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Steps to obtain your Amateur Radio Licence

Volunteer Examiners Australia (VEA), as do many Amateur Radio Clubs and Individual AMC Assessors, run scheduled or “on-demand” Amateur Radio Exams either “face to face” or via online remote sessions.


Currently, all Australian Exams are being run through the Australian Maritime College (AMC). If it is a “Face to Face” exam session, we need to meet the AMC UTas COVID Compliance standards, and we must get the exam session signed off regarding numbers. It is a first in best-dressed type situation.


If we are assessing via a remote online exam session, then you will need a PC or laptop, a Skype account and a good internet connection for screen sharing etc. (NB, over 18 years of age only for remote online assessment at this stage as is an UTas ruling)

AMC Questions Answered

https://www.amc.edu.au/industry/amateur-radio/fees-and-charges

https://www.amc.edu.au/industry/amateur-radio 

AMC Exam Fees

$90.00 Theory examination.

(Foundation, Standard, Advanced or Regulations)


$90.00 Practical Assessment only. 

(Free if a practical assessment is taken with any other theory exam, Foundation, Standard, Advanced or Regulations)


$90.00 Foundation + Practical.

$180.00 Standard + Regulations + Practical.

$180.00 Advanced + Regulations + Practical.

AMC Callsign Recommendation Fees

$25.00  Next available callsign.


$35.00  Select your preferred callsign (If available)


Most callsign suffixes are no longer "Licence class dependant" this is the best "lifetime" callsign option.

ACMA Fees

$80.00  New Amateur Licence.

$55.00  Licence Renewal.

$51.00  Variation to the existing licence (callsign or licence class change after upgrade)

Exam levels

Foundation Exam

There are two components to the Foundation exam, Theory and Practical.


The Theory is a 25 Question Multi Choice exam, and the assessor assesses the practical. You will need to identify standard components, explain how to connect a complete primary station for operation, and understand the operating standards and protocols.


Currently, the Foundation Licence is the best value for entry into the hobby of Amateur Radio as it gives access to significant HF Spectrum (80m, 40m, 15m & 10m ), VHF (2m) and UHF (70cm) spectrum with all modes and a power output of 10 watts. Local and International communications can easily be made.
 

Utilise the FREE Unlimited Foundation Practice exam generator that is available on the WIA website at https://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/onlineexams/foundation.php


Achieving a consistent 80% pass rate or higher should see you in good stead to a successful result with the exam.


To maximise your success with the foundation exam, we recommend purchasing the “Foundation Manual” available from the WIA or your local radio club. https://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/foundationmanual/


The Practical Assessment Checklist with the Questions and Answers required is available here: https://www.amc.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1319473/Practical_Assessment_Checklist_April_2020.pdf.
 

The Practical Exam Picture Chart (Schematic symbols, connectors, antenna types, etc.) is available here: https://www.amc.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1319474/Practical_Assessment-Assessor_Picture_Chart_05032019.pdf. 



Purchase the "Foundation Manual" from the WIA (or your local club).

https://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/foundationmanual/


A complete FREE online Foundation Exam training course is being offered by Trainsafe. It consists of comprehensive slides in PDF format downloadable to use.


To register and gain access go here: https://www.silvertrain.com.au/


The Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania, (REAST) have a FREE video Foundation training course including the Practical Exam section. (10 videos tutorials of about 3 hours in total) 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsnsP_zjw831mdC6sY4XqavRUY-53ZWUn


Read the Foundation Manual and then do the free Foundation online trial exams found on the WIA website. Results of 80% or more should see you confident of a pass. (18+ questions correct is an AMC exam pass)

https://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/onlineexams/foundation.php


Go to AMC website, assessor toolbox and download the publicly available ‘Practical Assessment Checklist’ and ‘Assessment Picture Chart’, study them as they are the practical exam.

https://www.amc.edu.au/industry/amateur-radio/assessor-toolbox


https://www.amc.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1319473/Practical_Assessment_Checklist_April_2020.pdf


https://www.amc.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1319474/Practical_Assessment-Assessor_Picture_Chart_05032019.pdf


Register with AMC or via www.vea.org.au to book for Foundation Exam via online remote.

https://vea.org.au/registration-form-1


Once AMC has processed your remote exam request, AMC will email you the Application Form and Answer Sheet. Now it is time to contact an AMC assessor or the AMC approved VEA assessor will contact you and arrange a suitable exam time. (Either face to face or via online remote which is usually a Skype video share session.) 


