Does Your Product Need FCC ID or Sdoc Certification?

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) certification is a process involving testing, evaluation, application, and approval of electronic products to ensure that they do not cause harmful interference to other electronic devices and that they comply with U.S. laws and regulations. All electronic devices imported, sold, or made available on the U.S. market must meet FCC certification requirements. Non-compliant products are considered illegal.

Currently, FCC certification is divided into two categories: fcc sdoc Certification and fcc id Certification. So how do you determine which one your product needs?

FCC sdoc Certification — For Products Without Wireless Modules

1. Applicable Standard: Part 15

2. Target Products: Products without wireless functionality, tested for EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) only.

3. Registration: No registration required. Certification can be issued by any A2LA-accredited lab in the U.S.

4. Examples: Lighting products, small appliances, IT equipment, AV devices, mechanical products, etc.

5. Cost: Generally lower since there's no need for GC number registration or wireless testing. Prices from A2LA-accredited labs typically range from \$2,000 to \$3,000, depending on the lab.

6. Certificate Lookup: Check on the issuing laboratory’s official website (no centralized FCC database for SDoC).

7. Turnaround Time: Typically completed within 7 business days.

8. Required Documents: Application form and one product sample.

FCC ID Certification — For Products With Wireless Modules

1. Applicable Standard: Part 15C

2. Testing Scope: Products with wireless functionality require testing for both EMC + RF (Radio Frequency).

3. Registration Process: Initial FCC ID application requires GC number registration on the U.S. TCB (Telecommunication Certification Body) website. Only after this can test results be uploaded and certification issued.

4. Target Products: Devices with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, etc.

5. Cost: Higher than SDoC. Initial GC registration costs \$100 USD. Testing fees vary depending on the wireless module. For Bluetooth-only products, total costs (including GC registration) typically range from \$8,000 to \$12,000 depending on the lab.

6. Certificate Lookup: U.S. TCB official website.

7. Turnaround Time: Typically 10 to 15 business days.

8. Required Documents: Circuit schematic, English block diagram, silk screen diagram, user manual in English, frequency locking software and method, etc. Three samples are required—one for frequency locking, two standard units.

Additional Notes

1. FCC ID only regulates transmit modules. Receiving modules are not subject to FCC ID certification. So, if your product only has a receiving module, it may be certified under FCC SDoC (based on current policies).

2. GC Number Registration: Once a company registers a GC number, all FCC ID certificates applied by that company can be queried under the same GC number—registration is required only once per company.

3. Market Access: FCC certification is mandatory for the U.S. market. While FCC focuses on electromagnetic compatibility, it doesn’t regulate battery safety. Therefore, FCC SDoC certification alone is sufficient to enter the U.S. market in principle.

However, to enter large retailers like Walmart, additional certifications such as UL or ETL may be required.