General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG)

A PG is required to adjust, maintain, or internally repair FCC licensed radiotelephone transmitters in the aviation, maritime, and international fixed public radio services. It conveys all of the operating authority of the MP. It is also required to operate the following:

• any maritime land radio station or compulsorily equipped ship radiotelephone station operating with more than 1500 watts of peak envelope power.

• voluntarily equipped ship and aeronautical (including aircraft) stations with more than 1000 watts of peak envelope power.

To qualify, you must:

• be a legal resident of (or otherwise eligible for employment in) the United States; and

• be able to receive and transmit spoken messages in English; and

• pass a written and/or telegraphy examination(s) as described below under Examinations.

The General Radiotelephone Operator Permits are issued for the holder's lifetime.

Submit FCC Form 605 and FCC Form 159 (fee processing form) along with the appropriate Proof of Passing Certificates (for the requisite written and/or telegraphy examination elements) to apply for any commercial operator license, with the exception that endorsement examinations do not require the filing of the Form 159 or any fees. Also, Restricted Radiotelephone Operator permits have no proof of passing certificate requirement. Use the FCC Form 605 and the FCC Form 159 to renew your license or to replace a lost, stolen, or mutilated license. Many Commercial Operator License Examination (COLE) Managers file these documents for applicants who test with them. Ask your COLE Manager if they provide this service to their customers.

Examinations

To obtain an FCC Commercial Operator License, applicants must submit, to the Commission, proof of passing written and/or telegraphy Elements as illustrated in the following table.

View License Comparison Chart Written Elements Telegraphy Elements Type of License 1 3 5 6 7 7R 8 9 1 2 3 4 General Radiotelephone Operator License

Written Examination Elements

• Element 1 - Basic radio law and operating practice with which every maritime radio operator should be familiar. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 18 out of 24 questions.

• Element 3 - General Radiotelephone. Electronic fundamentals and techniques required to adjust, repair, and maintain radio transmitters and receivers. The exam consists of questions from the following categories: operating procedures, radio wave propagation, radio practice, electrical principles, circuit components, practical circuits, signals and emissions, and antennas and feed lines. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 57 out of 76 questions.

 Additional Examination Information

 Testing Managers, Locations, Schedules and Fees

 Additional Licensing Information

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Last reviewed/updated on 12/5/2005.