# Get a UK amateur radio licence (Foundation)

> Book the 26-question RSGB Foundation exam online, pass at 19/26, then claim a free lifetime licence and callsign from Ofcom — usually inside a month.

- **Section:** Licences & certifications · **Region:** UK · **Difficulty:** easy
- **Time:** 2–4 weeks of study · 60-minute exam · licence issued online within days
- **Cost:** £27.50 exam fee (RSGB) · £0 for the Ofcom licence
- **You end up with:** An Ofcom Foundation licence with an M7 callsign, 25 W on most bands
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-09-05 · **Canonical:** https://for.do/p/ham-radio-foundation-uk/

## Before you start

- An Ofcom online services account (free) to claim the licence after the pass
- A computer with a webcam for the remote-invigilated exam, or a club exam session

The Foundation licence is the first of three UK amateur licence levels and the fastest route onto the air anywhere in the world: an online exam you can take from home, a pass mark of 19 out of 26, and a licence from Ofcom that costs nothing and is issued within days.

## 1. Learn the Foundation syllabus

- [ ] Download the current RSGB Foundation syllabus and a training book (the RSGB "Foundation Licence Manual" or a club's free course).
- [ ] Most clubs run a Foundation course over a few evenings or one weekend; the online "Foundation Online" courses are the self-paced equivalent.
- [ ] Take several mock exams from a site that uses the current syllabus until you pass comfortably.

## 2. Book the exam

- [ ] Book through the RSGB exam booking system: remote invigilation from home (webcam, quiet room) or a club-run session.
- [ ] Pay the exam fee (£27.50 online at the time of review; clubs may add a small charge for in-person sessions).
- [ ] Have photo ID ready for the invigilator.

## 3. Sit the paper

- [ ] 26 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, pass mark 19 (73%).
- [ ] Read each stem twice; the wrong answers are written to look right at a glance.
- [ ] Results are typically confirmed by email shortly after the session, and the pass is registered with Ofcom by the RSGB.

## 4. Claim your licence from Ofcom

- [ ] Log in to the Ofcom online licensing portal (create an account if needed).
- [ ] Apply for an amateur radio Foundation licence, quoting your exam pass details.
- [ ] Choose or accept your callsign (Foundation callsigns are in the M7 series) and download the licence PDF. There is no fee.

## 5. Stay licensed

- [ ] Put a reminder in your calendar to revalidate the licence on Ofcom's portal at least every five years; it is free, but a lapsed licence can be revoked.
- [ ] Record your station details as the licence requires, and keep the Ofcom licence terms at hand when you set up.

## Where people get this wrong

- Confusing the exam fee with a licence fee. The RSGB charges for the exam; the Ofcom licence itself is free of charge when applied for online.
- Letting the licence lapse. Ofcom requires you to revalidate your licence at least every five years (a free online confirmation); a licence not revalidated can be revoked.
- Studying pre-2024 material without checking the changes. Ofcom's 2024 licence review changed power limits and permitted activities for all three levels; use a current Foundation syllabus.

## Questions

**Is there a practical assessment?**  
The practical assessments were removed; the Foundation exam is now the written multiple-choice paper alone.

**How much power can a Foundation licensee run?**  
Since the 2024 changes, Foundation licensees may use up to 25 W on most amateur bands. Check the current licence schedule for the exact per-band limits.

**What comes after Foundation?**  
Intermediate, then Full. Each is a separate exam with more theory and more privileges; there is no waiting period between them.

## Tools used

- [RSGB exam booking](https://find.do/t/rsgb-exams/) — Book the UK Foundation, Intermediate and Full amateur exams, online or at a club.
- [Ofcom online licensing](https://find.do/t/ofcom-licensing/) (official) — Claim and revalidate a free UK amateur radio licence.

## Sources

- [RSGB — Foundation licence](https://rsgb.org/main/clubs-training/for-students/foundation/)
- [RSGB — Becoming a radio amateur (FAQ)](https://rsgb.org/main/faq-2/becoming-a-radio-amateur-faq/)
- [RSGB — UK amateur licensing (Ofcom)](https://rsgb.org/main/operating/licensing-novs-visitors/uk-licensing/)