What is FCC certification and how do I get it?

Product certifications are required for regular sales, and some sales platforms, such as Amazon, have strict regulations regarding product certification. However, different countries and markets have different certification requirements for each type of product.

For example, the FCC certification featured in this post today is mandatory in the U.S. market. Whether you're new or experienced, knowing what FCC certification is and how to obtain it will help you sell your products well and prevent your product from being unsold due to a lack of this type of certification.

What is the FCC?
What is FCC certification?
How to perform FCC testing and obtain certification?
How much does FCC certification cost?
How long does it take to obtain FCC certification?
Frequently Asked Questions About FCC Certification

What is the FCC?

Before you know what FCC certification is, you need to learn about the FCC.

FCC stands for Federal Communications Commission , an official subsidiary of the United States federal government. It is an independent agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, wire, television, satellite, and cable in approximately 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.


What is FCC certification?

FCC certification, also known as Federal Communications Agency certification, is a mandatory certification in the U.S. and is primarily used to verify the safety of wireless and wired communication products.

Any product, especially electronic communications products, must pass FCC compliance testing and obtain FCC certification through FCC approval if it enters the U.S. market. In other words, certification involves having these products tested and approved by laboratories authorized directly or indirectly by the FCC according to FCC technical standards. It does not require a factory inspection, and the application process is simple.

In summary, the characteristics of FCC certification are:

  • Required for export to the US.
  • Mandatory
  • For electronic or electrical equipment/products
  • Easy to apply without the need for factory testing.

How to perform FCC testing and obtain FCC certification?

After the definition of FCC and FCC certification, you'll probably want to know the specific process for obtaining certification. Before the certification process, you should be clear about the types of FCC tests.

In general, FCC compliance tests are mainly divided by product type, and some are named as follows for your reference:

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

You can also check more type regulations for your product on their official website .

Two types of FCC certifications with concrete processes

Next, you need to make sure what type of FCC certification is required for your products.
Previously, FCC certifications included three types:

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

However, since November 2, 2018, the FCC's SDoC (Supplier Declaration of Conformity) has replaced the FCC's DoC and VoC for certification purposes, in order to simplify the FCC certification process and clarify RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) usage specifications.

The FCC ID is primarily certified for wireless products, and the FCC SDoC certificates are for general products without wireless functions, so the requirements for each type are different.
Below, we'll walk you through the process of obtaining certifications step by step.

FCC ID Certification

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

There are two methods to request an FCC ID certification:

1. Send the products directly to the FCC-TCB, but it is very expensive and the time is unpredictable.
2. Select the FCC-authorized third-party testing institution to test the products and submit the materials to the TCB for certification.

The first option is not advisable and we will list the process of the second method in the next part.

  • Step 1: Request an FCC ID

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

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

  • Step 2: Select a testing institution

You certainly can't test the product yourself, so you should select a reliable testing institution or FCC-authorized laboratory to perform FCC testing.

  • Step 3: Test the products

While you wait for FCC approval to send you the dealer code, you must submit product samples along with documents and files to the institution or laboratory for product testing. The institution will then provide you with a test report.

  • Step 4: Submit to FCC TCBs

When conducting tests and obtaining test reports from the institution, you must submit all product documents with test reports to the TCBs (Telecommunications Certification Bodies) designated by the FCC, and wait for the TCBs to conduct an audit.

Don't forget to prepare the following:

  • FCC Certification Application Form
  • FCC Identification Label and Label Location
  • Product detail photos (internal and external)
  • Product introduction
  • Block diagram
  • Schematic diagram
  • Theory of operations
  • Test reports
  • Product test setup photos
  • Step 5: Issue FCC Certification

After confirmation, the TCBs (which obtain FCC approval) will issue the certifications, and you will then be able to obtain them within several weeks.

FCC Code of Conduct

If your products are not equipped with wireless capabilities, you only need to obtain SDoC certifications from the FCC.

Unlike FCC identification, SDoC requires that the party responsible for your products, along with their mailing and email addresses, be located in the U.S. for product testing. This means that only U.S. companies can issue SDoC declarations, while non-U.S. companies (including manufacturers and laboratories) cannot.

When exporting products to the U.S., customs will require you to provide FCC SDoC declarations in accordance with laws and regulations during the clearance process . Online platforms, such as Amazon , will also require sellers to upload FCC SDoC declarations.

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

Step 1: Complete the application form
Step 2: Provide product details
Step 3: Send product samples
Step 4: Test products and get reports
Step 5: Submit all materials and test reports
Step 6: Wait for approval and issue certificates

How much does FCC certification cost?

Aside from the basic certification process, one question that most customers are concerned about is the cost of FCC testing and certification.

In reality, there is no single absolute standard for cost, and the total costs of FCC certification depend on the types of FCC testing your product undergoes.

In addition to the types of tests, charging standards vary by country and third-party testing institution. Costs depend on the radiology technology and the number of tests required by the laboratory.


How long does it take to obtain FCC certification?

The average time to obtain certification from FCC officials is between 8 and 12 weeks, but now, to shorten the wait time, the FCC has authorized many third parties to issue certifications, so you can receive FCC certifications within 1 to 2 weeks. However, you should be careful to select reliable institutions to obtain legal certifications.

Frequently Asked Questions About FCC Certification

What to look for when meeting FCC certification requirements?

One of our clients sells a wireless product (a smart facial slimmer) on Amazon and uploaded the FCC certifications required by the platform, but he kept getting stuck because he only had the FCC test report from the third-party testing agency. Our sourcing agent, Lily, helped him clarify that his product must provide the FCC ID certification (mentioned in the third-party section above), while an FCC test report alone cannot meet the requirement.

Therefore, if you want to meet FCC certification requirements, you must be clear about the category of your products and what type of certification is required, then follow the procedure to complete the certification, in case the money and time are wasted.

Which products need to obtain FCC certification?

If you sell certain types of products in the U.S. market, you must meet FCC certification requirements and obtain certification. To help you understand whether your products require FCC testing, this section lists the most general types of products within the certification range for your reference:

  • Personal electronic products and devices (such as computers, keyboards, power adapters);
  • Household appliances (such as air conditioners, refrigerators);
  • Power tools (such as electric drills);
  • Audio and video equipment (such as radios, DVD players);
  • Various types of lights;
  • Wireless products (such as Bluetooth wireless headset, wireless remote control);
  • Different types of toys (e.g. electronic toys);
  • Security products (such as alerters, cameras);
  • Industrial mechanical machines and equipment (such as machine tools).

Who can provide FCC certification services?

In general, the FCC can provide certification services, but as mentioned above, this is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, third-party testing institutions that obtain FCC authorization may provide additional FCC testing and test reports for a different fee.

Depending on the FCC certification requirements for their products, you should pay attention to whether their services meet your requirements or not and not be fooled by their prices.

What are the benefits of FCC certifications?

  • This certification will help sellers access a broader U.S. market and increase customer confidence in their products.
  • It provides legal rights for your products to be sold in the U.S. market so that they are not considered public health risks.
  • Demonstrate that your products are tested and certified to give you a competitive advantage.

The end

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

UL Certifications
Cost of UL certification
Certificate of conformity

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