Sit the exam, fill in the answer sheet provided, process the paperwork with the assessor and once submitted to AMC, wait for AMC to process your exam results.


Once your AOCP(x) is received from AMC send a copy to WIA, along with the WIA membership form (fill in online) for your complimentary (free) 12 months WIA membership. 

Email: support@wia.org.au


Use the WIA online membership form: 

https://wia.memnet.com.au/MemberSelfService/NewMemberForm/WIA/NewMemberForm.aspx


More info: 

https://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2019/20190113-1/

https://www.wia.org.au/joinwia/wia/hardcopymembership/documents/WIA%20Membership%20Application%20Form.pdf


Utilize your new WIA membership card, along with the WIA Benefits Program with the approved vendors for discounts and other bonuses.  


https://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2020/20200925-1/index.php


Welcome to Amateur Radio....Enjoy!! 

Standard, Advanced & Regulations Exam

Standard & Advanced theory is 50 Questions and Regulations theory is 30 Questions.


All theory Questions are muti choice.


Amateur Radio Victoria website has resources for the Standard, Advanced and Regulations papers.
https://www.amateurradio.com.au/licence/standard
https://www.amateurradio.com.au/licence/advanced/trial-exam-1

https://www.amateurradio.com.au/licence/regulations


Note: if you are sitting the Standard or Advanced and never done a Practical, it is a further requirement.

(NB: No additional cost if taken with any theory exam. (Regulations, Standard or Advanced theory)


Radio and Electronics School YouTube videos for the Practical session are found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqhpTFijkeM. 

What callsign can I choose?

Because of recent changes, only one format of the callsign is available and it consists of the Letters VK representing Australia and a number 0-9 representing the state and then the unique suffix.


VK3__     (Advanced Licence only)

VK3___  (Foundation, Standard & Advanced Licences)


A list of available callsigns can be found on the AMC Website: https://csdb.utas.edu.au/Callsign/SearchUnallocated.


As an example, a sample search for any callsigns with V, E and A can be found on this link. 

(Note you need to select Advanced on the search due to the changes) 

https://csdb.utas.edu.au/Callsign/SearchUnallocated?filterCallsignTypeId=3&filterLetterTypeCode=Three&filterRegionId=9&filterCallsignCode=&filterCallsignSuffix_Text01=v&filterCallsignSuffix_Operator01=And&filterCallsignSuffix_Text02=e&filterCallsignSuffix_Operator02=And&filterCallsignSuffix_Text03=a


Become a member with a local club

JOIN your local radio club or the club running your exam session.

WIA affiliated clubs are listed here for your reference, see “Affiliated Clubs” tab. https://www.wia.org.au


Most clubs do not charge for the exam service and all the fees are for AMC and ACMA.

Join the WIA

JOIN the Wireless Institute of Australia, (WIA), The National Association for Amateur Radio in Australia.

You should also be aware that the WIA offers 12 months complimentary membership for new AOCP(x) holders if you receive an AOCP (Foundation, Standard or Advanced) and are not a member of the WIA you may be eligible for a complimentary 1 year WIA membership.


If you are already a WIA member (now, or when you receive your AOCP(x) qualification in the future), you may be eligible to receive a 1-year membership extension or a $100 discount off a 5-year membership.

If this is you, or someone you know all that is needed is a completed WIA membership form and a copy of the relevant AOCP qualification showing the date of qualification email to support@wia.org.au.


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