ISED Certification for Canada

Element helps bring wireless products to the Canadian market faster. As an FCB (Foreign Certification Body) recognized by ISED Canada, Element provides end-to-end testing, ISED certification services, and compliance support, from prototype testing through final approval. Simplify certification with a single-source program covering ISED, FCC, PTCRB, carrier acceptance, EMC/RF, OTA, and SAR/RF testing.

Telecommunications tower extending high above the landscape as it transmits data

What is ISED Certification at Element?

Before being sold in Canada, radio devices must be listed on Canada’s Radio Equipment List (REL), and that requires Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada certification. A Foreign Certification Body (FCB), recognized by ISED Canada, evaluates test reports and issues an ISED Technical Acceptance Certificate (TAC) that enables the required REL listing.

Recognized by ISED Canada, Element’s CAB (Conformity Assessment Body) test labs are located worldwide while Element’s FCB certifies devices for the Canadian market. Element provides single-source North American wireless testing by including ISED certification with FCC, PTCRB, carrier acceptance, EMC/RF, OTA, SAR/RF, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi Alliance testing.

Standards we test to

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RSS-Gen: General Requirements for Radio ApparatusRSS-102: RF Exposure Compliance (All Frequency Bands)RSS-102.SAR.MEAS: SAR Measurement ProcedureRSS-102.NS.MEAS: Nerve Stimulation Measurement ProcedureRadio Scope 1: Licence-Exempt Radio Frequency Devices.Radio Scope 2: Licensed Personal Mobile Radio Services.Radio Scope 3: Licensed General Mobile and Fixed Radio Services).Radio Scope 4: Licensed Maritime and Aviation Radio Services ).Radio Scope 5: Licensed Fixed Microwave Radio Services.Radio Scope 6: Hearing Aid Compatibility and Volume Control.

What can Element offer you for ISED Certification?

Element testing technician holding SAR head phantom for mobile phone radiation testing and certification

Key services offered

Element's end-to-end Advisory, Testing and Certification service offering supports manufacturers from concept to market access for wireless technology devices requiring ISED regulatory approval. As your FCB partner, we’ll guide your product to quick market access through documentation requirements, test report submissions, issuance of the ISED Technical Acceptance Certificate (TAC), and mandatory listing in the ISED Canada REL.

Our ISED conformity assessment (CAB) services include:

Advice And Guidance

Pre-Compliance Testing At The Product Development Stage

ISED Formal Radio Compliance Testing And Reporting

ISED Formal SAR Compliance Testing And Reporting

ISED EMC/RF Testing

NRTL & SCC for electrical product safety testing

ISED FCB Certification Services

Testing to support your ISED Technical Acceptance Certificate (TAC)

Products we certify

We test and certify a comprehensive range of radio equipment requiring ISED certification. From consumer wireless devices to complex IoT industrial equipment, our expertise covers requirements for radio interference protection and RF exposure, ensuring thorough evaluation against all applicable ISED RSS standards.

Methods and solutions offered

ISED certification requires test reports, technical documentation, schematic diagrams, bill of materials, user manuals, product identifiers (HVIN, PMN, IC ID), and labelling information be submitted to an FCB. Element's FCB team reviews for accuracy and compliance with applicable RSS standards, and issues a Technical Acceptance Certificate (TAC) to accompany the ISED submission. Usually within two weeks, ISED reviews/accepts the submission, and lists the product on the Radio Equipment List (REL). Only then can the product be marketed in Canada.

Which labs offer this service

Our global network of ISED-recognized FCB and CAB test labs are based outside Canada to serve manufacturers worldwide, and are conveniently located across the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Element FCB locations: Columbia MD (CAB Identifier US0110), Portland (Hillsboro Evergreen) OR (CAB Identifier US0017), and Skelmersdale UK (CAB Identifier UK1321) – enable end-to-end product certification services closely coordinating with any of our ISED CAB test labs.

Element CAB locations:

United States: Columbia, MD (CAB Identifier US0110), San Jose Piercy, CA (CAB Identifier US0211), Fremont, CA (CAB Identifier US0027), Irvine, CA (CAB Identifier US0158), Minneapolis (Brooklyn Park), MN (CAB Identifier US0175), Plano, TX (CAB Identifier US0054), Portland (Hillsboro Evergreen), OR (CAB Identifier US0017), Seattle (Bothell 120th), WA (CAB Identifier US0157).

