FCC Certification
- TapRen Team
- Apr 1
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 15
Introduction
FCC certification of PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) is not only a legal requirement in the modern electronics market; it is an indicator of product quality and safety. Whether it is IoT devices, communication modules, or consumer electronics, it is essential to understand the FCC rules in relation to PCBA design and manufacturing. This guide will teach you everything you need to know to ensure your product appears compliant with U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.
What Is FCC Certification?
FCC certification of PCBA is the regulatory compliance mechanism required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States. It ensures that printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) incorporated into electronic products meet electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements and do not emit radiofrequency (RF) energy that could cause malicious interference in other electronic devices. Obtaining FCC certification on circuit boards is essential to producers wishing to enter the U.S. market, particularly when the PCBA contains wireless communication elements or high-speed digital logic. By conducting RF compliance testing of PCBA, manufacturers ensure that the board does not exceed strict emission levels, thereby preventing legal problems, importation bans, or product recalls.
FCC Rules and Regulations You Must Know
Manufacturers of PCBA are required to comply with certain sections of the FCC rules and regulations, mostly Parts 15 and 18, to obtain FCC certification of their devices, which may or may not emit RF signals.
● FCC Part 15: Regulates unlicensed RF equipment like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or RF transceivers that are typically embedded on PCBAs. Compliance involves reducing emissions to acceptable levels.
● FCC Part 18: This regulation applies to Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) equipment in which the PCBA is used to create high-frequency energy, but not related to communications-microwave ovens, or plasma applications.
To address such requirements, PCBA RF compliance testing should be considered during the initial stages of circuit board design.
FCC Compliant PCB Design Considerations
Ground plane integrity
A solid, continuous ground plane minimizes ground loops and noise, and thus EMI. This is crucial in ensuring that the RF emissions comply with FCC limits.
RF Component Shielding
To control the radiated emissions of RF modules or clock circuits embedded in your PCBA, place them in metal shielding cans or enclosures.
Controlled Impedance Trace Routing
High-speed signals and differential pairs must be controlled according to the impedance control rules to prevent both radiated and conducted interference.
Filtering Capacitors and Decoupling Capacitors
High-frequency noise is suppressed by placing capacitors close to power supply pins and I/O lines, ensuring that PCBAs pass RF compliance testing.
Reduce Loops in High-Speed Circuits
The smaller areas of the current loops minimize the antenna-like behavior, resulting in undesirable emissions.
Layer Stack-Up Optimization
Proper PCB layer configuration should be used to shield noise sources and high-speed signal return paths.
Circuit board design based on these FCC regulations will enable efficient and cost-effective FCC certification of circuit boards.
FCC Certification Types Explained
To achieve FCC certification of PCBA, it is essential to be aware of the various FCC authorization forms. The type of certification is related to whether the circuit board generates RF energy or not, as well as its integration into the end product. Determining the appropriate pathway is crucial for efficient RF compliance testing of PCBA and preventive recertification.
FCC Certification (Grantee Code and Product Code/ FCC ID)
It is the strictest approval procedure and is required for PCBAs containing deliberate RF-emitting devices, such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, or GSM modules. The device must be tested in an FCC-approved laboratory, and once approved, it is assigned a unique FCC ID number corresponding to the circuit board or module. It is a typical type of IoT PCBAs and wireless communication devices.
Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
This applies to digital PCBA devices that are not transmitting RF signals but can inadvertently radiate EMI. In this process, the manufacturer certifies the PCBA to meet FCC technical requirements, retains test records, and does not need an FCC ID. It is typically used on microcontroller boards, USB hubs, or peripheral circuits in a PC.
Verification
The most lenient route is appropriate for internal modules or components that are not sold to the end customer. This category can be used for embedded PCBA components that are entirely shielded and encapsulated within a larger certified system. Testing remains necessary, and documentation remains internal unless requested.
Step-by-Step Process of Obtaining FCC Certification
FCC certification of PCBA is a process that involves a sequence of well-defined steps to ensure your product complies with all RF compliance testing and documentation requirements. This is the simplified breakdown:
PCBA Device Classification
Identify whether the board contains deliberate RF transmitters (such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) or is a simple digital circuit board. This determines whether you require complete FCC certification or a Declaration of Conformity.
