Everything an importer, Amazon seller or manufacturer needs to know before shipping electronics into the United States — explained by the lab that runs the tests.
FCC authorisation comes in two forms. FCC SDoC (Supplier's Declaration of Conformity) applies to unintentional radiators — products that emit radio energy but are not designed to transmit, such as monitors, power supplies, household appliances and most LED lighting. FCC Certification (FCC ID) is mandatory for intentional radiators — anything with a radio transmitter: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, sub-GHz remotes, cellular modules.
Practical rule: if your product has a wireless module of any kind, it almost always needs an FCC ID, not an SDoC.
Cost depends on four drivers: (1) whether you need SDoC or a full FCC ID; (2) the number of radio technologies and frequency bands; (3) the number of models in a family application; (4) whether pre-compliance retesting is needed because the first sample failed.
| Item | Indicative range (USD) | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| FCC SDoC (emissions only, simple product) | 500 – 1,500 | 1–2 weeks |
| FCC ID, single-band Wi-Fi or BLE | 1,500 – 3,000 | 3–4 weeks |
| FCC ID, multi-radio (Wi-Fi + BT + cellular) | 3,000 – 6,000+ | 4–6 weeks |
| Pre-compliance scan / debugging session | 300 – 800 | 1–3 days |
Indicative market ranges only, based on typical projects we see; the final scope depends on your product complexity and the number of models. Request a quote for an exact figure.
Full certification through a TCB, including RF exposure, DFS and module integration review.
Wireless certification →Emissions and immunity testing to FCC Part 15 and EN 55032/55035 on the same samples.
EMC testing →Shipping to Europe as well? Combine FCC and CE testing on one sample set.
CE marking →FCC SDoC typically takes 1–2 weeks once samples arrive. An FCC ID typically takes 3–4 weeks, including laboratory testing and Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) review. Multi-radio products or products that fail the first emissions scan can take 4–6 weeks.
Yes for products that generate or emit radio frequency energy — which covers virtually all digital electronics. Unintentional radiators are authorised under the SDoC procedure; products with a radio transmitter require an FCC ID issued through a TCB.
SDoC is a self-declaration supported by a test report, with no filing to the FCC and no FCC ID issued. FCC ID requires filing with the FCC through a Telecommunication Certification Body, and the ID must be displayed on the product label. Any product with an intentional radio transmitter needs an FCC ID.
Often partially. Using an already-certified module can eliminate transmitter testing, but the host product usually still requires unintentional radiator (Part 15B) emissions testing, and in some cases additional SAR or RF exposure evaluation. Module suppliers' grants must be checked against your antenna and installation.
Amazon may request FCC documentation for products containing radio transmitters or digital electronics, and the FCC requires compliance regardless of the sales channel. Sellers should be able to produce a test report (SDoC) or an FCC ID grant with matching model numbers.
The lab issues a failing report with the specific frequencies and margins. Typical fixes include improving grounding and shielding, adding ferrite cores or filters on cables, slowing clock edge rates, or rerouting internal wiring. After the fix, only the affected tests are repeated.
Send your product spec and target market — we reply with scope, timeline and cost within one business day.
Email Mr. TaoBeice Testing · CNAS L10966 · CMA 92 · NTEK Group Partner Lab · Shenzhen, China
+86 199-2684-3993 · taowushuang@ntek.org.cn · 中文站