About Australian Amateur Licensing
Background
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the regulator administering spectrum use through the Radiocommunications Act 1992. Link
The Amateur Service primarily facilitates the hobby radio communications, is for technical experimentation and operates on specified frequency bands. Various transmission methods are used for voice, Morse code, picture, text and data.
By international treaty obligations for the Amateur Service, the ACMA licence is to:
Operated for the purposes of self-training and technical investigation using radio by qualified people who do so solely with a personal aim, without pecuniary interest, on Amateur Service frequencies or bands, and may participate in the Amateur-Satellite Service.
In February 2024, the ACMA removed the need for individual licences and replaced these with one common Class Licence. To operate under the conditions of the common Class Licence a person must be technically qualified.
There are three levels of qualification:
 Foundation qualification (base level entry)
Standard qualification
Advanced qualification
For each qualification level a person holds, the Class Licence determines the technical and operating conditions, such as bands of operation, transmitter power levels and modes of operation. The common Class License also requires a person to undertake a safety assessment for Electro-Magnetic Energy (EME).
With the introduction of the common Class Licence there are no annual licence fees.
Amateur Beacon and Repeater Stations
These stations will remain under the previous arrangements, that requires individual licences.
Repeater Station (only Advanced Qualification holders, and Standard qualification holders within the conditions of the common Class Licence)
Beacon Station (only Advanced qualification holders, and Standard qualification holders within the conditions of the common Class Licence)
These licences are subject to the Licence Conditions (Amateur Beacon and Repeater Licence) Determination (LCD) and Licence fees are applicable.
NOTE:
The ACMA proposes to no longer undertake frequency assignments for amateur beacons and repeaters. In place, applicants will need to contact a ACMA Accredited Person (AP) to undertake the necessary frequency selection and EMC compatibility assessments at a location(s) and upload the documentation for the issue of a licence(s). AP's may charge fees for this service.
Assessments, Certificates of Proficiency & Callsigns
With the introduction of the common Class Licence, the ACMA has brought the assessment process under their control. The ACMA now appoints assessors to undertake examinations at all qualification levels and issue certificates of attainment.
The ACMA also administers the issue of amateur station callsigns. See the ACMA website for further information on how to apply for a callsign and the fees involved.
Every five years the ACMA will contact callsign holders to confirm ongoing use of the respective callsign(s).
Further information is available on the ACMA's website.
Page Last Updated: Wednesday, 27 Mar 2024 at 16:16 hours by Peter Young
|
