Your sail bag is currently empty!
A course and exam for anyone with a fixed or handheld marine VHF radio. A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board, and it is vital to understand the correct procedures. The Short Range Certificate is the minimum qualification required by law to operate a VHF and VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipment on any British-flagged vessel voluntarily fitted with a fixed or hand-held radio.
The VHF radio is an essential piece of safety equipment on board a small craft and can be used under the supervision of a licensed operator. However, any person operating a VHF radio without the correct certification is liable for prosecution and can have the equipment confiscated.
The online RYA SRC/VHF Radio course teaches the basics of VHF radio operation and the correct frequencies (channels) to be used for distress, emergency & medical assistance procedures. The VHF radio network has undergone significant change with the implementation of the Global Maritime Distress System (G.M.D.S.S.), and these changes are looked at in-depth.
We are also happy to advise on the best radio equipment for your vessel; get in touch to discuss your requirements.
Examination & License
Once the online course is finished, you will be issued a unique completion code. You must have this code before taking the exam.
The exam cannot be taken online; it has to be taken at an RYA Training Centre authorised to undertake SRC Certificate assessments. A separate processing fee is payable directly to the RYA for assessing and issuing the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Certificate of Competence and Authority to Operate”. See more details in the Examination Process tab.
Booking Your Exam
We run assessment days with time slots for examinations. If you cannot make one of our scheduled days, you can book a one-on-one appointment at a convenient time.
Scheduled Assessment Day
If you book the online course with us, you will receive a voucher code that discounts the exam slots on our scheduled assessment days. Each slot is 3 hours, allowing you plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the radios used for assessment.
- Background information on the GMDSS system and its equipment and licensing requirements
- Radio rules and regulations
- Operation of marine VHF equipment, including DSC functions
- The phonetic alphabet
- Basic radio language and protocols, including pro words such as over, say again, out etc.
- Correct use of the various channels
- How to make calls to other stations
- How to send a Distress Alert and Distress Message (Mayday)
- How to send an urgency alert and a safety call
- Sit the short written exam upon successful completion of which you will be issued with the ” United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Certificate of Competence and Authority to Operate”
Our courses have been designed to work on any device, allowing you to study when and where you want. You will use charts and tools when working on some modules, so space to work will be required. Both tablets and desktop devices allow you to view the content full-screen, removing those pesky distractions and allowing you to focus on the session.
Mobile
Perfect for checking your progress or doing some revision on the move.
Tablet
Great for working on navigation modules alongside your charts and navigation tools.
Desktop
We’ve got you covered–Mac or PC–, beautifully.
