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Getting Licensed

In the US, transmitting on amateur frequencies requires an FCC license. The entry-level license is Technician. Getting it means passing one written exam — no Morse code, no equipment required, no prior experience.

There are three US license classes, in order: Technician, General, Extra. Each unlocks more frequencies. Technician is where everyone starts, and it's plenty: local and regional talking on VHF/UHF, plus a useful slice of worldwide shortwave (see Bands and Modes). You can upgrade later without re-taking anything you've already passed.

The exam

  • Element 2 — the Technician written exam.
  • 35 multiple-choice questions, drawn from a public question pool. You need 26 correct (74%) to pass.
  • The current pool is the NCVEC 2026–2030 Technician pool: 409 questions, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. Every exam question comes word-for-word from this public pool — there are no surprise questions.
  • No Morse code test. The FCC eliminated Morse proficiency testing in 2007 (WT Docket 05-235).

The path, step by step

1. Get an FRN first

Before exam day, register with the FCC's CORES system to get an FRN (FCC Registration Number) — a ten-digit ID that stands in for your Social Security number on all FCC paperwork. Bring it to the exam session. You cannot complete licensing without one.

2. Study

The whole pool is public, so the honest study method is: learn the material, then drill practice exams until you consistently pass.

  • hamstudy.org — free flashcards and practice exams built on the current pool. This is the single most-recommended study tool in the hobby, and it's free.
  • ARRL license manuals — the ARRL (the national amateur radio association) publishes study guides for each class. Good if you want explanations, not just answers.
  • Practice exams — take full 35-question practice exams until you're scoring comfortably above 26. A typical rule of thumb: pass five in a row before you book a session.

The exam covers FCC rules, operating procedures, basic electricity and electronics, antennas, and safety. You don't need to be an engineer — the math is arithmetic (Ohm's law, power calculations), and the rules section is memorization.

3. Find an exam session

Exams are given by Volunteer Examiners (VEs) — licensed hams accredited by a VEC (Volunteer Examiner Coordinator). Sessions run all over the country, in person and online.

  • The ARRL keeps a searchable list of exam sessions on its website (search "ARRL find an exam session").
  • In person: typical format is a paper or computer exam at a club meeting, library, or hamfest. Bring photo ID, your FRN, and the session fee.
  • Online: remote sessions via video call exist (webcam, quiet room, ID check). Availability varies by VEC — the big remote teams publish their schedules online.

4. Pay the fees

Two separate fees, paid to two different places:

Fee Amount Paid to
Exam session fee Typically $14–15; some sessions (e.g., Laurel VEC teams) are free The VEC team at the session
FCC application fee $35 The FCC, via CORES, after you pass

The $35 FCC fee applies to new license applications. You do not pay it at the exam — after the VEC files your passing result, the FCC emails you payment instructions, and you pay through your CORES account. Upgrades to a higher class later are exempt from the FCC fee (you'd only pay the session fee again).

5. Get your callsign

Once the VEC files your result and you've paid the $35 FCC fee, the FCC issues your license and callsign — typically within a few days. It appears in the FCC's ULS (Universal Licensing System) database, and that's the moment you're legal to transmit. Your paper license follows electronically.

After you're licensed

  • Your license is valid for 10 years, renewable without retesting.
  • Your callsign is yours to keep through renewals (you can also request a different one through the vanity callsign program).
  • Upgrading to General means passing one more 35-question exam (Element 3); Extra adds a 50-question exam (Element 4). Many hams stay happily at Technician for years.

Check: Before booking a session, verify the current pool dates. The pool in use from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030 is the 2026–2030 Technician pool — make sure your study materials match it. Materials written for the old 2022–2026 pool will mislead you.

Next: Callsigns — your on-air identity and how to say it so people understand you.