A question received by the team: “I am interested in getting a foundation license, but the question is where do I start?”
To get your first amateur radio licence and callsign, you need to take the RSGB Foundation Exam:
What is the exam?
- It is a 26-question multiple-choice test that lasts one hour
- You can choose to take this at a nearby amateur radio club, or online at home (monitored using a webcam)
- There is a one-off exam fee. There is no fee for the licence or callsign
- You can book the online exam here: RSGB Online Exam Booking
What am I asked in the exam?
- 9 questions on the amateur radio rules and operating procedures
- 6 questions on the technical side of the hobby, including transmitters and receivers
- 5 questions on how radio works, including antennas and how radio signals travel
- 6 questions on safety and not causing interference
The pass mark is 19, so you can get any 7 questions wrong, and still pass.
How do I study for my exam?
- Online Course – Essex Ham runs a very popular, successful and free course called Foundation Online that uses a mix of lessons, videos and mock tests. The course is free. At the time of writing this, over 7,700 people have taken this. Course information and signup form
- Online study – Other groups around the UK offer online study, some using YouTube, some using Zoom video conferencing. Some are free, and some charge for their training. See: Online study options
- Courses at a local club – There is a network of ham radio clubs around the UK that offer training courses in a classroom environment – handy for those not good with computers or who prefer hands-on study. There is usually a charge for these courses. See: RSGB Course Finder
- Training Manual – HamTrain has released a low-price manual. See: Foundation Study Guide
- Help from an existing ham – if you know someone who holds a licence, they may be able to help with training
Other Common Questions:
- There is no lower or upper age limit
- The licence is free for life – no annual or recurring fees
- You don’t need any radio equipment, or prior radio knowledge, to start studying for Foundation
- If you’re in a rush and are a good studier, you can get your licence and callsign in as little as a couple of weeks.
- You can optionally progress from Foundation, to Intermediate, to Full at your own pace
Anything we’ve missed? Please ask in the comments section below, or in our Getting Started forum
