What is FCC testing and certification
FCC testing and certification ensure that electronic products comply with the requirements of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Devices that emit radio frequency (RF) energy must be tested by accredited laboratories to demonstrate compliance with applicable standards.
Certification is issued by an FCC-recognised Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB), enabling manufacturers to legally access the U.S. market and ensure reliable, interference-free performance.
How to prepare for FCC testing and certification
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates all products containing radio transmitters, including radio, telecom and satellite equipment in areas such as electromagnetic interference, radio frequency (RF) exposure and spectrum allocation. Mobile communications equipment and other products capable of radio communication must be certified compliant by a Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB) appointed by the FCC before being placed on the market. Non-compliance may lead to costly delays, fines and forfeitures, as well as reputation-damaging product recalls.
Obtaining expert advice from an experienced partner helps to determine which FCC rules, requirements and procedures are applicable. This assistance enables you to avoid possible problems during the product design stage. You can also schedule internal or third-party testing of the product and create a technical compliance file to be used as evidence of compliance.
How TÜV SÜD can help you with FCC certification
Our compliance strategy guidance and TCB approval services enable manufacturers to meet their time-to-market targets. We provide the following FCC certification services for manufacturers and suppliers of radio and navigation equipment:
- Pre-compliance product evaluation - Our FCC pre-compliance investigations can identify potential issues with a product at an early stage of product development.
- Compliance advisory - Compliance strategy guidance will help prepare the product for formal testing. We can also help determine the appropriate FCC authorization route for the product.
- Product testing and certification - As an FCC-appointed TCB and recognized third-party testing services provider, we can assess and issue equipment approvals for:
- Telecommunications terminal equipment under FCC Part 68.
- RF devices under various FCC Rule Parts including Part 2 (RF Exposure, SAR); Parts 15, 18, 20 (including HAC), 22, 24, 27, 80, 87, 90, 95, 97; and Part 101 (including FCC Knowledge Database publications), ANSI C63.4, ETSI EN 300 220, ETSI EN 300 330, ETSI EN 300 440, ETSI EN 300 328, ETSI EN 301 893, and CISPR 16. Test services are also provided for product groups such as RFID (e.g. for 125 kHz, 134 kHz, 13.56 MHz, 868 MHz, 905 MHz), short-range devices (e.g. for 433 MHz, 868 MHz) and Wi-Fi (e.g. for 2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz), Zigbee and Bluetooth.
