Licensing and Certification in Two Way Radio Communications

                                      

        Here at Talking Radio we are often asked by our Clients what are the different career roles that one can pursue once they have completed their radio course in a related profession? To clarify this, we first need to understand the difference between a radio license and a radio certification.

A radio license typically refers to the legal permission granted by a government Authority for the User to operate a radio transmitter within certain frequency bands and defined geographical areas. A radio certification on the other hand usually pertains to the User demonstrating proficiency or competency in operating specific types of radio equipment or systems.

Radio License: A formal license that shall only be issued by the Government or Regulatory Body for that State that typically involves the demonstration by the User of radio regulations, passing both theoretical and practical assessments and fulfilling other criteria as set by the Authority.

Radio Certification: A proficiency of competency that may be issued by industry associations, educational institutions or professional organisations. The focus in this instance includes the User`s practical skills, technical knowledge and adherence to Standard Operating Procedures.

In summary, radio licensing focuses on the legal authorization by the user to operate a radio, while radio certification focuses on the user demonstrating proficiency in using specific radio equipment or systems.  Normally the issuing of a radio license means that the User is not issued with an expiry date for the issuing thereof, while the issuing of a radio certification means that the User has to ensure that their radio certificate is renewed in advance of the expiration date issued with it (normally 2 years from date of certification issue). 

So why are some two-way radio operator recognitions issued as a License, while others are issued as a certification? Well, this depends on the Regulatory framework and the specific requirements as set by the appropriate governing authority. In the research undertaken by Talking Radio to identify the answer to this question, the factor that is most prominent is `Complexity of Operations`. Due to intricate procedures and safety protocols associated with this topic, formalization by the Authority helps to ensure that Operators are adequately trained and qualified to manage the responsibilities’ associated with these radio systems.

Make sure you get clarity on the particular Radio course that you will be attending in advance to identify with which of these two routes you will be complying with. Check out our upcoming courses on the Talking Radio Events Calendar - https://talkingradio.net/pages/events