The RYA Marine VHF Radio one day course is for anyone who operates a fixed or hand-held marine VHF radio. A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures.
Course Overview
The Short Range Certificate is the qualification required by law if you operate a VHF radio fitted with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) on any British vessel voluntarily fitted with a radio. The course will be taught using training radios (not simulators) and will be examined by a short written test and practical assessment.
All new VHF sets are either fitted, or can be interfaced, with DSC allowing calls to specific vessels. If you hold the ‘old’ VHF licence (pre 1999) you need to upgrade your qualification if you purchase new equipment. This can be done by attending this one-day course or, if no tuition is required, you can enter for direct examination.
Course Topics
- The basics of radio operation
- The correct frequencies (channels) to be used
- Distress, emergency and medical assistance procedures
- Making ship to shore telephone calls
- Digital Selective Calling (DSC) using simulators
- Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems (GMDSS)
- Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
- Search and Rescue Transponder (SART)
Syllabus
Please also have a look at the RYA VHF Marine Radio (SRC) Syllabus page.
Duration
1 day – (09.30 – 17.30) plus 3 hours of pre course reading which will be emailed to you, prior to the course commencing.
Dates
- 7th February 2026
- 28th February 2026
- 25th April 2026
- 20th June 2026
- 25th July 2026
- 29th August 2026
- 5th September 2026
- 3rd October 2026
- 28th November 2026
Please contact me if these dates do not suit, we may be able to arrange a more convenient date.
Included
- Lunch
- Tea & Coffee
- RYA VHF Radio Handbook
Not included
- Accommodation
- Certification fee set by the RYA (£76)
Price
190€
Bookings & Info
For more information & bookings please contact Stephanie: stephanie@endeavour-sailing.co.uk
Pre course preparations
Anyone can take the SRC Pre-course Knowledge check before their SRC radio course, just to make sure they’re ready for the course, we will also email you some pre-course reading which is essential for you to learn and memorise before the course.
Take the pre-course knowledge check here.
Phonetic Alphabet
A sample of the pre-course reading – you should know the phonetic alphabet prior to attending the course.
| A = Alpha | J = Juliet | S = Sierra |
| B = Bravo | K = Kilo | T = Tango |
| C = Charlie | L = Lima | U = Uniform |
| D = Delta | M = Mike | V = Victor |
| E = Echo | N = November | W = Whiskey |
| F = Foxtrot | O= Oscar | X = X ray |
| G = Golf | P = Papa | Y = Yankee |
| H = Hotel | Q = Quebec | Z = Zulu |
| I = India | R = Romeo |
You can download the phonetic alphabet here.
Recommended books
We recommend the following book/s to prepare yourself prior to attending the course. If you click on the link it will take you directly to the page on the RYA website for you to order directly from them and they will have it/them despatched immediately to you.
