The first step in amateur radio is to gain your Foundation Licence. While there are many routes to studying for and gaining your licence, at Darenth Valley we believe that studying to pass the exam is counter-productive.

Our Foundation Licence course is built around the philosophy of teaching and learning about all aspects of amateur radio - not just to pass an exam - but to support individual members and the wider amateur radio community.

What do I learn on the Foundation Licence Course?

You will learn about all areas of amateur radio and have the opportunity to join in with practical sessions to gain confidence in operating as well as learning the theoretical parts of the subject. The Foundation Licence covers:

• Introduction to Amateur Radio
• Technical Basics
• Transmitters and Receivers
• Feeders and Antennas
• Propagation
• Licence Conditions
• Operating Practices and Procedures
• Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
• Safety Considerations
• Licence Schedule
• Practical Application and Assessments
• Exam Practice

The Exam

The Foundation exam is very straightforward and consists of 26 multiple choice questions which you have 60 minutes to answer.

The examination may be taken online or on paper. Candidates sitting examinations online will be advised of their result immediately after completing the exam together with detailed feedback regarding their performance.

Owing to the COVID-19 situation, the only way to sit an exams at this time is by remote invigilation.  This means taking your exam in your own home, online with an RSGB invigilator present via remote access.  The document below has full instructions on what you need and how this works

RSGB remotely invigilated online exams: Candidate instructions

Your paper exam paper is marked by the invigilator straight after the exam so you also have an indication of whether you passed or not. The formal marking is carried out electronically at the RSGB Examinations Department.

For the Foundation licence course exam there is a fee of £27.50.

How much does it cost?

At Darenth Valley Radio Society we don't charge for any training. The only cost is your annual membership of the club. Membership gives you access to all of our club training and practical sessions.

In our experience, people who join a local amateur radio club get more out of the hobby, try more ways of operating and get more enjoyment. The club is setup to support you as a member from the first time you operate a radio all the way to gaining your full licence.

You can apply for membership of the club here.

Benefits of membership

• No training fees - we don't charge for training towards your first (or next) licence.
• We don't set deadlines on learning - our club ethos is that we are all learning continuously. It makes no sense to set a deadline on learning.
• Continuous training and education - We run online and meeting based theory and practical sessions on all aspects of amateur radio.
• Practical training - We believe that learning the theory of amateur radio is important, however it is essential to support and develop practical training and activities for theory to be understood and applied.
• Ongoing Support - Gaining your licence is only the start of learning and developing. The club is here to support it's members in furthering their knowledge and experience beyond just achieving a licence.
• Regular club activities - We are active in competitions, field days and in ongoing projects and activities.

I'd like to know more

If you'd like to know more about the club and our training then please feel free to contact us

A member of the training team will get back to you and be happy to answer any questions you may have about the foundation licence course, exam or amateur radio in general.