Description
The T3 authorizes operation of certain coast radiotelegraph stations. It also confers the operating authority of the MP.
Qualifications
To qualify, you must:
Term of License
The T3 is issued for a period of five (5) years. These licenses may be renewed at any time within the last ninety (90) days of their term up until five years following expiration without having to re-take an examination. After the five-year grace period expires, applicants must retake the requisite written and/or telegraphy examination(s). An expired certificate is not valid for any radio operations.
How to Obtain a License
Submit FCC Form 605 along with the appropriate Proof of Passing Certificates (for the requisite written and/or telegraphy examination elements) to apply. Use the FCC Form 605 and the FCC Form 159 (fee processing form) to renew your license or to replace a lost, stolen, or mutilated license. Many Commercial Operator License Examination Managers (COLEMs) file these documents for applicants who test with them. Ask your COLEM if it provides this service to its customers.
Photographs Required for Radiotelegraph Licenses and Six Months Service Endorsements
Examinations
To obtain an FCC Commercial Operator License, applicants must submit, to the Commission, proof of passing written and 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 |
Third Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate |
Written Examination Elements
Telegraphy Examinations Elements
Telegraphy exams may consist of both transmitting and receiving tests or just a receiving test. Although the FCC rules provide that passing a telegraphy receiving examination is adequate proof of an examinee's ability to both send and receive telegraphy, a COLEM may nonetheless include a sending segment in a telegraphy examination. Examinees must copy by ear and, if subject to a sending test, send by hand plain text and code groups in the international Morse code using all the letters of the alphabet, numerals 0-9, period, comma, question mark, slant mark, and prosigns AR, BT, and SK. Examinees must copy and send at the required speeds for one continuous minute without making any errors. Each test lasts approximately five minutes. The failing of any code test automatically terminates the examination. Code speeds are computed using five letters per word or code group. Punctuation symbols and numbers count as two letters each.