As part of our quest to make it easier for new people to get into the hobby, we offer a free Foundation Online Amateur Radio Training Course. Please take a look at the following short video to find out more about our course:
Our Internet-based amateur radio training courses launched in 2015 and is designed to help newcomers to get started in the hobby. We’ve now helped over 1,900 people to get started in amateur radio.
Online Amateur Radio Training?
- Do you want to study at home? Distance-learning course could be for you
- Want to know what the exam is like? Have a dry run of a course before taking the plunge
- Already on a club’s course? Great – our online course can help with revision
- Need extra help? Struggling with a particular topic? Perhaps our videos or handouts can help
- Struggle to learn from a book? Our course is a little more interactive.
- Can’t find a local club to help? Our UK online courses run every month
- The course is also useful for you if you can’t make regular courses, want to study at your own pace, or have a limited budget. Our course is free.
Note: Those looking to get an amateur radio licence will need to complete the Foundation practicals with a registered assessor, and sit the Foundation multiple-choice exam at one of the many centres in the UK. Clubs and assessors around the UK can help with training courses, practicals and exams.
Fees: We don’t charge for our online training courses, but the RSGB charges an exam fee of £27.50, and most UK clubs charge a fee for facilitating practicals and exams.
The Foundation Online Course
Our online course is split into nine modules, each one with a full walkthrough of what you need to know for the syllabus, plus a short test at the end to make sure it’s all going in.
The online Foundation course is supplemented by downloadable material, comprehensive videos and training slides, and much of the content is based on our popular (and free) Foundation Training Slides, as used by several clubs across the UK.
We’re using an industry-standard Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver our amateur radio courses. Foundation Online has been designed by an RSGB Registered Trainer who has been involved with training for multiple amateur radio groups.
Want to join our course?
Apply for Foundation Online Please only complete this form if you are genuinely interested in studying online for Foundation and can commit to 2 hours a week of online study for 4 weeks. |
Got a question?
If you’ve got a question, check our Foundation Online Frequently-Asked-Questions section.
Hi, I’m Steph G4XKH and I’m a trainer/assessor at the Riviera club in Torquay. We love the idea you’ve come up with as we were thinking along similar lines ourseves as a way to bring training in to the 21st century. Could I get a look at your test area to see how you’ve done your material.
I’m hoping it would give our training team some ideas.
Best 73,
Steph Foster G4XKH
Hi Steph. You’re very welcome to take a look. I’ve mailed you the appropriate access details. Love to know what you think. Pete
I am local to you and would like to sit the Foundation as soon as possible. When do you next offer exam sittings, and do you require attendance on your course?
Hi Phil. We offer a free online revision course each month. You’re very welcome to join the next course – you can register at http://www.hamtrain.co.uk/ – for non-Internet exams and practicals in Essex, see https://www.essexham.co.uk/essex-training
Hi Steph,
I have just joined Essex and saw your email re: training.
I am in Newton abbot and wonder what you have available in this area.
I would be very grateful if you could contact me about your local club.
My email is [email protected].
Kind regards.
Steve (SWL2072)
Essex Ham is a virtual, Internet-based club – members are welcome from anywhere in the UK. We offer an Internet course for people looking to get their first amateur radio licence. If you’re interested, you can sign up using the form here: https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online#apply
Hi there, I’m Mike M0AZE one of the trainers for Sutton Coldfield Amataeur Radio. Our pace of people wishing to enrol for the Foundation exam with the nice issue of following on for the Intermediate. I must confess to using your slides and apologise for not letting you know, I hope this corrects that issue now. I did notice in today’s Radcom you have introduced a distance learning package and I’d be interested to see if that is an alternative we could utilise to those who cannot attend our club?
Congratulations on being proactive and promoting this great hobby
73
Mike
Hi Mike and thanks for getting in touch. Now worries re. the slides – great to hear that you’re finding them useful.
Happy to let you have a look at our demo area and see if the course could be handy for you and/or your students. Drop me a mail via https://www.essexham.co.uk/contact and we’ll set you up with access.
Hello I am christopher from Birmingham hoping to learn and pass my test
Great. You’re very welcome to sign up to our free course. We’ll help if we can! Pete
I Think this is a great idea as all my local clubs are having problems with the foundation training courses at the moment and it will really help my training kjust hope i can get some local help with the practical side now many thanks Graham.
Thanks Graham – You now have the details and dates, so just let us know which course you want to start on, and we’ll get the ball rolling!
