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Marine Radio Licences – become a proficient and professional
marine radio operator
There are two Licencing options
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LROCP – Long Range Operators Certificate of Proficiency
This licence enables you to operate both VHF and MF/HF radios (short-range, medium-range, and long-range).
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SROCP – Short Range Operators Certificate of Proficiency
This licence enables you to operate the VHF (short-range) only
Great Value!
Online Learning Videos – From the comfort of your home
How it works
- You study in your own time – full access for 3 months for $90
- Online Revision and Assessment: $90 (with a trainer)
- Pay the Office of Maritime Communications fee $89 (OMC admin fee)
Assessments are usually held on the third Monday each month. We can arrange a date/time to suit you for $89 (revision and assessment), contact us here to arrange.
step-by-step videos
practice quizzes
revision
support
bite-sized modules
relaxed assessment
All assessments will be held at Sydney local time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost to get may marine radio licence?
Learn via two options:
- Self-paced learning: $90
- *Zoom live-online learning: $199
Assessment via Zoom, all online, immediate result: $90 (includes revision and Q&A session)
Plus $89 Admin Fee for the Office of Maritime Communications (OMC) to issue your listen
*Minimum numbers apply.
This is a one-off cost, the licence lasts a lifetime and you do not need to renew it.
Which licence/course do I need?
You must obtain the Long Range licence if you travel offshore, crew in yacht races, or wish to gain commercial qualifications.
If you operate a recreational vessel near the coast, the SROCP (short range) is sufficient.
PLEASE NOTE: if you gain your SROCP (short range) only and later you require the Long Range licence (you may crew, race, or decide to venture further afield!), then you would need to resit the entire course for LROCP, currently there is not just an upgrade available, i.e. you will be up for the same costs/time/material, just with the Long Range section added in.
There is no expiry date or renewal fees for either Marine Radio Licence
How do you conduct the assessments?
Assessments are all online now. With immediate results. (Via Zoom)
Assessments: Two Options
1) Face-to-face, location far south NSW coast (preferable) – contact us if you have a group.
2) Via Zoom
Two Assessments:
1) Written – multi-choice questions
2) Practical Assessment – Via a Radio Simulator, basic operation and call procedures
SROCP (short range/VHF), written assessment consists of 25 multiple choice questions
LROCP (long range/MF/HF) written assessment consists of 50 multiple choice questions
How do I complete the assessments?
Online or face to face… full details here
How long will it take to obtain a Marine Radio Operators Certificate?
It will take approximately three hours to complete our course online.
Once you are CONSISTENTLY achieving over 85% on the practice Q&As, then you know you are ready.
We will provide instructions and access to the Radio Simulator for the practical assessment (depending on the assessment option chosen).
SROCP (short range/VHF), written assessment consists of 25 multiple choice questions
LROCP (long range/MF/HF) written assessment consists of 50 multiple choice questions
You must achieve over 70% to pass, for both licences.
The assessments are returned to the OMC for marking, and we wait for results. (At times this can take two weeks due to the current circumstances and more online assessments being carried out. We (and the OMC) ask for your patience).
What do I receive when I enrol?
Self-paced – access to marine radio training material and resources for three months
This is a new online format. Not just pages of text followed by hundreds of questions. But short, individual topic presentations followed by practice questions on that topic. This is a proven way to learn and retain information. We have 100% success rate.
Access to support via email and phone
Access to the Radio Simulator for easy practical assessment
Online or face-2-face assessments via Zoom
Do I need a Marine Radio licence?
Whether you are on a recreational boat or a commercial boat, a Marine Radio Licence is required if you are operating Marine VHF and/or MF/HF Radios.
The requirement to hold a Marine Radio Licence is to ensure marine radio operators use the correct marine radio operational procedures.
It also SAVES LIVES!
Do you know how to issue a Mayday, and your position correctly? Do you know how to use Digital Selective Calling (DSC)? This is extremely important and it can be life-saving.
If you have a DSC radio, with your licence you can register for a Marine Mobile Service Identify (MMSI) number.
