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VHF SRC Certificate — Online Marine Radio Course
Your Short Range Certificate (SRC) for marine VHF radio — 100% online, aligned with CEPT/ERC/REC 31-04 and ITU Radio Regulations.
€199.00
≈ $227 USD · £169 GBP · CHF 184
No physical attendance required
Next-day digital certificate
14-day money-back guarantee
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rated by verified students on Trustpilot
Maritime training provider since 2008 — trusted by boaters worldwide.
SRC
Short Range Certificate
100%
Online
6h
Average Completion
CEPT
ITU Aligned
2008
Training Since
What is the VHF SRC Certificate?
The SkipperCheck Short Range Certificate (SRC) is our certificate for skippers of pleasure craft who train to operate a marine VHF radio fitted with Digital Selective Calling (DSC). It confirms that the holder has completed the SkipperCheck SRC course — trained to operate the radio safely and to follow the correct distress, urgency and routine procedures set out in the ITU Radio Regulations and CEPT/ERC/REC 31-04.
An operator's certificate such as the SRC is commonly expected before using a VHF/DSC radio at sea. It is also commonly required when applying for an MMSI or Ship Radio Licence, and many yacht charter companies — particularly in the Mediterranean and Caribbean — require at least one crew member to hold a valid SRC before releasing the boat.
Why the SkipperCheck VHF SRC certificate?
- Real VHF/DSC simulator — practise voice MAYDAY, DSC distress alerts, Mayday Relay, Pan-Pan, routine traffic and DSC routine calls on a realistic on-screen radio. One of the very few of its kind online anywhere — build the procedure as muscle memory before the exam.
- 100% online — no in-person attendance, study from anywhere with a browser. Suitable for skippers who cannot reach a classroom centre.
- Internationally aligned standards — course content follows CEPT/ERC/REC 31-04 and ITU Radio Regulations.
- Online theory exam — sit the exam at your own pace; you can re-attempt until you pass.
- Digital certificate often issued same day — receive your SRC certificate as a downloadable PDF after passing. Optional durable PVC card (€75) delivered worldwide via DHL Express.
- Trained by a maritime training provider since 2008 — built in cooperation with maritime authorities; students from over 60 countries worldwide have trained with us.
From routine marina calls to MAYDAY distress procedures — this online VHF SRC course covers DSC, GMDSS, EPIRB, SART and NAVTEX, with hands-on practice on our VHF/DSC simulator until each procedure feels natural at sea.
How the Online SRC Course Works
- Sign up — get instant access to the online VHF course materials
- Study at your own pace — structured learning materials with supporting video content on general safety at sea
- Practice the quiz until you get 25 correct answers in a row.
- Complete practical exercises — on a modern VHF DSC simulator
- Get support from a tutor — ask questions and receive guidance throughout the course
- ID Verification and VHF Knowledge Review — A short video call may be necessary to verify your identity and ensure you have understood the course content.
- Receive your SRC certificate — issued after successful completion of the course and available for immediate download
- Optional printed certificate — order a PVC card shipped worldwide via DHL Express
Course content and the online quiz are in English. Browser translation tools may assist non-native speakers. The video call requires basic English communication skills.
Video checks are often available the same day; availability may be more limited during peak periods.
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Charter Ready Pack — free bonus included
Enrolment also unlocks the Skipper Refresher (€99.99 value) — COLREG & AIS Bridge Simulator, rules of the road, seamanship. Automatic, no extra steps.
Enrolment also unlocks the Skipper Refresher (€99.99 value) — COLREG & AIS Bridge Simulator, rules of the road, seamanship. Automatic, no extra steps.
4.5 out of 5
Based on 16 reviews on
Trustpilot
“Read 100 pages, take a 20-minute quiz and get certified while learning.”
“Perfect. Professional.”
“Great online learning tool for the VHF/SRC licence with friendly support.”
“The course was wonderful. A real internationally accepted licence with fast service.”
“Great course, good communication, quick certificate delivery.”
VHF SRC Certificate Samples (Digital & PVC Card)
A digital SRC certificate is included upon completion. An optional PVC card (€75) is available — durable, credit card–sized, with DHL Express delivery to most countries worldwide.
