How Do I Get My First Amateur Radio Licence?
A question received by the team: “I am interested in getting a Foundation licence, but the question is where do I start?”
To get your first UK amateur radio licence and callsign, the usual route is to pass the RSGB Foundation exam.
What is the Foundation exam?
- It is a 26-question multiple-choice exam
- You have 60 minutes to complete it
- The pass mark is 19 out of 26
- You can usually take the exam online at home with a remote invigilator, or through an amateur radio club
- There is a one-off exam fee. The Foundation exam currently costs £35.50
- There is no charge for the amateur radio licence if you apply online after passing
Book a Foundation exam with the RSGB
What am I asked in the exam?
- 9 questions on 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 avoiding interference
The pass mark is 19, so you can get up to seven questions wrong and still pass.
How do I study for my exam?
- Free online course – Essex Ham runs the popular HamTrain Foundation Online course, which has helped thousands of people prepare for their first amateur radio licence. It uses a mix of online lessons, videos, practice questions and mock tests. Find out how Foundation Online works.
- Start training – If you’re ready to begin, you can go directly to the HamTrain course site.
- Other online study – Other groups around the UK also offer online training. Some courses are free and others charge. See: UK online amateur radio courses.
- Courses at a local club – Many amateur radio clubs offer face-to-face training, which can be useful if you prefer classroom or hands-on learning. See the RSGB Course Finder.
- Study guide – HamTrain also publishes a Foundation Study Guide for people who prefer studying from a book. See: Foundation Study Guide.
- Help from an existing radio amateur – If you know someone who already holds a licence, they may also be able to help explain some of the topics.
Try a Foundation mock exam
If you’re already doing some studying, a mock exam is a useful way to see which areas you understand and which need more work.
Other common questions
- There is no lower or upper age limit for taking the Foundation exam
- You don’t need any radio equipment or previous radio knowledge before you start studying
- You can study online, with a club, from a book, or using a combination of these
- If you are able to study intensively and find a suitable exam slot, it is possible to qualify quite quickly
- After Foundation, you can choose to progress to Intermediate and then Full at your own pace
If you have a question about getting started, you can leave a comment below.
