VHF SRC Certificate — Online Marine Radio Course

What is the VHF SRC Certificate?

The Short Range Certificate (SRC) is the internationally-recognised radio operator certificate for marine VHF radios fitted with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) — required on most pleasure craft and small commercial vessels operating within VHF coverage of a coast station. The certificate confirms that the holder has been trained to operate a marine VHF/DSC radio safely and to follow the correct distress, urgency and routine procedures laid down by the ITU Radio Regulations and CEPT/ERC/REC 31-04.

Without an SRC, you cannot legally hold an MMSI or Ship Radio Licence in most flag states, and you cannot operate a VHF/DSC radio at sea other than for distress. 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?

• 100% online — no in-person attendance, study from anywhere with a browser. Suitable for skippers who cannot reach a classroom centre.
• 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. Build the procedure as muscle memory before the exam.
• Internationally aligned standards — course content follows CEPT/ERC/REC 31-04 and ITU Radio Regulations. Accepted by many charter companies and maritime authorities; if yours doesn't accept it, our 14-day acceptance guarantee covers a full refund.
• Online theory exam — sit the exam at your own pace; you can re-attempt until you pass.
• Digital certificate issued same day — receive your SRC certificate as a downloadable PDF immediately after passing. Optional durable PVC card (€75) delivered worldwide via DHL Express.
• Trained by a maritime training provider since 2008 — input from Latvian maritime authorities; thousands of issued certificates.

SkipperCheck SRC vs RYA SRC — what's the difference?

Both certificates teach the same international standards (CEPT/ERC/REC 31-04 and ITU Radio Regulations). They differ in who issues them and how you take the exam:

• SkipperCheck SRC — issued by NAUTICA SIA (private maritime training centre, Latvia, since 2008). Course, exam and identity verification are 100% online. No travel to an exam centre, no classroom day. Practical assessment is done on our 15-scenario VHF/DSC simulator from your browser.
• RYA SRC — issued by the Royal Yachting Association (UK). Online theory followed by an in-person practical exam at an RYA-approved training centre (typically a half-day classroom session).

Which should you choose? If your specific requirement is an RYA-issued certificate, take the RYA SRC. If a CEPT/ITU-aligned operator certificate meets your requirement, the SkipperCheck SRC is the faster, fully-remote option — and our 14-day acceptance guarantee means you can buy with confidence: a full refund applies if your charter company or authority will not accept the certificate.

Online Marine VHF Radio Course – SRC

Learn how to operate a marine VHF radio in real situations — from routine marina communication to MAYDAY distress calls. This course is designed to build practical skills and confidence you can use at sea.

The greatest value of our course is its highly modern VHF simulator, which allows you to gain real, hands-on understanding of radio procedures and to practice with an almost authentic Marine VHF radio.

The training approach and safety focus of this course reflect recommendations from maritime authorities involved in safety and radio communication oversight.

The main focus is on the knowledge that the course provides or refreshes. However, we know that our certificates are often accepted for boat registration and chartering in many countries.

• Handle real VHF communication — marinas, vessels, and coast stations
• Perform distress (MAYDAY), urgency (PAN-PAN), and safety calls correctly
• Master the operating principles of DSC, EPIRB, SART, and NAVTEX.
• Understand standard marine radio procedures used worldwide

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, the national electronic communications authority and an ITU member.
• 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 accepted by many charter companies and maritime authorities. 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.