Pre-Compliance Testing
Conduct in-house or third-party RF compliance tests of PCBA to detect and fix emission problems during the early design stage.
Select an Accredited Lab
Contract with a lab that the FCC recognizes to perform official emissions, immunity, and RF exposure tests of your completed circuit board.
Technical Documentation
Assemble a detailed technical file with schematics, layout, BOM, photos of test setups, and test reports. These are essential for FCC approval of circuit boards.
Submit to TCB to obtain Certification
In cases where devices need full certification, your application should be submitted to a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB). Upon acceptance, your PCBA is assigned a special FCC ID.
Label and Market your PCBA
Use the FCC label/FCC ID on your product or packaging as necessary. Your compliant PCBA is now approved to distribute in the U.S.
FCC ID: What It Is and How to Get One
An FCC ID is a product-specific alphanumeric code assigned to a product that has been certified by the FCC. For manufacturers, obtaining an FCC ID on circuit boards ensures that the PCBA complies with all RF and EMC requirements outlined in FCC regulations.
FCC ID PCBA: How to Get an FCC ID
Become a partner of a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB)
A TCB is a company that is allowed to provide FCC certification of PCBA and will deal with the review and approval of your product documentation.
Technical Documentation Submission
As part of the submission, include the block diagram, schematic, layout, photos of the test setup, and the RF compliance testing reports of your PCBA.
Full RF, EMC Testing
To continue with certification, your PCBA should pass official FCC tests for RF exposure and EMI emissions.
Obtain your FCC ID and Place the FCC Label
After acceptance, the TCB assigns you a distinctive FCC ID number on your circuit board. You are required to comply with FCC labeling requirements on PCBs, including displaying the FCC ID prominently on the product or its packaging.
The FCC ID on the PCBA is required for any product with RF capability, which will certify your board as legally permitted for sale and use in the U.S.
Products That Require FCC Certification
Any PCBA capable of radiating radio-frequency signals, whether by design or construction, must be FCC-certified before marketing in the U.S. These boards are used in wireless routers, Bluetooth, IoT, RFID, and embedded Wi-Fi solutions. Even digital PCBAs, which can unintentionally emit RF emissions (e.g., high-speed microcontroller boards), may need to be tested to FCC Part 15. Ensuring that the circuit boards have FCC approval at the design stage is one way to avoid redesign delays and expenses and to ensure that your product complies with U.S. regulations.
Common FCC Testing Requirements
To obtain FCC PCBA certification, PCBA manufacturers must conduct a set of RF tests to ensure their products comply with the Federal Communications Commission's limits. These are important components of RF testing for FCC compliance and should be conducted on all PCBAs with high-speed digital circuits or wireless transmitters. The major types of tests are discussed below in full sentences:
1. Radiated Emissions
Radiated emissions testing quantifies the level of inadvertent RF output that the PCBA emits into the air. This is one of the fundamental aspects of FCC emissions testing for PCBAs, particularly for boards with high-speed clocking, wireless cards, or switching regulators.
2. Conducted Emissions
Tests to assess conducted emissions include assessing the RF noise through power or data lines. Without proper filtering, this noise may cause a PCBA to fail an RF test for FCC compliance due to interference with other equipment on the same power grid.
3. Spurious Emissions
Spurious emissions are signals that are unintended and outside the device's assigned frequency range. When testing PCBAs for FCC emissions, engineers must ensure that out-of-band emissions do not exceed regulated limits to avoid interfering with other wireless services.
4. SAR RF Exposure
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) testing is conducted when a PCBA contains a wireless transmitter operating near the human body to quantify the rate of RF energy absorption into human tissue. This is a crucial step in conducting RF testing to meet FCC requirements, especially for wearable or handheld products.
5. Output of Power and Frequency Stability
This test ensures that the PCBA is transmitting at the correct frequency and within the allowed power-output range. Failure of this test may result in interference problems or even a total rejection when the PCBA is to be certified by the FCC.
FCC Certification for Imported Products
In case of importing finished electronics or pre-assembled PCBAs into the U.S., they should:
● Pass all FCC regulations
● Keep a legal FCC ID or verification certificate
● Be well labeled and documented at customs
● Failure to comply can result in detention or refusal at the ports.
