What is FCC Certification and How to Get FCC Certification

What is FCC Certification and How to Get FCC Certification

Product certifications are necessary for normal sales, and some sales platforms, such as Amazon, have strict regulations on product certification. However, different countries and markets have varying requirements for certifications for each type of product.

For instance, the FCC certification introduced in this post today is necessary in the USA market. Whether you are new to the industry or experienced, understanding what the FCC certification is, how to obtain it, and how to make it will help you sell your products successfully and prevent your product from being unable to sell due to lack of this certification.

• What is the FCC?
• What is FCC Certification?
• How to Obtain FCC Certification
• How Much does FCC Certification Cost?
• How Long does it Take to Get FCC Certification?

What is the FCC?

Before delving into what FCC certification is, it’s important to understand what the FCC is. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an official agency of the United States federal government which regulates interstate and international communications over radio, wire, television, satellite, and cable in roughly 50 states, territories of the USA, and the District of Columbia.

What is FCC Certification?

FCC certification, also known as United States Federal Communications certification, is a mandatory requirement in the USA. It primarily involves testing the safety of wireless and wired communication products.

Any product, particularly electronic communication products, must undergo FCC compliance testing and obtain FCC certification through FCC approval before entering the US market. This certification means that laboratories, either directly or indirectly authorized by the FCC, test and approve these products according to the technical standards set by the FCC. The process does not require factory inspection and the application process is straightforward.

In summary, FCC certification is necessary, compulsory, and easy to apply for without the need for testing factories.

How to Obtain FCC Certification

After understanding the definition of FCC and FCC certification, you might be interested in the concrete process of obtaining the certification. Before the certification process, it is important to understand FCC testing types.

FCC compliance testing is typically divided by product type, with some of the most widely used types being:

• FCC Part 15 and FCC Part 18
• FCC Part 22 (Public Mobile Services)
• FCC Part 24 (Personal Communications Services)
• FCC Part 27 (Miscellaneous Wireless Communications Services)

You can find more information about regulations for your specific product type on the official FCC website.

Two Types of FCC Certifications with Concrete Processes

It is important to determine which type of FCC certification is required for your products. There used to be three types of FCC certifications:

• FCC ID
• FCC VoC (Verification of Conformity)
• FCC DoC (Declaration of Conformity)

However, since November 2nd, 2018, FCC SDoC (Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity) has replaced FCC DoC and VoC in order to simplify the FCC certification process and clarify the usage specification of RFID (radio frequency identification).

FCC ID certification is mainly for wireless products, while FCC SDoC is for general products without wireless functions. The requirements for each type are different.

The next section will explain how to obtain each certification step by step.

FCC ID Certification

As mentioned, FCC ID certification applies to wireless products to test EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) and RF (radio frequency), such as Bluetooth headsets and smart face slimmers.

There are two methods for obtaining FCC ID certification:

1.Send products directly to FCC-TCB, but this is costly and unpredictable.

2.Select a third-party institution authorized by the FCC to test products and send materials to TCB for issuing certificates.

The first choice is generally not advisable. Instead, follow the process of the second method:

• Step 1: Apply for an FCC ID

If you are applying for the FCC ID for the first time, register for an FCC-FRN to create profiles and apply for a permanent grantee code. The cost of this code is $60.

You can check your FCC ID on the FCC official website:

• Step 2: Choose a Testing Institution

To ensure accurate testing results, it is important to select a reliable testing institution or laboratory authorized by the FCC for FCC testing.

• Step 3: Test Your Products

While waiting for FCC approval and grantee code, send your product samples along with necessary documents and files to the selected testing institution or laboratory for testing. The institution will then provide you with a test report.

Once you have completed testing and obtained test reports from the institution, you will need to submit all product documents with test reports to TCBs (Telecommunication Certification Bodies) appointed by FCC and wait for them to conduct an audit.

