Training and Exams
Training and Examinations
Foundation courses, assessments, enrolment, and licence information.
Foundation Courses and Assessments
ARNSW conducts Foundation courses and licence assessments for all grades at our facilities at 63 Quarry Road, Dural.
Foundation courses are usually held over a single weekend. Training sessions run all day Saturday and Sunday morning, with examinations and practical assessments taking place on Sunday afternoon. Written exams for upgrades only are held on Saturday morning.
Upcoming course information
We publish upcoming Foundation course sessions and other education activities in the Upcoming Events calendar. Please check the calendar for the latest course dates and availability.
To register for a course, or for an upgrade exam, please contact our education team by emailing education@arnsw.org.au or by calling the office on 02 9444 0123 and leaving your contact details.
There is a $20.00 administrative fee payable when signing up for a course. Our education team will provide payment instructions when your registration is confirmed.
Please note our education team is entirely volunteer-run. Many of us also work full-time, so while we do our best to respond promptly, there may be a short delay.
Amateur Radio Information
For general information on becoming a radio amateur, see the WIA website. There is also specific information on the Foundation Licence.
You can obtain a current edition of the Foundation Licence Manual from ARNSW for $28 (pickup only). For mail orders, contact the WIA Bookshop at bookshop@wia.org.au or via the WIA Foundation Manual page.
Amateur Radio licences in Australia are issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Information on licence requirements, conditions, and regulations can be found on the Amateur Radio Licences page.
Amateur radio operators are expected to understand operating conventions, technical fundamentals, and regulatory requirements. More detail is available on ACMA: Amateur radio operating procedures. The US ARRL also has an Introduction to Ham Radio.
Video Introduction
Amateur Radio: A Hobby for the 21st Century, produced by the Radio Society of Great Britain, provides a good introduction to Amateur Radio.
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Amateur Radio - A hobby for the 21st Century (5min 52sec/440MB MP4)