How you go about getting a VHF Radio Licence (SRC) is all about to change!

Getting a VHF Radio Licence

It turns out that at the moment if you live anywhere in Europe except in the UK and you want to get a VHF Radio Licence (SRC) you have to attend a two day course. In the UK, at the moment, you only have to attend a one day course.

We have clearly had it easy and someone has noticed!  So in 2014 in order to align ourselves with the rest of Europe all VHF Radio courses are going to change.  The course length will be extended and the test at the end of the course will have to be carried out by an assessor who is not the instructor.  At the moment the instructor is also allowed to be the assessor.  The full implications of this are not yet known but it is likely the course will be run over 2 days.  There will likely be a cost impact on people as a result.

Around the same time as these changes take place the RYA are looking to make live an online version of the VHF Radio course – or at least part of the course.  This may help alleviate the time burden the new course requirements will inflict.  It may mean the bulk of the course can be carried out in one’s own time and attendance in person will only be required for the test.

We will see.  We hope to have updates soon.

If you are thinking of getting a VHF Radio Licence (SRC) and would like to do the course and get the licence all in one day, we would advise getting it asap, ie before the end of 2013.  The chances are that if you wait until 2014 the course will take longer and cost you more.  First Class Sailing run one day courses, mostly in London on weekends.  Prices and dates can be viewed here.  You can also catch updates on the online version of the course here.

Posted by: firstclass