United Kingdom: Skelmersdale (CAB Identifier UK1321)

Germany: Straubing (CAB Identifier DE0011)

South Korea: Suwon (CAB Identifier KR0169), Yongin (Unhak – 2).

Find where your nearest Connected Technologies lab is on our Locations Page

Standards we test to and products we certify

These are our most prevalent requests. Don't see what you're looking for? Contact us!

We test to all applicable ISED RSS standards, including:

General Requirements

RSS-GEN - (applicable to all RSS standards)

RSS-102 - RF Exposure (applicable to all RSS standards)

RSS-102.SAR.MEAS - Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) Compliance

RSS-102.NS.MEAS - Nerve Stimulation (NS) Compliance

RSS-102.IPD.MEAS - Incident Power Density (IPD) Compliance

RSS-HAC - Hearing Aid Compatibility

ICES-GEN - Applicable to all ICES Standards

ICES Standards (Interference-Causing Equipment)

ICES-001 - Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) Equipment

ICES-002 - Vehicles, Boats and Other Devices Equipped with Internal Combustion Engines, Traction Batteries or Both

ICES-003 - Information Technology Equipment (includes Digital Apparatus)

ICES-004 - Alternating Current High Voltage Power Systems

ICES-005 - Lighting Equipment

ICES-006 - AC Wire Carrier Current Devices (Unintentional Radiators)

ICES-008 - Cable Distribution Networks

Mobile Narrowband

RSS-134 - 900 MHz PCS

Mobile Broadband

RSS-130 - 600 and 700 MHz

RSS-132 - 800 MHz

RSS-133 - 2 GHz PCS

RSS-139 - 1710-1780 MHz, 2110-2180 MHz AWS

RSS-192 - 3450-3650 MHz Flex Use

RSS-193 - 27.5-28.35 GHz Flex Use

RSS-195 - 2305-2320 MHz, 2345-2360 MHz WCS

RSS-197 - 3650-3700 MHz WBA

RSS-198 - 3900-3980MHz Flex Use

RSS-199 - 2.5 GHz BRS

Radiolocation

RSS-137 - 902-928 MHz

RSS-211 - Level Probing Radar

RSS-220 - Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Devices

RSS-251 - 76-81 GHz Vehicular Radar Systems

Public Safety

RSS-111 - 4940-4990 MHz PSB

RSS-140 - 700 MHz PSB

Aeronautical

RSS-127 - 849-896 MHz

RSS-141 - 117-137 MHz

Satellite

RSS-170 - MES & ATC

Maritime

RSS-117 - 200-535 kHz

RSS-181 - 1.705-27.5 MHz

RSS-182 - 156-162.5 MHz

RSS-238 - 3 GHz & 9 GHz

RSS-287 - Emergency Locator Transmitters, etc.

RSS-288 - GMDSS

Land Mobile and Fixed

RSS-112 - 1.6 GHz

RSS-119 - 27.41-960 MHz

RSS-125 - 1.705-30 MHz

RSS-142 – 1429.5-1432 MHz

RSS-191 - 24, 26, 38 GHz

RSS-194 - 953-960 MHz FWA

RSS-196 - 512-608 MHz RRBS

Other Services/Applications

RSS-123 - Wireless Microphones

RSS-131 - Zone Enhancers

RSS-135 - Digital Scanner Receivers

RSS-210 - L-E Equipment

RSS-213 - 2 GHz PCS

RSS-215 - Analogue Scanner

RSS-216 - Wireless Power Transfer

RSS-222 - White Space (WSDs)

RSS-236 - 27 MHz Citizens Band (CB)

RSS-243 - 401-406 MHz Medical

RSS-244 - 413-457 MHz Medical

RSS-246 - 430-440 MHz ULP

RSS-247 - LE-LANs

RSS-248 - 5925-7125 MHz RLAN 6GHz
RSS-252 - C-V2X (OnBoard Units)

Broadcasting Equipment

BETS-1 - AM Broadcasting Transmitters

BETS-6 - FM Broadcasting Transmitters

Your Challenges, Our Solutions

Market Access Delays

Streamline your path to the Canadian market with Element’s testing-to-certification approach. Our CABs handle testing and documentation, while our FCBs evaluate results and issue an ISED Technical Acceptance Certificate (TAC) that enables the required posting in the REL.