I would be interested in seeing the material if possible as I am looking at ways to align training with the Sea Cadets to enable cadets to take the Foundation Exam if they wish to do so. Our radio training is very close to the RCF syllabus already.
Many thanks, wish this was around when I was doing my foundation licence!
Hi Stewart. Great – happy to let you have a look at our demo area and see if the course could be handy for you and/or your students, and as you say, the courses are broadly similar. Drop me a mail via https://www.essexham.co.uk/contact and we’ll set you up with access.
I’m new(ish) to the hobby and had given up on the idea of ever getting my foundation. I couldn’t do the course at my local club as I work away and they only run the course over a series of consecutive week nights and being away I cant attend. I was looking for somewhere that ran the course over a few days but this seems to be an ideal solution. Now just need to get through it and find somewhere to take the exam – Thanks a lot for this.
Hi Pete,
I’ve just finished the final module and the end-of-course mock with success. Thank you for letting me take this excellent Foundation Online Course 3.
I intend to continue studying the materials of this course and some books that I orded a few days ago, such as Foundation Licence – Now!, Intermediate Licence, Advanced – The Full Licence, and Amateur Radio Exam Secrets, all published by the RSGB that I’ll be receiving them soon.
Remember that I’m very interested in taking the Intermediate Course. Let me know, please.
Antonio Ubirajara
Hi im been on cc b radio for long time now like to get radioham now im disabled here in ddevon uk thankyou
Hi Barry,
Our course allows you to study the material online in your own home at a time to suit you. You will need to sit some practical exercises and take the exam, normally with the help of a local club.
If you want to join our online course, please fill in the details in our signup forum.
Otherwise, see https://thersgb.org/services/coursefinder/index.php for details of clubs and training courses in your area.
If you have any questions, please ask! Pete
hi my name is Helen and at the moment I am studying to take the exam but I am disabled with cerapalsy which mean’s my memory isn’t that good and I can easy forget certain stuff that I have learned. is there a way I can remember what I have learned ready for the exam which I’m hoping to take very shortly.
Hi Helen,
From our experience, everyone learns (and remembers) in different ways. There are a number ways that you can study for your Foundation, including:
1. Reading from the Foundation book
2. Attending a training session at a local club
3. Watching online videos (part of our course)
4. Studying the key points (as seen on our training slides)
5. Taking mock tests (part of our course, and also at hamtests.co.uk)
6. Working with a mentor one-to-one
I’m not sure which ones would work best for you – I learnt using a combination of three of the above. It may be a case of trying a few different ways and seeing what works best for you.
If you’re struggling with any particular aspect, let us know and we may be able to help with a way of remembering it (like the ohms law triangle, or some catchy ways of remembering the callsigns)
Pete
hi pete Helen here thankyou for your reply I do most of the way’s you have said which are
1 reading my foundation book
2 take mock test’s all the time
3 work with a mentor one on one
the only problem I have because of my condition not understanding the question they ask on a exam properly mainly ones that’s got to do with numbers or graphs.
Hi all
Would just like to say a big thanks to Pete M0PSX for running the online foundation course over the last couple of months. I passed my foundation exam on Oct 1st just after the course finished and I must say this course really did help, plus you had on-line materials to help you do a bit of re-visioning.
Will let you know my call sign when I have it..
Kev
Many thanks Kevin – Well done on the pass. Guessing you now have your call and have started enjoying the hobby!
My daughter Colette registered to take your course we have not heard anything yet?
Thanks
Nigel
Notes here show that we replied in September. We require parental approval for learners under 16. Resent the details to both you and Collette for review.
Hi, for my sins I am President of the Cornish Radio Amateur Club. We have recently held another Foundation trtaining course with an 80% success rate with just one failing to make the grade by one point!
Out chief trained is now in his 70’s and, to have a premises suitable for training costs us £50 a session at the weekend so not feasible to offer a refresher for one candidate prior to the re take.
I suggester to her that she should register with you but there sdeems to be some reluctance to do so, goodness knows why the more poractice the better.
anywy, would it be possible to have a look at the course (don’t want to register personally as I have been g4usb for 30 years plus)to allay fears? Our chief trainer has been working on a course for training via disc but I think you idea would be more 21st Century.
Many thanks – Norman G4USB President of Cornish Radio Amateur Club
Hi Norman. You’re very welcome to have a look round our test course to get a feeling for if it could work for you and your student(s). Email just about to be sent. Would love your feedback. Pete
Hello,
I applied for the online course yesterday but got no reply. Can you please let me know how to register for the online course and the time tables?
