Free tool
Compliance Route Finder
Tell us what you are building and where you want to sell it. You get the regulations that apply, the standards normally used, the order to test in, what your Declaration of Conformity must contain, and the risks we see most often on that exact configuration.
Five questions
Pick your target markets and product type to see your route.
Engineering guidance based on how these projects usually run, not a legal assessment. Your final route depends on the product's intended use and the details of your design.
Frequently asked questions
Is there such a thing as CE certification?
No. In the EU you apply the CE marking and sign a Declaration of Conformity yourself, backed by a technical file. A third party is only involved when the applicable legislation requires it or when you deviate from harmonised standards.
Does using a pre-certified radio module mean I skip radio testing?
Partly. A module grant covers the radio itself when you respect its integration conditions: approved antenna, layout, firmware and labelling. Your finished product still needs EMC testing, and any change to the antenna or the radio conditions puts the approval back on you.
When should pre-compliance testing happen?
As soon as a board powers up and runs representative firmware. Pre-compliance is about finding problems while the layout, filters and enclosure can still change, after tooling, the same problem costs an order of magnitude more.
Can I reuse EU test reports for the UK and the US?
For the UK, largely yes: designated standards mirror the EN versions, so EU evidence is normally reusable under the UKCA route. For the US, no: FCC has its own limits and test procedures, and intentional radiators need a grant issued through a Telecommunication Certification Body.
How accurate is this tool?
It reflects how these projects usually run and is designed to give you the right shape of the route and the questions to ask. It is not a legal assessment: the final list depends on the intended use, the construction and the details of your design.
Related reading
- The EMC Directive (2014/30/EU)What the EMC Directive covers, whether it applies to your product, the emissions and immunity testing involved, and the failures we see most often in the chamber.
- The Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU)When the LVD applies, how EN 62368-1 works in practice, what safety testing involves, and the construction decisions that cause late redesigns.
- The Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230How the Machinery Regulation replaces Directive 2006/42/EC, when your product counts as machinery, what functional safety means for your electronics, and where projects stall.
Free tools
Radio Path Chooser
Pre-certified module or your own radio? Compare certification, cost, timeline and the changes that force a retest.