Brazil. The National Telecommunications Agency, Anatel, defined the rules for the application of online tests for those interested in obtaining an amateur radio certificate, for all classes and for radiotelephonists.
Virtual tests were already being applied to classes "A" and "C" and now the Agency has extended this possibility also to candidates for class "B", with Morse code testing, and for radiotelephonists.
For virtual exams, the evaluator works by videoconference, through the Microsoft Teams application. The person concerned shall have an adequate testing environment, which is minimally isolated from the noise or movement of other persons who may interfere with the assessment. Consultations, the use of a cell phone or the presence of other people in the place where the candidate will sit for the exams are not allowed.
The face-to-face tests, carried out at Anatel's facilities, remain suspended due to the measures to deal with the pandemic caused by the coronavirus (Covid-19). Once the pandemic is over, the Agency will continue to apply online testing, as an alternative to face-to-face testing.
The definition of the operational procedures for the application of tests to accredit the operational and technical capacity of the Amateur Radio Service and the Radiotelephone Operator, via the Internet, was given through Ordinance No. 1,771, published on December 10 in the Official Gazette.
The test is individual and has a maximum duration of two hours, a period that includes the candidate's orientation time and the real time of the test. Candidates from all over the country can apply; the number of vacancies will depend on the number of servers available to apply the tests in each Federation Unit.
The server of the test application will accompany the candidate, at all times, by videoconference. Any intentional interruption of the audio or video of the session, after the test is available, will cause the candidate to be rejected immediately. The camera must remain on, filming the candidate throughout the race, as well as their microphone.
After closing, the result will be available on Anatel's systems. Once approval is confirmed, the candidate can apply for the certificate immediately after the appraiser's review.
