(a) To be qualified to hold any commercial radio operator license, an applicant must have a satisfactory knowledge of FCC rules and must have the ability to send correctly and receive correctly spoken messages in the English language.

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(b) An applicant must pass an examination for the issuance of a new commercial radio operator license, other than the Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit and the Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit-Limited Use, and for each change in operator class. An applicant must pass an examination for the issuance of a new Ship Radar Endorsement. Each application for the class of license or endorsement specified below must pass, or otherwise receive credit for, the corresponding examination elements:

(1) Radiotelegraph Operator License.

(i) Telegraphy Elements 1 and 2;

(ii) Written Elements 1 and 6.

(2) General Radiotelephone Operator License: Written Elements 1 and 3.

(3) Marine Radio Operator Permit: Written Element 1.

(4) GMDSS Radio Operator’s License: Written Elements 1 and 7, or a Proof of Passing Certificate (PPC) issued by the United States Coast Guard or its designee representing a certificate of competency from a Coast Guard-approved training course for a GMDSS endorsement.

(5) Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator License: Written Elements 1 and 7R, or a Proof of Passing Certificate (PPC) issued by the United States Coast Guard or its designee representing a certificate of competency from a Coast Guard-approved training course for a GMDSS endorsement.

(6) GMDSS Radio Maintainer’s License: Written Elements 1, 3, and 9.

(7) Ship Radar Endorsement: Written Element 8.

[58 FR 9124, Feb. 19, 1993, as amended at 59 FR 3795, Jan. 27, 1994; 68 FR 46959, Aug. 7, 2003; 78 FR 23154, Apr. 18, 2013]