RYA VHF/SRC Marine Radio Course

The Short Range Certificate is the minimum qualification required by law to control the operation of VHF and VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC)  equipment on any British flagged vessel voluntarily fitted with a radio. This includes both fixed and hand held equipment using International channels.

A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures. Unnecessary transmissions could block out a Mayday distress call.

Without a radio operators certificate, a VHF radio may be monitored for safety purposes or used to summon assistance in a distress situation, but it may not be used for general transmissions. These can only be made by a licenced operator or by someone under the direct supervision of a licenced operator, this is a legal requirement on a British Flagged boat. 

If you hold the old VHF licence (pre-1999) and you operate a VHF with DSC (digital selective calling) integrated then you need to complete an update course to be issued with a new Short range certificate (SRC). 

Find out more about the Marine Radio (SRC) course on the RYA website.