Current legislation establishes that in order to obtain the nautical certificates of the Recreational Craft Pattern, Yacht Skipper and Yacht Captain, it is mandatory to take the short-range radio operator course. This course should only be done once, being valid once obtained in a degree for higher qualifications.
The regulation establishes a voluntary long-distance radio operator course, which will be valid for all nautical qualifications and which, if carried out, will exempt the short-range radio operator course.