# History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Lists/Certificates

CERTIFICATES OF PROFICIENCY
Since the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901 (and likely prior by the individual colonies), the regulator of the day has issued a variety of certificates of proficiency which enabled the certificate holder to apply for an equal variety of licences, or sometimes to obtain employment in a specific field. The following is a list of those encountered to date.

## States

In the 1870s William Philip Bechervaise, the Ballarat Telegraph Office master (later Ballarat Postmaster), lectured in telegraphy at the Ballarat School of Mines. Examinations at the end of each term were conducted by no less than Samuel Walker McGowan and Robert Lewis John Ellery. Another local telegraphist took over the lecturing duties from about 1880. Similar classes were held in Melbourne. A feature of these classes was the overwhelming portion of females, as the certificate was seen as entree to a position in post offices and telegraph offices.
Again, similar classes were conducted in Sydney by the Post and Telegraph Department.

## Amateur / Experimental

"AOCP" - Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - August 1903? to October 1947 - Check - Titled AOPC from 1924, later changed to AOCP (needs full review)
"1st AOCP" - 1st Class Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - May 1941 to October 1947
"2nd AOCP" - 2nd Class Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - January 1937 to November 1949
"AOLCP" - Amateur Operator's Limited Certificate of Proficiency - June 1954 to ??
"NAOCP" - Novice Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - 1975 to ??

### October 2005 Changes

"AOCP(A)" - Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (Advanced) - October 2005? to ??
"AOCP(S)" - Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (Standard) - October 2005? to ??
"NAOCP" - Novice Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - October 2005? to ??
"NLAOCP" - Novice Limited Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - October 2005? to ??
"AOCP(A)" - Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (Advanced) - October 2005? to ??
"AOCP(F)" - Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (Foundation) - October 2005? to ??

## Broadcasting

"BOCP" - Broadcasting Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - May 1935 to May 1994
"2nd BOCP" - 2nd Class Broadcasting Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - June 1944 to August 1975

## Television

"TVOCP" - Television Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - January 1957 to April 1994

## Commercial

"1st COCP" - First Class Commercial Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - March 1901 to October 1977
"2nd COCP" - Second Class Commercial Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - May 1904 to May 1988

## Marine

"ROGCP" - Radiocommunication Operator's General Certificate of Proficiency - January 1973 to May 1984
"ROCP" - Restricted Operator's Certificate of Proficiency in Radiotelegraphy and Radiotelephony
"COCP (COAST)" - Senior Coast/Coast Station Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - July 1974 to December 1983

## Aeronautical

"1st AIR" - First Class Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (Aeronautical) - November 1938 to July 1954
"2nd AIR" - Second Class Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (Aeronautical) - March 1938 to October 1947
"3rd AIR" - Third Class Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (Aeronautical) - August 1932 to November 1955