Get Your Licence

Do you have an interest in Radio Communications?

Youth oriented introductory video produced by the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB).

Amateur radio is a multi-faceted hobby with many exciting things to try!  (Courtesy of the RSGB)

Covershot

No matter your age, Amateur Radio is a multifaceted hobby that’s easy to learn with a community of over 3 million members worldwide.

You can experiment with global radio transmissions between other amateurs using voice, digital modes, Morse code, pictures and television. The hobby has kept pace with modern technology, and despite the internet and mobile devices Amateur Radio has grown with the electronics age and continues to grow through the digital era.

Amateur Radio allows you to communicate and experiment, learn new skills, ‘home brew’ radio equipment and antennas, use computers and radio together, socialise and increase your knowledge of science, mathematics and geography.

image_1_hiresLicencing Requirement

You must hold a licence from the ACMA in order to become a radio amateur. This involves some study and examinations to obtain your ‘Amateur Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency’.

There are now 3 levels of Licences:

  • Foundation (10W max power, limited bands, equipment and modes – weekend course)
  • Standard (120W max power, more bands, all modes – multi-week evening course)
  • Advanced (400W max power, all bands, all modes – multi-week evening course)

Knowledge of Morse Code is no longer a requirement for any grade of licence.

The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club conducts courses and assessments regularly for all licence grades.

flcoverFoundation Licence

The Foundation Licence is an excellent entry into the hobby with the course and assessment all held over a single weekend.

To obtain your foundation licence we recommend you purchase the ‘Your Entry into Amateur Radio’ Foundation manual from the club (or direct from the WIA) and have a read of the manual. You should also download and familiarise yourself with the ACMA LCD (Licence Conditions Determination) which document our operating regulations.

Then come to one of our weekend courses and sit the combined Theory, Regulations and Practical Assessment. You will be given the results of the assessment on completion and you can apply for a licence on the same day (which takes around 6 weeks to process).

The foundation licence assessment consists of a 25 question multiple choice paper exam and a hands-on practical assessment.  A pass is 70% correct answers.

Standard and Advanced Licence

Standard and Advanced licences require three separate assessments:

  • Radio Theory (choose Standard or Advanced Level)
  • Regulations (same for both Standard and Advanced – only needs to be done once)
  • Practical Assessment (same assessment as foundation – only needs to be done once)

The Standard or Advanced Theory licence assessment each consist of a 50 question multiple choice paper exam.  The regulation assessment is a 30 question multiple choice paper consisting of questions relating to the ACMA LCDs.    A pass is 70% correct answers.  The hands-on practical assessment is not needed if you have already completed it as part of your Foundation Licence.

A typical upgrade path may be:

  1. Obtain Foundation Licence – complete foundation assessment and practical assessment.
  2. Obtain Standard Licence – complete standard theory and regulations (skip practical).
  3. Obtain Advanced Licence – complete advanced theory (skip regulations and practical).

In practice many people skip the standard licence and opt to go straight to advanced by completing the advanced theory – there is a great deal of overlap in the standard to advanced theory questions.

How much does it cost?

Courses run by the club are free and candidates who obtain their licence are granted a complimentary membership to the club for the remainder of the financial year.

  • The AMC charge a fee for the exam (any level) – $90
  • Regulations exam (Standard or Advanced licence only) – $90
  • Practical assessment (only required for Std or Adv if not upgrading from Foundation) – Included if conducted on the same day as a written examination, otherwise $90
  • The ACMA change a fee for the licence – $78 for the first year, $53 per annum renewal
  • ACMA licence upgrade fee (when upgrading your licence level) – $53
    plus your choice of
  • The next available random callsign – $25 (or)
  • A ‘vanity’ choose it yourself callsign – $35 (for 3 letter calls) or $60 (for 2 letter calls)

For example, an adult Foundation Licence is (exam) $90 + (licence) $78 + (callsign) $25 = $193

Please note that costs listed above are subject to change by the relevant authority.

Licence Resourcesimage_1_hires

AMC – The AMC is responsible for examination and call sign services in Australia
WIA – About Australian Amateur Licencing
AMC – Public List of Available Callsigns (pick your callsign!)
WIA – Purchase ‘Your Entry Into Amateur Radio’ Manual
AMC – Amateur Radio FAQs
AMC – Foundation Licence Syllabus
AMC – Standard Licence Syllabus
AMC – Advanced Licence Syllabus
WIA – Foundation Licence Online Assessment (Sample Exam)

Please contact the club for further information about upcoming courses and assessment days.