Global Regulatory Compliance

Backed by a global network of local experts, Element helps manufacturers navigate regulatory requirements across North America, Europe, and Asia. By aligning compliance activities with your broader product goals, we reduce complexity and accelerate market access.

Technical Compliance Complexity

Because Element is an ISED-recognized FCB, an FCC-authorized TCB and a PTCRB Primary Lab, we simplify the process through a single-source certification program including carrier acceptance testing. We’ll streamline testing and guide your path to market compliance.

Product Development Uncertainty

Avoid surprises late in the development cycle with Element's early-stage advisory and pre-compliance services. Through design consultation, prototype testing, and regulatory guidance, we identify issues before they become costly problems and help keep product launches on track.

Element Experts at your Service

Nima Molaei

Senior Global Technical Director for Connected Technologies

Steve Hayes

Technical Director - Connected Technologies

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Why Choose Element

Element test engineer setting up equipment in RF testing chamber

Global Reach, Local Access

Element offers a global ISO/IEC 17025-accredited network for ISED certification with three FCB locations and 12 CAB test labs worldwide.

Complete Certification Authority

As an ISED FCB, FCC TCB, PTCRB Primary Test Lab, and carrier compliance partner, Element streamlines North American market access.

Independent, Accredited Certification

ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation ensures objective certification decisions and strict conflict-of-interest management, giving your ISED approvals flawless credibility.

Reduce Risk, Accelerate Market Entry

Pre-compliance guidance and testing identify issues before formal ISED testing. Element coordinates parallel programs to eliminate any duplication.

3
FCB Locations

Element has 3 FCB locations worldwide for ISED certification.

12
CAB Test Labs Worldwide

12 ISED-recognized labs in the US, Europe and Asia.

ISO/IEC 17065

Element has operated as an accredited FCB since the program's inception.

6
Radio Scopes, ISED Certification

Element certifies all 6 ISED Canada radio equipment accreditation categories.

Element engineer monitoring SAR equipment during technology testing

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to perform separate tests for ISED and FCC, or can they share test data?

In many cases, test data generated for FCC certification can also support the ISED certification application, since FCC rules and ISED RSS standards have significant overlap, particularly for radio performance and RF exposure. Element's FCB/TCB team reviews test scope at the start of each project to identify maximum overlap and plan a single test program that satisfies both FCC and ISED requirements simultaneously. When additional ISED-specific testing is needed (for example, additional RSS standards not covered by FCC requirements), Element plans that testing in advance as part of the combined program so there is no additional scheduling overhead.

Is FCC certification accepted in Canada?

No. FCC certification applies only to the US market. Separate ISED (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) certification is required for the Canadian market, even for products that are physically identical to FCC-certified versions. The IC ID number (applied after receiving ISED certification) must appear on the product label in addition to, not instead of the FCC ID. Element holds both FCC TCB and ISED FCB status and manages both programs simultaneously.

What regulatory accreditations does Element hold for ISED and global market access?

Element is a Foreign Certification Body (FCB) for Canada and a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) for the US, with extensive ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing services. Element holds accreditations for all major regions and industries, including:

Notified Body for European Radio Equipment, EMC and ATEX Directives

Approved Body for UK Radio Equipment Regulation, EMC Regulation and Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulation

Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory (NRTL) for North America

Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) for Japan

Certification body under the IECEE CB Scheme

Does FCC or ISED certification mean my device is approved by carriers like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile?

No. FCC and ISED certifications authorize a wireless device for sale in the US and Canada, but do not guarantee carrier-specific approval. Most cellular devices must also complete PTCRB certification and carrier-specific programs like Verizon Open Development (OD), T-Mobile DICE, or AT&T Network Ready. These programs verify network compatibility and performance before a device is activated on a carrier network. As a PTCRB Primary Test Lab, Element supports PTCRB and carrier certification testing through a single-source North American certification program.

Can FCC and ISED certifications expire, or are wireless device certifications grandfathered when regulations change?

Neither FCC nor ISED certification has a fixed expiration date. FCC approvals generally remain valid unless a device modification requires additional evaluation. ISED, however, expects a certified device to remain compliant with current regulations. When ISED standards change, manufacturers may need to assess impacts, update documentation, or perform additional testing to maintain compliance. Therefore, Canadian certifications often require more ongoing regulatory oversight than US certifications. Element continuously tracks evolving ISED standards to help manufacturers maintain compliance with minimal internal effort.

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