How to Get Training in Amateur Radio
Are you interested in getting your Amateur Radio Certification?
For information from Industry Canada's website, visit amateur-radio-operator-certification for a high level description and visit amateur-radio-operator-certificate-services/en for a more interactive view including downloadable files.
News: On May 30, 2025, Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) published three important documents related to the Amateur Radio examinations:
ISED updated “RIC-1 – Guide for Examiners Accredited to Conduct Examinations for Amateur Radio Operator Certificates” which sets standards for Amateur Radio certificate examinations
This update to RIC-1 makes three important changes:
- ISED has given specific direction on the conduct of “virtual examinations,” that is, examinations conducted over the internet.
- ISED has dropped geographic restrictions for AEs. AEs in any province or territory may now examine candidates in any province or territory.
- ISED has clarified that both the candidate and the AE must be in Canada at the time of the exam.
On that same date, ISED published two new documents specifically for the Basic exam:
- A sheet of formulas and block diagrams. These are fully labelled. ISED is offering these for training purposes only.
- A very similar sheet of formulas and block diagrams with all labels and context removed. These may be used as approved reference material during all Basic examinations starting on July 15, 2025.
Previously announced on July 5, 2024, Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) posted the following announcement on its website:
(Updated January 1, 2026)
Updates on CARA's Amateur Radio Courses
This is an update to the planned Basic course that we had hoped to start in January.
I understand this may be disappointing, but we have made the tough decision to delay our program start until the fall, with a new target date set for September 2026. I assure you that we want to ensure the training is thorough and as enjoyable as possible. We don’t want to rush it and deliver anything less than what the students deserve.
Some of the hurdles we've encountered include on-boarding a new instructor, finding an affordable venue, and also losing the source for the training manuals that guide our course. With our small team of volunteers, we’ve found it overwhelming to overcome these challenges in time for a January start.
We are planning to use the same training guide, the Canadian Amateur Radio Basic Qualification Study Guide, although there may be some changes to the method of access, since Coax Publications has announced that they are winding down operations. If you with to source one while they are still available, or from a friend who has one already, that will still be appropriate for the training.
If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out to our training coordinator at training@caraham.org.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We look forward to seeing you in our classes!
Where else can I get training?
Meanwhile, there are also other options if you want to get your HAM Certificate on your own.
Here are a few options:
On-line courses:
- The most popular by far is the RAC sponsored Annapolis Valley Amateur Radio Club (AVARC) of Nova Scotia. These are 2 days each week. Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons, for a total of 20 lessons. (Starts Sept 18th, 2025. See https://www.rac.ca/rac-basic-and-advanced-courses-fall-2025/ Registration is open. )
- Also available is online classes at Peterborough Amateur Radio Club . Course info here: https://ve3pbo.ca/learning/ (the Basic Course starts Sept 15th, 2025, and the Advanced Course starts on Oct 13, 2025)
- RAC maintains a list of provincial Basic classes and Advanced Classes https://www.rac.ca/amateur-radio-courses/
Self-Based training:
In addition, there are community provided self-pace training websites that may be of interest.
- HAMSHACK QSL Courses Discover the Basic and Advanced Amateur Radio Courses from Hamshack.ca, optimized for mobile learning and utilizing the proprietary QSL (Question Specific Learning) method. => https://hamshack.ca/qsl-courses/
- VA6HAL has put together a modular course on line for both Basic and Advanced. => http://www.clares.ca/
There is a lot of valuable video and training based information here. Ylab's Free Canadian Amateur Radio Training Class ==>> https://www.ylab.ca/radioclass/
This has PDF, PPT, and YouTube Video's of all of the lessons.
Unfortunately YLAB's excellent training has been retired due to the updates to the ISED question bank. Please let me know if there is any update to this status.- Annapolis Valley Amateur Radio Club (Nova Scotia) offers Course material to supplement their RAC Basic and Advanced courses ==> https://avarc.ca/index.php/online-basic-course/ You will want to take their course through RAC.
- TNARC (The Northern Alberta Radio Club) is offering the Basic course (this year) over 6 weekends spread over 3 months. https://www.tnarc.ca/training
Is getting an Amateur Radio Certificate difficult?
The Certification testing objectives and practice exams are available on line at the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada ISED website
https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/amateur-radio-operator-certificate-services/en/amateur-radio-exam-generator.
The Canadian Amateur Radio Basic Qualification Study Guide
Update (10/02/2025): Coax Publications announced in the Sept/Oct issue of TCA Magazine that they will be ceasing operations at the end of 2025.
They say that their books will remain available through the online order entry system as long as stock remains."
We are looking into the long term planning of future course materials. Please stay tuned for updates.
The Coax Publications Canadian Amateur Radio Basic Qualification Study Guide includes all information required to pass the current ISED’s exam. The new 4th printing was reprinted and updated for the 2021 study season.
Coax Publications also publishes the Canadian Amateur Radio Advanced Qualification Study Guide (2nd Edition, 2nd Printing). Written to the same high standards as the Basic Study Guide, this book covers all questions in the Industry Canada Advanced Qualification question bank while providing needed context.
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