Cheers
Sorry… We’ve pretty busy with enquiries in the last couple of days, so couldn’t reply instantly. You now should have the details. Any questions, please get in touch.
Is there any recommendation for classrooms with lab based training course on HAM radio certification for mid and advanced levels. I will be delighted if you can send me full details.
Hi recently completed Essex Ham Course.
Would like to make a donation to Essex Ham in appreciation.
How do I do this please?
your system looks really useful (good) we are getting more people with disabilities turning up at our club (worksop ammature radio society) particularly with poor vision and some with dyslexia. I would appreciate a look at your training aids which might be useful with the teaching of this type of student particularly any videos which could be downloaded. I hope this is not too cheeky, regards Gary Brotherhood
I hold the call sign M3NDZ and looking to do an on line course for the intermediate licence, do you know of a club or college who might do an on line course or a tutor who is willing to help?
I live in Stratford upon Avon and not a member of a radio club.
73s
Andrew
HOW DO I GET ONLINE COURSE AS I HAVE FILLED IN FORM
Hi Samuel,
You filled in the form at 9:30pm and were sent an automatic email in reply with course details. Please have a read and let me know if you want to proceed. Pete
I have tried to enrol on this course twice and entered details and don’t get a email which been told about starting training . What can I do I want to start in September .
Thanks , matt read
Hi Matt,
From our records, you applied first in April, and declined our May and June courses. You asked to join our July course, but didn’t start the course. We had no response to three chases from us in July. You have now registered 4 times in August. As other candidates seem to be receiving emails and have signed up to recent courses, this would seem to point to a possible issue with your email account. You may want to check your spam folder / settings to make sure we’re not being filtered out somewhere.
Pete
Hi Pete
We met at MARTS field week in August. Are you planning to do Intermediate online at any time?
Cheers
Tracey
M5ATR
Hi Tracey,
We will look to introducing this once the new Intermediate syllabus has been released
Pete
Hi Pete,
Just completed your excellent Foundation modules and also looking to the Intermediate. Do you have an expectation as to when the syllabus will be released? I assume you will only know how long it will take to produce the training, once the syllabus is released, given the rumored widespread changes?
Keep up the outstanding work,
John
Hi John. See the following link for the latest on the syllabus review: https://www.essexham.co.uk/news/rsgb-syllabus-review-update-oct-2017.html
Pete
Hi Pete,
Just to say I finally found a club to complete my practical sessions with so I am all set to sit the exam (all booked) in December – right on the 6 month limit you set!
I really appreciated your course which made the theory so much easier to grasp.
Many Thanks
Ian
Essexham www site found: check
Hamtrain www site found: check
Online form for December Foundation Online Course filled in: check
Pete’s email replied to: check
To say I am excited is an understatement… 🙂
John
thank you , this site will be great for me i just know it , i a slow learner , and have failed my foundation lic only got 18 right out of 26 , i so wanting to get my ham lic , at the moment , feeling verry much a failure please can you help me . regards brendan bonar
Hi Brendan,
No problem – we’ll help if we can. It sounds like you were just one mark away, and I’m sure our course will help fill in any gaps for you. If there’s anything we can help with, just let us know.
Pete
Can you please record the classes from here and make it available online? So we can watch it online without registering for the course here?
I am a visitor in the UK and want to get the course completed asap and give the foundation exam in Jan.
Hi Ahmad,
Our next course starts in early January and includes videos for each module. If you’re not able to join the course, you are welcome to review our free slides here: https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-slides/
Pete
Hi I suffer from dyslexia and I don’t always find it easy to work in an environment where there are other people so I am interested in doing my foundation course with Foundation Online. I do have some knowlage of electronics as back in the 1980’s I worked as a television engineer for a number of years I have never been great on the theory side of things though as I do have learning problems so I think your idea is a really good one. Regards, Ian.
Thanks for the message Ian. Our courses are free and run at the start of each month. If you’d like to sign up,please go to the following address:
https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online#apply
Pete
Hi. What a great idea, I wish they would do the intermediate one the same,as I suffer from RA
Best Regards
Colin
Do you have an intermediate course?
