CEPT and HAREC Certificates

For Class 1 Amateurs: Rights and Operating Abroad

Bulgarian radio amateurs holding a Class 1 (Harmonized Full Class) license and an assigned callsign are eligible to request internationally recognized operating certificates from the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) under CEPT recommendations.

1. Understanding the CEPT Operating Certificate

The CEPT Certificate is issued pursuant to Recommendation T/R 61-01 of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT). It grants the following privileges:

• Allows the operator to operate temporarily (up to 3 months) in countries that have adopted CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01.
• Zero administrative friction: No need to apply for an individual permit or notify foreign authorities in advance — simply transmit using your home callsign prefixed by the visited country’s prefix (e.g., DL/LZ1ZZZ).

2. Understanding the HAREC Certificate

The HAREC (Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate) is based on CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-02 and caters to extended stays:

• Proves that the licensee has passed an examination meeting the highest international standards of technical and operational competency.
• Enables seamless issuance of a permanent or local callsign in participating foreign jurisdictions during long-term or permanent residency without retaking examination modules.

3. Comparative Summary: CEPT (T/R 61-01) vs. HAREC (T/R 61-02)