Maritime VHF examination (SRC)

Short Range Certificate (SRC) Examination (Maritime VHF)

The Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) organises all examinations.

Examination sessions

The examination takes 2 ½ to 3 hours and contains:

• a pre-lecture of key issues given by the examiner with an opportunity to discuss the subject, ask questions and receive answers
• a written exam, duration 1 hour 15 minutes
• an outline of correct answers, duration 10 to 15 minutes.

For the examination you will need:

• a ball pen
• a clean photograph (passport size), less than one year old, without any stamps or other markings
• an identification document (passport, driving licence etc.).

Learning material (available only in Finnish and Swedish)

FICORA publication "Rannikkolaivurin VHF-radioliikenneopas 2010" (Handbook of VHF Radio Communication for Coastal Navigators) serves as a self-study guide. It can be ordered from FICORA, tel. +358 9 6966 230 (from 9:00 to 15:00 hours).

In the examination emphasis will be laid on

• distress, urgency and safety communications
• use of VHF channels.

Supplementary material provided by the examiner is available for guidance during the examination. The supplementary material contains the following extracts from the "2010 Handbook of VHF Radio Communication for Coastal Navigators":

• appendixes 1 and 2
• part of the glossary in appendix 4
• the map of the distress radio network
• the map of the safety radio network

Commercial courses and education

Lifeboat institutions, boating associations and adult education centres may offer commercial courses for Short Range Communication examinations.

Examination and certificate fees

• the examination fee is €45.40 for every attended examination session
• the certificate fee is €43.75