Digital SRC Certificate
SRC Certificate – PVC Card
Recognition & Compliance (VHF SRC Certification)
The SkipperCheck VHF course was developed in official cooperation with national maritime authorities. Aligned with international radio standards, it is built around the real needs of pleasure-craft skippers — chartering, vessel registration, and genuine on-the-radio confidence at sea.
- The course is provided by NAUTICA SIA, in official cooperation with the Electronic Communications Office of Latvia — Latvia's national radio communications authority; Latvia is an ITU member and CEPT member country.
- This VHF SRC course follows European CEPT/ERC/REC 31-04 recommendations and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standards for non-commercial pleasure craft radio operators.
- The course content has been reviewed with input from the Seafarers' Register of the Latvian Maritime Administration, and relevant recommendations have been incorporated.
- The course is recommended by the Latvian Coast Guard and MRCC Riga as a training resource supporting safety awareness and the correct use of marine VHF communication.
- The SkipperCheck Short Range Certificate is widely accepted by charter companies in most popular sailing destinations. Issued by NAUTICA SIA, a private training centre for pleasure craft operators, it confirms completion of the SkipperCheck SRC course — aligned with CEPT/ERC/REC 31-04 recommendations and ITU radio standards. As with any yacht document, acceptance can depend on flag state and local rules — so you can share the sample certificates above with your charter company or local authority for advance confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SkipperCheck VHF certificate accepted internationally?
Yes — accepted by many charter companies and maritime authorities worldwide. The course and certificate are aligned with the international CEPT/ERC/REC 31-04 and ITU Radio Regulations standards. We back this with a 14-day money-back guarantee: if your charter company or flag-state authority confirms in writing that they will not accept the certificate, we refund you in full — even after course completion. Sample certificates are also available on this page if you prefer to confirm with your authority in advance.
Do I really complete the whole VHF certification online?
Yes. Theory lessons, practice, exam and certificate issuance are all handled online. A short ID and practical VHF radio check may be required before issuing the SRC radio operator certificate.
How long does the VHF SRC course take?
Most students complete the online VHF course in 4 to 8 hours, at their own pace. There is no time pressure — you can study in short sessions and take the exam when you are ready.
Do I need the SRC certificate to charter a yacht?
Most charter companies require the skipper (or at least one person on board) to hold a valid VHF radio operator certificate such as the SRC. It is also commonly required when applying for an MMSI number or a Ship Radio Licence.
How much does the online VHF course cost?
The SkipperCheck online VHF course including the SRC certificate costs 199 EUR. There are no hidden fees.
Can I get a VHF radio licence online?
Yes. The marine VHF operator qualification — formally the Short Range Certificate (SRC) — can be studied and examined entirely online with SkipperCheck. You work through the theory lessons, practise on the built-in VHF/DSC simulator and take the exam at your own pace; a short ID and practical radio check may be required before your certificate is issued. Note that this operator qualification is separate from the Ship Radio Licence, which licenses the radio equipment on a specific vessel and is issued by your national authority.
Is a VHF licence the same as the SRC certificate?
People often say “VHF licence” to mean two different things. The Short Range Certificate (SRC) is the operator qualification — it certifies that you are trained to use marine VHF/DSC radio, and it is what SkipperCheck issues. The Ship Radio Licence (or Ship Station Licence) is a separate document that licenses the radio set on a particular boat, issued by your country’s telecoms or maritime authority together with an MMSI. You typically need both: the SRC for yourself and the Ship Radio Licence for the vessel.
Enrol today
Enroll Now
VHF SRC course
Complete SRC training online — learning, assessment, and certification.
€199.00
≈ $227 USD · £169 GBP · CHF 184
Instant access on payment. 14-day money-back guarantee — full refund within 14 days of purchase if you haven't yet started the exam or simulator, or if your charter company or flag-state authority confirms in writing they will not accept the certificate (sample or actual) — even if you've already completed the course and received your certificate. Just message us via the contact form with the relevant evidence.
Our goal is to give pleasure-craft skippers real competence on the radio — not just a certificate. Rehearse authentic distress, urgency and routine procedures on the built-in VHF/DSC simulator until they feel natural, long before you ever press transmit at sea.
Ready to use marine VHF radio safely and with full confidence?
Come and join the SkipperCheck SRC course!
Enrol Now — €199.00≈ $227 USD · £169 GBP · CHF 184
Lifetime access · No recurring fees · Trusted by boaters since 2008