If you carry a marine radio (VHF/MF/HF) on board your vessel, you must obtain a licence
THE GOOD NEWS IS – we will help you achieve this.
How does online training work?
Self-paced:
You will be given everything you need to know, step-by-step
Complete the course and Q&As practice. Consistently achieve over 85%.
Contact us to arrange your assessment
Assessments with us: Two Options
- Written multiple choice and practical in a class room.
- Online Assessment
We will provide you with access to a radio simulator and audio recordings for an easy practical assessment (with full instructions and practice time first).We will provide access to the written assessment online, which takes around half an hour to complete, we allow an hour.
Online, self-paced
Learn at your own pace in the comfort and privacy of your home.
We have delivered many other courses on line (self-paced and on zoom) and were one of the first to provide online-live navigation work/training when many said it couldn’t be done!). Our customers tell us it was just like being in a classroom.
What do I need to know to get my marine radio licence?
There are a number of topics, but they are all straightforward. The manual and information on the internet may be a little overwhelming, therefore we have created a topic-by-topic course. Practice questions follow each topic.
The final pass rate of the written assessment is 70% if you go through our course step by step and practice with the Q&A, achieving over 85% consistently, you should pass first go.
- Give yourself the best chance of rescue should something go wrong
- Be able to assist properly and effectively (via Marine Radio), if there is a distress situation near you
- VHF and MF/HF and VHF marine radio knowledge – uses and communications
- How to communicate at sea
- How to communicate during an emergency
- The differences between Ship Stations, Coast Radio Stations, and Limited Coast Stations
- Using DSC
- How to use ‘Phonetic Alphabet’ (we recommend you learn this first)
- Operate your equipment using correct channels
- Operate your equipment using the correct procedures
- Fully understand the process and usage of Distress, Urgency, and Safety Communications
- Feel at ease with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Communications
- Understand the operational use of 406 MHz EPIRBS
- Understand the operational use of SART’s
- Search and Rescue (SAR) in Australia – how it operates, how you can help them to help you
- Learn about your radio’s limitations
- Fault finding, power supplies
- Identify the components of a marine radio
- Care and maintenance
Marine Radio Handbooks
Marine Radio Operators Handbook (VHF/MF/HF)
VHF Marine Radio Operators Handbook
Order a copy
The hard copy of the Marine Radio Handbook should be carried on board for future refence.
Purchase manuals here.
Will you offer face to face classes
Yes, with sufficient numbers (small classes are okay, so we usually go ahead).
Location Bega Valley NSW (actual location in the valley TBC)
It’s a perfect excuse to have a holiday somewhere beautiful. Come and do your Boat Licence or PWC Licence at the same time.
Why Choose Us
Our philosophy is:
“There is no such thing as a silly question”, and
“Be an encourager there are far too many critics in the world already”.
With over 60 years combined, international experience, we will share all our experience with you, gained from traversing over 80,000 nautical miles.
- Trained local NSW Marine Police
- Taught commercial maritime tickets at TAFE
- Ex-Marine Rescue Skippers
- Circumnavigated the world one-and-a-half times (we’ve circumnavigated Tahiti too!)
- Award winning Skippers (joint top student Master 5, top student MED3)
- Award winning authors
- Written pilot books
- Written best-selling memoirs (on our travels)
- Written manuals on: Navigation, Weather, and created a useful Log Book (Shop Nautical)
- Host popular Podcast Show
- Professional maritime trainers for 10 years
- Taught/sailed/worked on a variety of boats all over the world
- Utilised a wide variety of marine equipment (VHF/HF/MF, Navigation systems, radar)
- AIS, GPS, plotters, Weather, etc), all over the world. “Why we love HF radio”
- Partnered with a Registered Training Organisation and we conform to National Training Standards
- Everyone is treated equally and fairly
- Documented safety system – we look after your personal details
- We have a great boat! It is safe and comfortable
- Competitive pricing
We love all things boating, and we are super proud to watch many of our students turn into great skippers!
One of our team has even set a blue-water sailing record!
Don’t take our word for it, here’s what they say: Testimonials