Not at the moment. Pete
Hi Pete,
Excuse me for sending this, I am a fully licensed operator (GM0 EWW), and would like to find out what the Foundation course involves so that I can point someone who I know is interested in the right direction. Is it possible to get acquainted with the foundation course online. Also some mock examination papers. Thank you for your time. 73s
Hi John,
Sure – plenty of resources I can point you to:
For a high-level overview of what’s involved at Foundation, see following 6 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PzXtu_KIak
If you want to review the full syllabus in depth, it’s here: https://rsgb.org/main/clubs-training/for-trainers/syllabus-2019/
We have a full set of Powerpoint slides covering the syllabus here: https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-slides/
For mock papers, go here: https://rsgb.org/main/clubs-training/training-resources/mock-exams/
There’s a short video showing how our online course can help with study here: https://youtu.be/HSdTq17rPRQ
Does that help?
Pete
Hi Pete,
Many thanks for you getting back to me so quickly with such a choice of information – now I can advise my friend about the foundation course. He is really keen to get going and hope soon he will have his full licence.
Thanks again and I think the HAM TRAIN that you have set up is definitely on the track for a wonderful success story. Best 73s. GM0 EWW .
Hi Pete,
Just wanted to say a big thank you for the course which I took in December 2017. Last week I took my Foundation exam with the Sale Radio Club in Cheshire where I was told I had passed and am just waiting for confirmation.
The training material was first class along with the ability to measure your performance at each stage along the way with a quiz at the end of each module. I shall be recommending this course to any new members who join our club. Many thanks 73 Chris.
hi i am looking to do my foundaion licence from home, i have tryed to get my dmr id but it says i need a citifcat first any advise would be great also prices as well please
Hi Matthew,
We offer a free online training course which runs once a month. You will also need to do some practical exercises and take a multiple choice test – normally at a local amateur radio club. Yes, you do need an amateur radio licence to be able to transmit on DMR. Pete
Would love to have a peek at your material even though the regulations may differ between our countries. We conduct courses in spring and fall and I like the idea of providing year-round training. John VE7SAR
https://ve7sar.blogspot.ca
You’d be very welcome – it’s here: https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online-resources/
Pete
hi pete I wound like to join the course plese thank you
No problem. Please complete the registration form (if you haven’t already). You’ll be sent an email with course details, and when you’re ready, drop us an email to confirm which course you’d like to join.
Really useful course with professional content. Well done to Pete and the team.
Hi everyone on Ham Train, I am GM0 EWW and have been on radio now for nearly 30 years. I am with the Lomond Radio Club, and have spoken to one of the assessors who has said that with my full licence and experience that I could also become an assessor with the club. Is this correct and how do I go about doing so. Would I have to do a training course etc. Thank you for your feedback. 73s John.
HI,
I am Jeevendra from Sri Lanka and in the process forming a club for Amateur Radio and would like to propagating HAM radio for my membership. Is there a possibility where I could have a look at your system and see how we could implement it here in my club so that my members too would be able to learn it online. Look forward to hear from you.
Regards.
Sure. Drop us an email via the Contact Us page, and we’ll let you have access to our tuto’s demo area! Pete
Hi – Leigh M5GWH here in Staffordshire – looking at starting a course for both my students at school in our STEM club and also for the public on a Saturday morning. Currently going through the registration with the RSGB, etc and gathering all course materials together as I would have to firstly make it ‘child friendly’ then ‘adult friendly’ too. Would appreciate any help from yourselves as your video material looks great. 73!
Hi Leigh. Great. If there’s anything specific we can help with, or you’d like to have a look and see how things work in our online classroom, drop us an email via our Contact Us page, and we’ll help if we can. Good luck, Pete
Pete – thanks for the response – Paul Devlin from our Region 5 team has cc’ed you into some emails he and I have swapped – now working on things but I will no doubt be in touch soon too. Would definitely be interested in your online classroom etc too. Cheers! Leigh.
Hi Pete
Enquiring on behalf of my wife who is currently doing the foundation online course,
Do you know where and when there are any practical and exam sessions running that will work in with the current course so that she can get the exam in before the change in September?
Thanks
Dave
Hi David,
In Essex, there are opportunities in Danbury and on Canvey Island – See https://www.essexham.co.uk/essex-training
Hope that helps,
Pete
I am a registered assessor in Bedfordshire (foundation & intermediate) and would be happy to do practical assessments for anyone who needs them.
Please contact me if I can be of assistance.
73 DE Antonio M0SPV
Hi, Les – M0LPB
I am a Trainer/ Assessor with my radio club and after our head instructor, David Brooks going silent key at the start of the year, we are now building a training team to take us forward.
