FCC Part 15 — Intentional Radiators (Equipment Certification)

Products that intentionally emit radio-frequency energy under FCC Part 15 (for example Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other short-range wireless transmitters) must in almost all cases be certified before they can be marketed or imported into the United States. Certification is granted by private FCC-recognised Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs) under the Commission's authority, based on testing at an FCC-recognised accredited laboratory.

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Applies to

Intentional radiators — devices that intentionally generate and emit radio frequency energy by radiation or induction (47 CFR 15.3(o)) — operating under 47 CFR Part 15 Subpart C. A small set of categories (carrier current systems, devices under 47 CFR 15.211/15.213/15.221, and certain devices below 490 kHz with very low emissions) may instead use the Supplier's Declaration of Conformity procedure.

Key obligations

01Obtain certification before marketing: except as exempted in 47 CFR 15.201(a)/(c) and 15.23, all intentional radiators operating under Part 15 must be certified by a Telecommunication Certification Body under the procedures in 47 CFR Part 2 Subpart J prior to marketing.source
02Test at an FCC-recognised accredited laboratory: equipment authorised under the certification procedure must be tested at a laboratory that is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 and recognised by the Commission (47 CFR 2.948(a)).source
03Apply through a TCB: all requests for equipment authorisation are submitted to a Telecommunication Certification Body, which files the application electronically with the FCC; the applicant must also designate an agent located in the United States for service of process (47 CFR 2.911(a), (d)(7)).source
04Label the device with its FCC ID (preceded by the term "FCC ID") on a permanently affixed, readily visible label, plus any compliance statements required by the rules for the equipment class (47 CFR 2.925).source
05Include the required caution in the user manual: the manual for an intentional radiator must warn that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment (47 CFR 15.21).source
06Support post-market surveillance: TCBs must audit samples of products they have certified; if a certified product is found non-compliant, the grantee must report the corrective actions taken (47 CFR 2.962(i)).source

Conformity routes

Certification via a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB)Required for nearly all intentional radiators before marketing. Certification is an equipment authorisation issued by a TCB under the authority of the Commission, based on representations and test data submitted by the applicant (47 CFR 2.907, 15.201(b)).source
Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) — limited categories onlyOnly for intentional radiators operated as carrier current systems, devices operated under 47 CFR 15.211, 15.213 and 15.221, and devices operating below 490 kHz in which all emissions are at least 40 dB below the 47 CFR 15.209 limits (47 CFR 15.201(a)).source

Documentation

Certification application with test data and exhibitsSubmitted to a TCB with all information required by 47 CFR Part 2 Subpart J (test data signed by the person who performed or supervised the tests, signed certifications from the applicant, and product exhibits). The TCB files an electronic copy with the FCC and issues the grant through the FCC's electronic system.source
Grant of certification listing the FCC IDThe grant lists the validated FCC Identifier: the grantee code assigned by the FCC plus the equipment product code assigned by the grantee. No FCC ID may be used on marketed equipment unless validated by a grant of certification.source
User/instruction manualMust contain the 47 CFR 15.21 modification caution; where the product also contains a Class A or Class B digital device, the applicable 47 CFR 15.105 interference statement is required. The manual may be provided in non-paper form (e.g. online) if users can reasonably access it.source

Marking requirements

FCC ID label: each certified device must bear a label with the FCC Identifier preceded by the term "FCC ID", legible without magnification, permanently affixed and readily visible; if the device is too small for a four-point font, the FCC ID may go in the user manual plus on the packaging or a removable label (47 CFR 2.925).source
Part 15 compliance statement (47 CFR 15.19(a)(3)) for most devices: "This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation." For very small devices, 47 CFR 15.19(a)(5) allows the statement to be placed in the manual plus packaging or a removable label.source
Electronic labelling: devices with an integrated electronic display (or that can only operate with a device that has one) may display the FCC ID and required statements electronically, provided the information is accessible in three steps or fewer, access instructions are supplied, and the device or packaging still carries identification for importation and sale (47 CFR 2.935).source

Testing standards

Harmonised and designated standards lists change over time: confirm the currently cited version before testing.

ANSI C63.10-2020ANSI C63.4-2014

Key dates

2017-11-02Electronic labelling rule for RF devices (47 CFR 2.935) published in the Federal Register (82 FR 50827, as shown in the eCFR source notes).source

Penalties

Marketing RF devices without the required equipment authorisation can lead to FCC Enforcement Bureau investigation and enforcement action, which may include monetary penalties (forfeitures) and injunctive directives. Forfeiture amounts change over time (including inflation adjustments), so check current FCC enforcement guidance rather than relying on fixed dollar figures.sourceUnverified — check source

Further guidance

Frequently asked

Do I need FCC certification for a product with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?+

Generally yes. A product containing an intentional transmitter operating under Part 15 must be certified through a Telecommunication Certification Body before it is marketed or imported into the US, unless it falls into one of the narrow exceptions in 47 CFR 15.201.

Does the FCC itself test and approve my device?+

No. Testing is done at an FCC-recognised accredited laboratory, and the grant of certification is issued by a private Telecommunication Certification Body acting under the Commission's authority. The FCC oversees TCBs, and all TCB actions remain subject to Commission review.

What is an FCC ID and does my product need one?+

The FCC ID is the identifier listed on a grant of certification — the FCC-assigned grantee code plus a product code chosen by the grantee. Every certified device must be labelled with it. An FCC ID may not be placed on equipment unless it has been validated by a grant of certification.

Can a company based outside the US apply for FCC certification?+

Yes — the applicant does not have to be a US company, but it must designate an agent located in the United States for service of process as part of the application (47 CFR 2.911(d)(7)).

Can I start selling while the certification application is pending?+

No. The FCC's rules require intentional radiators to be certified prior to marketing, and the FCC states that RF devices must be properly authorised under 47 CFR Part 2 before being marketed or imported into the United States.

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