Intermediate Licence
Now that you have your amateur radio licence and have gained experience operating, it may be time for you to move on to an Intermediate Licence
The Intermediate Licence carries with it more privileges and also more responsibilities on you as a radio amateur.
The main advantage of stepping up to the Intermediate Licence is the increase in permitted operating power.
You will be able to go from the 10 Watts of the Foundation Licence, up to 50 Watts as an Intermediate Licence holder and gain access to the hi-tech frequencies in the microwave bands.
The course
It’s not necessary to take a course to sit the Intermediate exam, but we would strongly recommend doing so.
COVID-19 had restricted Intermediate courses that take place in local radio clubs, but they are now beginning to re-open.
There are online courses such as those available via GM6DX It’s all about DXing and The Online Amateur Radio Community (OARC).
Other clubs offer online training, so please check with your local club to find out what training and support they can offer, before and after the exam.
- GM6DX It’s all about DXing*
The Intermediate course consists of 83 lessons which include PDFs, videos and quizzes. All material is written in a way that is suitable for all age groups. The course contains eight mock exams where the questions are in a format that represents a realistic exam question.
As the course is online, material is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can self-enrol at any time. The platform which hosts the course is a professional online course platform called Thinkific. The course is 100 percent free and is tailored to suit the current syllabus. This course can be accessed at gm6dx.thinkific.com - Online Amateur Radio Community (OARC)*
The Online Amateur Radio Community Intermediate Training Course is an online fast-track course run over six to eight weeks. Candidates take part in weekly interactive Zoom sessions with our trainers and are set weekly quizzes and activities to follow on google classrooms. They are provided with weekly reading lists from the Intermediate Training Manual and offered a number of support videos from a wide variety of YouTubers to keep things fresh.
This is an intense course, so may not be suited for all. It is targeted at those who have recently passed their Foundation Licence or those who are confident in their current knowledge of the 2019 syllabus. For more information see the training page at oarc.uk/index.php/intermediate/
You can also use our Course and Exam Finder to find an Intermediate course near you.
The clubs and training organisations may or may not charge for their services, the RSGB recommends you check thoroughly before committing to sign up to a course.
Understandably, the Intermediate course is longer and more challenging than the Foundation.
It aims to teach many of the fundamentals of radio in a stimulating way, building on the experience you have gained as a Foundation Licence holder.
The exam
The exam consists of 46 multiple choice questions, each with four possible responses, which cover the remainder of the syllabus.
The examination lasts 90 minutes.
The exam may be taken online or on paper at an RSGB registered venue, or at home online with a remote invigilator.
You will be given your result immediately after you complete the online exam, together with detailed feedback regarding your performance.
For the Intermediate Licence exam there is a fee of £32.50 (from 1 April 2023 £36.00)
Don’t forget that you need to have passed the Foundation exam first!
What happens after the exam?
You will receive an official result notification in the post from the RSGB Examinations Department.
This takes around six working days from your exam date.
If you have passed, you will also receive a certificate and your candidate number.
The RSGB Examinations Department will upload your pass to the UK communications regulator Ofcom, which is responsible for issuing amateur radio licences.
You may then log on to the Ofcom licensing system to apply for your licence.
If you apply for your Intermediate licence on the Ofcom website, your licence is free of charge.
Visit the Ofcom amateur radio pages to find out more about applying for an amateur radio licence.
Ofcom will then issue your new, upgraded radio licence and you can get started immediately on the Intermediate frequency allocations at up to 50 watts power.
Now you are not only a licensed radio amateur, but you are one step closer to having the Full Licence — an internationally-recognised qualification that will enable you to travel and transmit legally almost anywhere in the world.
Finding help where you live
The RSGB is organised in regions and there are volunteer Regional and District Representatives across the UK. To find out who is your nearest representative take a look at our Regional Team information. They will be very happy to answer questions or give you advice on your next steps.
To find out more about the Intermediate licence, call the RSGB Examinations Department on 01234 832 700 and we will be pleased to answer your questions.
The RSGB wishes you the best of luck with your Intermediate studies.
* This information is supplied by the training provider—please check directly with them for full up-to-date information