Make sure to prepare the following documents:

• Application form for FCC certification
• FCC ID label and label location
• Photos of product details (both internal and external)
• Product introduction
• Block diagram
• Schematic diagram
• Operational theory
• Test reports
• Photos of the product test setup

• Step 5: Issuing of FCC Certification

Upon confirmation and approval by TCBs, the certifications will be issued and you can expect to receive them in several weeks’ time.

FCC SDoC Certification

If your products do not include wireless functions, obtaining FCC SDoC certification is all that is necessary.

Unlike FCC ID, SDoC requires that the responsible party for your products, as well as their mailing and email addresses, are located in the USA to conduct product testing. This means that only USA-based companies can issue SDoC statements, while non-United States companies (including manufacturers and laboratories) cannot.

When exporting products to the USA, customs will require you to provide FCC SDoC statements based on the laws and regulations in the clearance process. Online platforms, such as Amazon, also require sellers to upload FCC SDoC statements.

The FCC SDoC certification process is similar to FCC ID certification:

• Step 1: Fill out the application form
• Step 2: Provide product details
• Step 3: Send product samples
• Step 4: Test products and obtain reports
• Step 5: Submit all materials and test reports
• Step 6: Wait for approval and issuance of certificates

How Much does FCC Certification Cost?

Aside from the basic certification process, many clients are concerned about the cost of FCC testing and certification. The total FCC certification costs depend on the FCC testing types required for your product, and charging standards may vary by country and third-party detection institution. The costs depend on radio technology and the number of required tests covered by the laboratory.

How Long does it Take to Get FCC Certification?

On average, it takes between 8 to 12 weeks to receive certification from FCC officials. However, to shorten the waiting time, FCC has authorized many third parties to issue certifications. You can receive FCC certifications within 1 to 2 weeks, but it is important to select reliable institutions to receive legal certifications.

FAQs about FCC Certification

What should you pay attention to when satisfying FCC certification requirements?

One of our clients sells a wireless product (smart face slimmer) on Amazon and uploaded FCC certifications required by the platform, but he always failed to finish uploading because he only had the FCC test report from the third-party detection institution. Our sourcing agent Lily helped him understand that his product was required to provide FCC ID certification (mentioned in the third part above), while only the FCC test report cannot meet the requirement.

Hence, when satisfying FCC certification requirements, you must be clear about what category your products fall under and what type of certification is required. Then, follow the procedure to complete the certification to avoid wasting time and money.

What products need FCC certification?

If you sell certain types of products in the USA market, you must satisfy FCC certification requirements and obtain certification. To determine whether your products need FCC testing or not, this section lists the most general types of products within the certification range for your reference:

• Personal electronic products and devices (like computers, keyboards, power adapters);
• Household electric appliances (like air-conditioners, refrigerators);
• Electric power tools (like electric drills);
• Audio and video equipment (like radios, DVD players);
• Various types of lights;
• Wireless products(like Bluetooth wireless headsets, wireless remote control);
• Different kinds of toys (e.g. Electronic toys);
• Security products (like alertors, cameras);
• Industrial mechanical machines & equipment (like machine tools).

Who can provide FCC certification services?

FCC can provide certification services, but as mentioned above, it takes a lot of time and costs. Third-party detection institutions that have been authorized by the FCC can provide extra FCC testing and test reports while charging differently.

According to the FCC certification requirements of your products, pay attention to whether their services match your requirements or not and do not be deceived by their prices.

What are the Benefits of FCC Certifications?

• This certification helps sellers access a broader USA market and makes more customers believe in your products.
• It provides legal rights for your products to sell in the USA market so that they will not be considered public health risks.
• It shows that your products have been tested and certified, giving them a competitive advantage.

The End

We hope this article helps you understand FCC certification better. If you want to know more about product certifications, you can find other articles on our website:

We’re Onestopimport, a leading sourcing agent in China. If you need product certification but don’t know how to obtain it, or you want to import or customize products from China, please CONTACT US without hesitation!