FCC Certification vs. CE, IC, and UL
Certification | Region | Focus Area | PCBA-Specific Requirement | Difference |
FCC | USA | RF emissions, EMI, EMC compliance | Mandatory for PCBAs with wireless modules (e.g., Wi-Fi, BLE, Zigbee) or high-speed clock lines | Cert alone demands stringent management of unintentional RF radiation of PCB traces and harmonics |
CE (European Conformity) | EU | EMC, Low Voltage, RoHS | Requires PCBAs to meet multi-directive conformity: emissions, safety, and environmental (e.g., lead-free solder, trace spacing) | Permits self-declaration with technical documentation and risk analysis of the PCBA design stage required |
IC/ISED (Innovation, Science and Economic Development) | Canda | RF emissions, EMC (like FCC) | Required if PCBA emits RF; often done in parallel with FCC testing using harmonized limits | Must be modular certification format, perfect for PCBA with embedded transmitters (IC module IDs are not FCC format) |
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) | USA/Global | Electrical/fire safety, component quality | Focuses on PCB substrate flammability (e.g., UL94 V-0), thermal resistance, and insulation breakdown | Unlike other agencies, UL does not test emissions; it just tests material safety and electrical failure tolerance in PCB stack-up |
Costs and Timeframes
Step | Cost Range (USD) | Timeframe | Notes for PCBA |
Pre-Compliance Testing | $1,000 – $5,000 | 1-3 weeks | Early RF & EMC testing of each layout issue |
Formal Lab Testing | $2,000 – $10,000+ | 2-6 weeks | Radiated, conducted, and spurious emission tests |
Documentation & Filing | $500 – $2,000 | 1-2 weeks | Technical docs and FCC application prep |
FCC ID Assignment & Labeling | $400 – $1,000 | 1-2 weeks | FCC ID grant and label printing for PCBA |
Total | $3,900 – $18,000+ | 4-8 weeks | Depends on PCBA complexity and test scope |
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Bans or Recalls of Products
If your product is based on PCBA and found to be out of compliance with FCC regulations, the FCC may issue a stop-sale order or require a complete product recall, causing significant financial losses and operational disruption.
Fines and Penalties Under the Law
The FCC can assess civil penalties; fines can be up to $100,000 per violation per day, depending on the extent and duration of noncompliance.
Seizure of Goods under Customs
FCC documentation and labeling for imported PCBAs must be completed properly; otherwise, Customs and Border Protection may detain or seize the goods, which can slow or even suspend product distribution.
Market Access Loss
Unless your PCBA receives FCC approval, it cannot be sold or included in end products within the U.S. market, which significantly restricts a key sales channel.
Breakage of Brand Reputation
In regulated industries, such as the medical or industrial electronics sectors, non-compliance can result in public recalls, customer mistrust, and a loss of confidence among partners and investors.
Risks of Product Liability
If a non-compliant PCBA interferes with or causes a device failure, the manufacturer may be liable for product liability claims or lawsuits, particularly in safety-related applications.
Slow Time-to-Market
Identifying noncompliance issues late in the development process or after release can result in a total redesign or retesting of the PCB, causing significant delays and affecting product release.
Conclusion
Understanding the FCC certification process of PCBA is essential to manufacturers and importers of electronic products in the United States market. Regulations are learnable, and with proper investment in a compliant design and taking a phased approach to testing and approval, your product can have a clear path to market and a long history of product success.
FAQs
Is FCC certification still required on an unpowered PCBA?
No, unpowered or passive PCBAs (e.g., bare boards or test jigs) usually are not required to be FCC-certified. But after the board is populated and ready to emit RF energy, testing is required.
Does a certified module confer FCC certification to a PCBA that uses it?
Only partially. Provided the PCBA employs a pre-certified RF module, some of the full testing may be omitted--but the complete assembly should still be tested to assess unintentional emissions and integration effects.
Are prototype PCBAs required to have FCC certification?
Internal development usage is not allowed. However, when prototypes are being demonstrated publicly, shipped across state lines, or tested with end users, temporary FCC authorization may be necessary or a waiver may be required.