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CE, FCC, UL – do you really know the difference? In today’s connected environments, IoT device certifications serve as the “market pass” that is essential to bring an IoT project to market. For any scale IoT deployment, whether in a warehouse, in logistics operations or in smart city deployments, the right device certifications are not something to be neglected. It will define whether your IoT devices will operate legally, safely and reliably within your target environment.
As an original IoT device manufacturer, our products are typically applied to regulated environments, and we understand that the compliance of such devices isn’t optional but a necessity. With that said, what are IoT device certifications, how do they differ from one another, and can these compliance marks truly be trusted? To make it easier to pick the right certified IoT device that best fits your needs, we briefly clarify the various device certifications, and focus on the often-mentioned ones.
What is IoT device certification
IoT device certification is a formal validation that electronic devices have to gain to demonstrate that they meet technical, safety, and regulatory requirements for market deployment. These certifications ensure that the devices have passed certain standards of electromagnetic compatibility, radio frequency emissions, safety, and even protocol interoperability.
The modern manufacturer wants to certify their products before market entry and build trust with partners and customers. For IoT solution providers and hardware distributors, it brings to their attention the reliability of ensuring hardware devices meet compliance with local and international regulations.
Signal interference, lower network performance, security vulnerabilities and most importantly, violation of regulations designed to protect users and infrastructure may be caused by the uncertified devices.
That is why the proper certifications play a crucial role in protecting the end users and system integrators from legal, technical and financial risks.
Types of IoT device certifications
IoT devices often require different certifications to be sold in a particular market. Understanding the applicable certification categories helps determine which ones intersect with your specific IoT deployment needs. What’s compliant for regulatory requirements is usually better for device reliability, too. It is possible to classify certifications of devices into several main categories with their own requirements and rules.
Regulatory & Radio Certifications
FCC ( Federal Communications Commission ) is widely applied to certify devices that comply with the US electromagnetic emission regulations and the radio frequency requirements. The CE marking in Europe enables manufacturers to show compliance with standards on health, environmental safety and protection. IC (Industry Canada) certification confirms the support of the rules of radio equipment in Canada. Such certifications, including China SSRC and Korea KCC, are mandatory for devices that transmit or receive radio signals and ensure they operate within allocated frequency bands without causing interference.
Electrical Safety & Environmental
UL standards certify the devices on electrical safety and fire safety to the mechanical hazards. Compliance with RoHS will help to be sure that devices contain no prohibited hazardous materials. REACH is used to ensure chemical safety and environmental protection by restricting harmful substances in IoT devices. WEEE directive addresses the environment responsibility in the disposal of electronic waste.
Connectivity & Protocol Certifications
Bluetooth SIG validates Bluetooth protocol implementation and interoperability. Wi-Fi Alliance guarantees interoperability and security compliance of wireless LAN among manufacturers and between a variety of devices. LoRa Alliance provides compliance to networking protocols of low-power wireless communication. Matter (formerly Project CHIP) ensures cross-platform smart home device interoperability.
Carrier Certification
PTCRB (PCS Type Certification Review Board) is used to validate cellular devices for North American carrier networks. Similar validation of international carrier networks can be provided through GCF (Global Certification Forum). Carrier-specific certifications from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and other network operators ensure devices meet their network requirements and performance standards. These technologies are capable of verifying the compatibility of devices with specific cellular technologies such as 4G LTE, 5G, NB-IoT and LTE-M networks.
New EU RED cybersecurity requirements taking effect August 2025
The Radio Equipment Directive (RED) has undergone significant updates with the introduction of (EU) 2025/138, establishing three new critical cybersecurity requirements that took effect on August 1, 2025. These changes fundamentally impact how IoT device manufacturers and solution providers approach compliance and prepare for the European market.
Three new cybersecurity articles
- Article 3.3(d) – Network Protection: Prevents radio devices that communicate over the internet from compromising or harming networks.
- Article 3.3(e) – Data Protection and Privacy: Applies to internet-connected radio devices that handle personal or location data.
- Article 3.3(f) – Fraud Prevention: Targets devices that handle financial assets, virtual currency, or payment processing.
Who is affected?
OEM products bearing the CE mark that fulfill any of the following criteria:
– Features IP-based network connectivity
– Processes personal or location data
– Handles financial or virtual monetary data
– Classified as wearable devices
– Designed for childcare or classified as toys
For IoT device manufacturers, this means most connected products – including wearable devices, Bluetooth beacons, LoRaWAN sensors, and general-purpose IoT applications, now require cybersecurity compliance assessment.
Do IoT device certifications expire?
Most certifications don’t technically expire; however, they may lose their validity due to several factors that affect ongoing IoT deployments. Regulatory requirements change over time, e.g., the new EU’s cybersecurity requirements under RED will enter force in 2025. Device modifications may require re-certification. Some cellular carrier certifications have renewal requirements.
Additionally, as you expand IoT deployments or integrate new device types, you may need additional certifications. Certification maintenance is an often-missed part of estimating the true total cost of ownership for large-scale IoT projects.
De-risking certification with certified IoT hardware
An efficient way to minimize certification risks is to partner with IoT hardware manufacturers that provide full portfolios of certified devices. Experienced manufacturers will manage the complex certification process upfront, so you do not have to go through the compliance headache and can get straight to deployment.
Faster project deployment: Certified devices eliminate the 3-6 month certification timeline entirely. Your IoT deployment can move directly from procurement to installation, significantly reducing time-to-market for critical projects.
Reduced compliance and return risks: Non-compliant devices create costly project failures through regulatory rejections, product recalls, and damaged customer relationships.
Ecosystem integration confidence: Pre-tested, certified hardware across our products eliminates compatibility and performance uncertainties in mixed-technology deployments.
Enhanced end-user trust and adoption: Certifications like FCC, CE, and UL serve as recognized trust indicators that reduce user hesitation and accelerate adoption rates. This aspect of trust matters when the industry is regulated and not complying is not an option.
Global market access: Comprehensive regional certifications enable immediate access to multiple markets through a single procurement decision.
At MOKOSmart, we understand these challenges because we’ve navigated the certification landscape extensively. MOKOSmart is a member of the Bluetooth SIG and LoRaWAN Alliance. All our IoT devices come pre-certified with necessary approvals for major global markets.
Streamline your IoT project with certified MOKO IoT devices
The most effective approach for IoT projects is partnering with established hardware suppliers. At MOKOSmart, we’ve made significant investments in certification to support the success of system integrators, solution providers, and procurement teams. Our manufacturing facilities and product lines maintain certifications including FCC, CE, RoHS, REACH, TÜV, UL, ETL, and Apple MFi.
Whether you’re deploying Bluetooth beacons for indoor positioning, LoRaWAN sensors for smart parking, cellular trackers for asset management, or integrated solutions combining multiple technologies, our certified hardware portfolio accelerates your time-to-market while ensuring regulatory compliance.
