The final preparations for your SRC exam

Prerequisites for the SRC Exam

To take the RYA/MCA UK SRC exam, you must meet the following criteria:

• Age: You must be at least 16 years old on the exam day.
• Course Completion: You must have completed either the RYA SRC online course or the RYA SRC classroom course before the exam.
  
  

Application and Payment for the SRC Radio License

Please note that the fee for the online course does not include the exam fee. You can pay the exam fee in two ways:

1. Directly to the RYA: £76
2. payment to C-MASTERS: €110

Ensure your payment is made before the exam.

How to Pay

• If paying to the RYA:
• Log in to RYA Exams.
• After payment, you'll receive an Exam Application Form via email. Bring this form to the exam.
• Upon passing, the examiner will submit the form to the RYA, and you will receive your SRC certificate by mail.
• If paying to C-MASTERS:
• Fill out the booking form and transfer the amount. We'll handle the process for you.

What to Bring to the Exam

Make sure to bring the following items:

• A recent photo (for the certificate)
• Your SRC online knowledge check certificate
• Your ID
• Your SRC Exam Application Form (if you paid the RYA directly)

You may also bring your course book or notes to use while practicing with the radios before the exam starts.

Certificate Processing

After the exam, we'll send your results to the RYA for processing. Typically, this process (including postal times) takes about 6 weeks. In busy seasons (like spring), it may take longer.

RYA offers a Fast Track service to expedite this process. More details and the cost are available on the RYA website. If interested, please book this service before your exam to ensure timely results.

SRC VHF Marine Radio Examination Program

The exam will be conducted in English. You'll receive details about the date and time from our Customer Service.

Program Outline

The exam program includes:

• Introduction and administration
• Familiarization and practice with our training VHF radios (manuals available)
• Theory assessment
• Practical assessment
• Debriefing

The total duration is approximately 2 hours.

Theory assessment
The theory assessment consists of a written paper and will be closed book with a time limit of 30 minutes. Please study the VHF handbook in addition to the classroom workshop or online SRC course.

Practical assessment

Revisiting practice scenarios from your training will help you prepare, especially if your knowledge check score was below 80%. The practical test will last about 45 minutes.

Assessment Elements

The assessments consist of various elements with required knowledge depth indicated as follows:

• A: Good knowledge; no errors
• B: Working knowledge
• C: Understanding of the procedure/outline knowledge

Key Assessment Elements

Distress Situations

1. Identify a distress situation.
2. Initiate a DSC distress alert, with position and time input manually or automatically.
3. Send a distress call and message by voice.
4. Respond appropriately to a DSC distress alert, call and message, including relay of a
   distress message.
5. Know how to deploy an EPIRB and a SART.
6. Know the procedure for cancellation of a DSC distress alert sent in error.

Urgency Situations

1. Identify an urgency situation.
2. Initiate a DSC urgency announcement.
3. Send an urgency message by voice.
4. Respond to an urgency message.

Safety Situations

1. Identify a situation for a safety message.
2. Initiate a DSC safety announcement.
3. Send a safety message by voice on an appropriate channel.
4. Receive Maritime Safety Information via NAVTEX.

Routine Communication

1. Initiate a routine call using DSC, selecting an appropriate working channel.
2. Establish communication with stations by voice using appropriate channels and power level.
3. Test the radiotelephone by means of an appropriate test call..
4. Enter a DSC group or individual MMSI number.
5. Maintain a listening watch on DSC and voice channels.
6. Use the International Phonetic Alphabet and prowords.

Debriefing

After the assessments, we will discuss your results. While the pass rate is high, small mistakes can occur. If you do not meet the standard on minor elements, a partial retry may be offered on the same day or within 28 days. This is at the examiner's discretion.