ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO LICENSING:
I. Steps to Getting Your First Amateur Radio License
II. Amateur Radio License Study Resources
III. What to Bring to our Exam Sessions
IV. Register for an Exam with our VE Team
I. Steps to Getting Your First Amateur Radio License:
1. Have a valid U.S. mailing address
2. Have a valid email address
3. Study for your Exam (Study Resources)
4. Take Practice Exams (online, aps) until you consistently score a passing grade
5. Obtain an individual FCC Registration Number (FRN).( request one at fcc.gov (learn more)
6. Register for a Written Exam
7. Arrive at the test location with These Items:
7. Pay a testing fee of $15 (Youth under 18 years of age may qualify to take their exams for free under the new ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program)
8. Pass the Written Exam
9. Pay a $35 FCC licensing fee to the FCC, within 10 days of email notification from the FCC (Youth under 18 years of age may qualify for reimbursement of this fee under the new ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program)
BACK TO TOP
II. Amateur Radio License Study Resources
ARRL License Exam Manuals
The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual (for Technician Class)
The ARRL General Class License Manual
The ARRL Extra Class License Manual
Pass Your Test the Easy Way Books
Pass Your Amateur Radio Technician Class Test - The Easy Way: 2019-June 2022 Edition
Pass Your Amateur Radio General Class Test - The Easy Way: 2019-2023 Edition
Pass Your Amateur Radio Extra Class Test - The Easy Way: 2020-2024 Edition
KB6NU PDF Study Guides
KB6NU No-Nonsense Study Guides (Technician guide is a free pdf e-book)
Online
Videos
Dave KEØOG walks viewers through the ARRL license manuals in this excellent series of YouTube videos.
Ham Radio Tech License Videos
General License Videos
Amateur Extra License Videos
Free Online Study and Practice Tests:
eHam.net
HamExam.org
HamStudy.org
Online Study and Practice Tests:
ARRL Online Exam Review
HamTestOnline.com
iOS Apps:
Ham Test Prep: Technician, General, Extra
Android:
Technician Test Prep: Android
BACK TO TOP
III. What to Bring to our Exam Sessions
In order to take an Amateur Radio Exam you must bring the following to our Exam Sessions:
1. Bring your FCC Registration Number (FRN). Examinees are required by
the FCC to submit their FRN with their license application form.
New license applicants must create an FCC user account and
register their Social Security Number (SSN) in the FCC Commission
Registration System (CORES) before attending exam sessions.
Registrants will be assigned an FRN which will be used in all license
transactions with the FCC. For instructions on how to register your
SSN and receive an FRN from the FCC, visit the CORES Registration page and the FCC's Registration instructions page.
Per FCC rules, a valid email address is also mandatory on the
application form to receive FCC correspondence, including the official
copy of your Amateur Radio license.
2. Bring ONE legal photo ID (identification):
a. State Driver’s License
b. Government issued Passport
c. Military or Law Enforcement Officer Photo ID card
d. Student School Photo ID card
e. State Photo ID card
If no photo ID is available, bring two forms of identification:
a. Non-photo State ID card (some states still have them)
b. Birth certificate (must have the appropriate seal)
c. Social security card
d. Employer's wage statement or Minor's work permit
e. School ID card
f. School or Public Library card
g. Utility bill, bank statement or other business correspondence that
specifically names the person; or a postmarked envelope addressed to the person at his or her current mailing address as it appears on
the Form 605.
Students/minors who do have a photo ID need to bring only one of the
above items if a legal guardian presents their photo ID; otherwise two non-photo IDs are required.
Minor children (under the age of 18) may be accompanied in the room by an adult during the test.
Minor children under 13 must be accompanied in the room by an adult during the test.
3. If you are already licensed (or you have an expired license), bring a printed copy of your Amateur Radio license.
Acceptable copies or printouts of licenses are available from the
following sources: the official license or reference license printed
from the FCC website or license data printed from the ARRL website
or QRZ website.
The original(s) and photocopy(s) of any Certificates of Successful
Completion of Examination (CSCE) you may hold from
previous exam sessions. If your license has already been issued by
the FCC, the CSCE showing license credit is not needed.
These copies will not be returned.
Instructions on how to obtain an official FCC license copy are on
our Obtain License Copy web page.
4. Bring two # 2 pencils with erasers and a pen.
Bank scratch paper will be provided by the examiners if needed.
5. A calculator with the memory erased and formulas cleared is allowed.
You may be asked to demonstrate that the memory is clear. You may not bring any written notes or calculations into the exam session.
Slide rules and logarithmic tables are acceptable, as long as they're free of notes and formulas.
Cell phone must be silenced or turned off during the exam session and
the phones' calculator function may not be used.
In addition, iPhones, iPads, Androids, smartphones, Blackberry devices
and all similar electronic devices with a calculator capability, may NOT
be used.
6. Bring a check, a money order, or cash to cover the ARRL VEC Exam Session Fee of $15.
Make checks and money orders payable to ARRL. That one fee pays for one attempt at each of the three exam elements (Tech, General, Extra) during the Exam Session. If a candidate fails an element at an exam session and wants to re-test for the same element, an additional fee will be required.
9. Be aware that some information about you will be made publicly available
on the FCC's website (FCC Licensee Privacy) including a felony conviction
status. All applicants must answer the Basic Qualification Question (felony
conviction status question) on the 605 Form at the exam session.
Applicants that answer "YES" for the question must follow these FCC
procedures: FCC qualification question instructions
BACK TO TOP
IV. Register for an Exam with our VE Team
Please send an email with the following information to: i n f o @ s c o t t c o u t y a r c dot o r g
First Name
Last Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Email
Contact Phone Number
Age
FCC Registration Number (FRN) All persons must have one to take an exam. Request one at fcc.gov (learn more)
License Class Exam(s) You Would Like to Take (Tech, General, Extra)
Do you have a visual impairment or other disability which might require special testing techniques or materials?
Once you provide all of the above information, our VE Team Liaison will contact you with a list of dates which we will be available to administer your exam.
BACK TO TOP
Candidates with disabilities which require special testing techniques or materials are requested to notify the team in advance to ensure that enough personnel and/or materials will be on hand to conduct the test. Contact the VE Team Leader for information.
VE Team Liaison: Don Loper, N5SPJ
BACK TO TOP
Copyright 2010 - 2023 Scott County ARC, K1REZ
|