Learn SRC –
Short Range Certificate
The Short Range Certificate (SRC) is the most widely used marine radio certificate in recreational boating – mandatory for anyone who operates a VHF marine radio with DSC in the coastal area.
▶ Start learning SRC in the app
The SRC (Short Range Certificate) is the VHF marine radio certificate with DSC for the coastal area (sea area A1). The theory exam comprises a paper of 24 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes – passed from 19 correct answers. Added to that are the written recording of a distress, urgency or safety message and a practical part with four tasks on the radio. The exam draws on the official ELWIS question catalog (180 questions); Boatpass trains all SRC content with exam simulation and mistake training.
What is the SRC?
The Short Range Certificate (SRC) is the official authorization to participate in the worldwide maritime radio service (GMDSS) in the VHF band. It permits the operation of all VHF marine radio installations including DSC (Digital Selective Calling) with a range of around 35 nautical miles (sea area A1).
The SRC is mandatory for sailors and motorboaters as soon as a VHF marine radio is used on board – including in the coastal area. It is administered by the examination boards of the German Sailing Association (DSV) and the German Motor Yachting Association (DMYV), is internationally recognized and valid indefinitely.
What you study here – the official source
SRC catalog · sea radio (coastal)
View on ELWIS ↗The date shows when each official edition came into force – not how old the questions are. Every catalog listed here is authoritative for the 2026 exam year. When a new edition is published, we build it in automatically.
This overview as of:July 2026 · The official publication always prevails – the linked ELWIS pages always show the currently valid edition.
Who needs the SRC?
Afraid of radio? We'll take that fear away.
The worry about dictation and sending a message almost always comes from a lack of repetition – not from a lack of ability. The messages follow a fixed wording (MAYDAY, PAN PAN, phonetic alphabet). Anyone who has run through the procedure often enough has it down.
You get the final speaking polish on real equipment in the practical exam part at your radio school. The wording and procedures you bring with you confidently via Boatpass.
SRC, UBI or LRC – which radio certificate?
- ✓ Coastal marine radio (A1)
- ✓ VHF + DSC
- ✓ Internationally valid
- ✗ No MF/HF
- ✓ Inland radio (rivers, canals)
- ✓ AIS inland navigation
- ✗ Not valid for marine radio
- ✓ Marine radio worldwide (A1–A4)
- ✓ VHF + MF/HF
- ✓ Satellite radio (GMDSS)
For the vast majority of coastal areas the SRC is the right certificate. Anyone who wants to use radio on the high seas needs the LRC; for inland waters the UBI is responsible. SRC and UBI are not mutually creditable.
SRC exam: structure & contents
Multiple-choice paper
Distress, urgency & safety traffic
Render German text into English
admitted to the exam
Exam topics: VHF marine radio and the GMDSS system (sea area A1), DSC procedures (Digital Selective Calling), distress, urgency and safety traffic, ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication, NAVTEX, the international phonetic alphabet and distress English, plus the ITU radio regulations (Radio Regulations).
What does the SRC cost?
For the official SRC exam there is a fee for admission, the exam and the issuance of the certificate:
The official exam fee at the DSV/DMYV is currently around €127.88. A preparation course is not required – you can also learn the theory independently with the official question catalog. These official fees are independent of the Boatpass SRC learning module (one-time €7.99).
How Boatpass helps with the SRC
Learn by category
The SRC question catalog comprises 180 questions across 5 topic areas – practice in a targeted way based on your weak spots.
Source: official question catalog on elwis.de.
Boatpass SRC module
The SRC module for Boatpass is here – with the same learning concept as SBF Inland & Coastal: official question catalog, exam simulation and targeted mistake training. One-time €7.99, no subscription.