Thinking about getting your ham licence, or already have your Basic and wondering what comes next? In Canada, what you can do on the air depends on the qualifications on your Amateur Radio Operator Certificate. Here’s how they stack up, from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s circular RIC-3, Information on the Amateur Radio Service.
Basic: 70% or better
The Basic exam has 100 questions, and the pass mark is 70%. Basic gives you all the amateur bands above 30 MHz, at up to 250 watts DC transmitter input power. That includes 6 metres, 2 metres and 70 centimetres, so local repeaters, simplex and VHF and UHF nets are all open to you.
With Basic you can assemble commercially available transmitter kits of professional design, but not build your own transmitters from scratch.
Basic with Honours: 80% or better
Score 80% or higher on that same Basic exam and you also get the amateur bands below 30 MHz. Those are the HF bands, where coast-to-coast and overseas contacts happen. The Basic power limit still applies.
Morse code
The Morse code qualification, sent and received at 5 words per minute, added to your Basic also gives you access to all amateur bands, HF included.
Advanced
The Advanced exam has 50 questions, with a 70% pass mark. On top of Basic it adds a maximum of 1000 watts DC input, the right to build and operate your own transmitting equipment, setting up repeaters and club stations, and remote control of fixed stations, including over radio links.
How the exams work
Most exams are given by ISED-accredited examiners across Canada. There’s no age or nationality restriction, but you’ll need photo ID. The exams are closed book with no time limit, and if you don’t pass, you can try again, with a different exam each time.
The best way in is study, not memorizing answers: the questions make a lot more sense once you know why the rules and the physics work the way they do. A local club is often the easiest way to find a course or an examiner. Our training page is a good place to start, and when you’re ready to buy gear, see choosing your first radio.