We wish to retain the possibility for Foundation candidates to receive practical on-air training, under supervision, to illustrate the operating and licensing parts of the syllabus, although there is now no necessity to formally assess this.

Before any Foundation student is allowed to operate a station under supervision, in accordance with Licence clause 3(3)(a), they must be registered on a recognised Foundation Licence Training Course, with a planned exam date.

Licence clause 17 (dd) defines what a recognised Foundation course is i.e.

“Recognised Foundation Training Course” means a training course which, if successfully completed, will lead to the person attending the course being issued with a Radio Amateurs’ Examination Pass Certificate which confirms that that person has achieved the level of competence required by Ofcom to be issued with a Foundation Licence;”

Ofcom’s “Amateur Radio Licence – guidance” document in clause 2.50 further states:

“If the Licence is an Amateur Radio (Full) or a Full (Club) Licence, a person on a Recognised Foundation Training Course as defined in clause 17(dd) of the licence, may use the station. This relates to the period of formal instruction. It is not intended to cover a licensee who decides to allow an unqualified person to use the station at any other time that they may choose.”

It will be the responsibility each licensee (club or individual) to satisfy themselves that the supervised operation complies with the terms and conditions of the licence. Examples of how they might do this are to see evidence of a confirmed exam booking or evidence (e.g. an email from the course organiser) that the candidate is registered on a recognised training course as defined above.

Tony Kent, G8PBH
Chair, Examination Standards Committee