Individual examination centres may also make an administrative charge to candidates. However, for those under 21 years of age the licence is free and from 1 April 2001, to those aged 75 years or over. All licencees will be sent a renewal reminder each year, six weeks before the licence expires. If you are still under 21 at the date of renewal, you will need only to indicate that you wish to continue to be registered as a novice licensee . There is a very wide range of equipment available from moderately priced kits to very expensive radio transceivers.
Novices are free to use any type of equipment provided they operate within their licence conditions.
There are many sources of low cost equipment for novices - for example, construction kits designed specially for them and secondhand equipment available through clubs, press advertisements and amateur rallies. Training course instructors will be able to advise trainees on the best way to get equipment at reasonable cost. Local amateur clubs may also be able to help. Novice licensees have a separate series of call signs whose format is similar to that for full amateur radio licensees. These are the same as for full licensees with the exception of England for which no regional secondary locator is required.