I am asking if it would be possible for me to use your new training presentations to teach in our club, please.
I also teach the ATC and the Sea Cadets in Radio Comms and would also find your presentation regards the Foundation Lic. very helpful to train the young cadet regards our hobby.
If possible could you allow me access to your new training presentations when possible?
I train free of charge to the Cadet forces and just a very small donation to the club when required.
Hi Les,
No problem – happy to help if we can – Please go to https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/amateur-radio-foundation-slides-2019/ where some slide sets are already available, and more will be added soon.
Regards,
Pete
Hi,
The amazon book by Alan Bettes you linked to is only available on Kindle (not paperback) and not available on amazon, yet. Can you recommend an alternative?
Regards, Sophie
Hi Sophie. Yes – all books are available from the RSGB Shop: https://rsgbshop.org/
Hi,
Do you know when the online training will start. i’m based in Sheffield and none of the clubs run training currently.
Regards
Lee
We don’t have a definite date yet, but hopefully in the next few months
We’re hoping to have our course running before the end of the year. You can register your interest, and we’ll contact you when we’re ready to start
A huge thank you to the Essex Ham online course 50 which are participated in last year!
Finally found a practical course with SADARS in Stevenage and sat my exam in August.
Passed with an almost perfect mark and then became M7DVB.
In my opinion the course was perfect for my training and we’ll delivered.
Well done on the pass John, and thanks for the kind words!
I have just completed the Foundation exams under the new syllabus through home study. The intermediate looks a bit more complex and I am really struggling to find an online course – doesn’t have to be free, happy to pay. Highlands of Scotland – so EVERYTHING is remote !!!
Hi Stuart. There’s definitely a need for an online Intermediate course – sorry, but we’re not able to offer one at this time.
Just signed up…looking forward to getting started and fingers crossed getting my license soon.
Cool. Looking forward to having you on board!
For those online and wanting an examination centre and practical assessment in the North Midlands (Staffordshire, Shropshire, etc) and South Cheshire – I’m an assessor for both Foundation and Intermediate and can also offer Foundation, Intermediate and Full examinations by arrangement. Contact [email protected] for details – happy to have my details passed on.
Many thanks Pete for all efforts in promoting this great hobby. Anyone from London area to help with practicals and run the exam?
I read that you can also take the exams online (I’m not good around people) but I can’t find anywhere online that tells me where online I can go to take these exams, can you help?
Yes, you can take a paper exam or an online exam, but the exams have to be taken at an approved exam centre, typically organised by a local amateur radio club.
Online courses but still having to go to a test centre I fear is the bottleneck that holds back the hobby. You would think that in this day and age there would be away around it.
The RSGB is looking at the idea of remote invigilation using webcams, but it’s still in the early stages. The licence is issued by Ofcom and they have to be assured that the exam is taken by the correct person and conducted properly. The practical assessments are quite basic and can potentially be done anywhere. The exam does have to be taken at a test centre, but it only takes an hour.
Unfortunately without this it makes it very difficult for people with anxiety to get in to the hobby 🙁
I’m determined though so I’ll probably spend a few moths learning all there is to learn, then take the course and then try and get the guts to make the appointment… which is interestingly enough what I said to myself when I had to go to a new dentist 2 years ago… which reminds me I still haven’t been lol
I do understand, but currently to get a licence, you have to satisfy Ofcom that you are competent and you have to attend an exam session in person. Things can be done though – such as one-to-one practicals, and small exam sessions – your local club may be able to help.
I have signed up with a club to take what I still call the A.R.E, which I did sit back in 1976 but failed, got the speed of light incorrect and a few others the main ting was it was all written back then.
My point is I have Dyslexia not bad and in the main I am able to over come this problem (spellchecker) but Morse code is a big no -no for me, It has been explained to me I can opt for a data test, not sure that will work for me due to under pressure it becomes a problem,
Hi David,
The Morse code is a very short appreciation. You do not need to learn it, and it can be done very slowly, letter-by-letter. For example, you may be asked to send the letter A – you look up “A” on the list and find it is a dot and a dash. You write that down, then press the Morse key to send a dot and a dash. If you’re concerned, ask your club tutor to demonstrate the process to help you decide, but it’s a very basic appreciation of how Morse works, and not much else.
I’d love to try this it seems perfect for me
Great – complete the application form and we can get you started