study guides, or other unauthorized aids or devices to an examination.

Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RR)

Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit-Limited Use (RL)

Marine Radio Operator Permit (MP)

General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG)

GMDSS Radio Operator's License (DO)

Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator's License (RG)

GMDSS Radio Maintainer's License (DM)

GMDSS Radio Operator/Maintainer License (DB)

Third Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate (T3)

Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate (T2)

First Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate (T1)

Radiotelegraph Operator License (T)

Ship Radar EndorsementSix Month Service Endorsement

Operating While Application is Pending

A person who has filed an application for a commercial operator license with the FCC, and who holds a Proof of Passing Certificate(s) indicating that he or she has passed the necessary examination(s) within the previous 365 days, is authorized to exercise the rights and privileges of the applied-for operator license during the period before the FCC acts on the application, but only for a period of 90 days from the date the application was filed, provided that the applicant has not had a commercial radio operator license revoked or suspended in the past, and is not the subject of an ongoing suspension proceeding.

Renewal Procedures

If you need to renew a commercial radio operator license, electronically submit completed FCC Forms 159 (Fee Processing Form) and 605 through the Universal Licensing System (ULS). A fee is required. Current information on the fee amount and filing location can be found in the most recent edition of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Fee Filing Guide, or by calling the Customer Support Hotline at (877) 480-3201 (select option 2 after the main menu recording).

If you file an application to renew your license before it expires, you may continue to operate under the authority of your license while the FCC processes your renewal application. However, if you fail to renew your license before it expires, you cannot operate or maintain equipment that requires that license until it is renewed. You may file to renew your expired license any time during the five-year grace period after your license expires. If you fail to renew your license within the grace period, you must apply for a new license and re-take the required examination(s).

Important Note: Prior to March 25, 2008, the license term for GMDSS Radio Operator's Licenses, Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator's Licenses, GMDSS Radio Maintainer's Licenses, GMDSS Radio Operator/Maintainer Licenses, and Marine Radio Operator Permits was five years. Effective March 25, 2008, the rules were amended to extend the term of these licenses to the lifetime of the holder. Any GMDSS Radio Operator's License, Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator's License, GMDSS Radio Maintainer's License, GMDSS Radio Operator/Maintainer License, or Marine Radio Operator Permit that was active, i.e., had not expired, as of March 25, 2008, does not have to be renewed, even if there is an expiration date on the face of the license document.

Posting of License or Permit

If you are employed at a station where your operator license must be posted, you may post either your proof of passing certificate or a signed copy of your renewal application instead of your license while your application for license renewal is being processed.