Amateur Radio is a fascinating hobby you can enjoy your entire life. There are many different facets to it and there is something for everyone, no matter the age. Getting your license can be relatively easy, especially with preparation and study. Operation of an amateur station requires an amateur operator license grant from the FCC. There are three classes of license, each authorizing privileges corresponding to the qualifications required. The classes of license, from highest to lowest are: Amateur Extra Class, General Class, and Technician Class. Morse code is no longer required to qualify for a license.
Before receiving a license grant, you must pass an examination administered by a team of volunteer examiners (VEs). Most new amateur radio operators start with the Technician Class operator license. If you pass an exam with an accredited VE team you will be offered the opportunity to stay and take the next license class exam. So if you study for the Technician class license, you may want to also study for the General class license. Some people have passed all three exams in one exam session.
Technician Class License
The Technician class license is the entry-level license of choice for most new ham radio operators. To earn the Technician license requires passing one examination totaling 35 questions on radio theory, regulations and operating practices. The license gives access to all Amateur Radio frequencies above 30 megahertz, allowing these licensees the ability to communicate locally and most often within North America. It also allows for some limited privileges on the HF (also called “short wave”) bands used for international communications.
The Technician class exam or “Element 2” is a 35-question multiple choice test. To pass, you must answer 26 correctly; 74%.
Technician class question pool: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Education/TechnicianClass/QPOOL.pdf
General Class License
The General class license is the second license class one can obtain after first receiving their Technician class license. This gives you privileges in portions of all of the amateur radio HF bands. These HF bands allow for communication around the world with a set up as simple as a transceiver, a home-built wire antenna, and a battery.
The General class license exam, like the technician class, is a 35-question multiple choice test. To pass, you must answer 26 questions correctly.
General class question pool: http://www.arrl.org/general-question-pool
Amateur Extra License
The Amateur Extra license is the third and final license an Amateur Radio operator can obtain. You must first pass the technician and general class before you can take the Extra class test. After passing the amateur extra exam, or “Element 4”, you will have full use of all of the frequencies allocated for Amateur Radio use.
The amateur radio Amateur Extra class exam is a 50-question multiple choice test. To pass, you must answer at least 37 questions correctly.
View the Amateur Extra class question pool: http://www.arrl.org/extra-question-pool
(The Extra pool is being revised and a new updated pool will
be released on July 1, 2024.)
Studying for Exams
The best way to prepare for the Amateur Radio exams is to study. Fortunately, there are many tools available on the internet to help you do this. Study guides are available online as well as in book form. We recommend the books published by the ARRL (The National Association for Amateur Radio). These books have all of the information you need to know to pass the exams and also have all of the questions and answer you could see on the test. Study guides can be purchased directly from the ARRL website. The question pools change every 4 years so make sure you have the latest book if buying one from other sources.
There are websites to help with studying. Below are a some that have study information as well as practice exams with the same questions you will see on the actual exams. Some people will use several of these practice exam sites to make sure they see a good range of all of the questions.
YouTube is a great resource to help you study for exams. Here are a few popular YouTube Channels to help you succeed:
Taking the Exam
Once you are prepared to take the exam you must first obtain your FRN number from the FCC. You will need to register on the FCC Cores website as well as apply for an FRN number. Once you have your FRN number you can take your exam. Exam sessions are often referred to as “VE sessions”. A “VE”, or volunteer examiner, is a licensed Amateur Radio operator that has been given the authorization to administer exams by the “VEC” or Volunteer Examiners Coordinator. Each exam session must have 3 VE’s to give the tests.
To signup for PAARC’s exam sessions visit: https://www.paarc.net/license-exams/
To find additional in-person exam sessions in the region visit:
You may also take an exam in the comfort of your home. To take the exams online you will need a computer as well as web cameras so the examiners can see you and the room. View available online exam sessions here:
After Passing the Exam
Once you’ve passed your Technician exam the FCC will email you with instructions to pay the $35 FCC fee for your license. A callsign will be issued typically within 7-10 days or maybe sooner. Once your callsign shows up in the FCC database you can use your new privileges and make your first transmission. Be sure to get on the PAARC Nets on Wednesday and Sunday nights. This is a great way to test your equipment and signals, meet area hams, and begin your new an exciting adventure in ham radio!
Once licensed, you may want to join the ARRL. Members can dive deeper into amateur radio with access to their monthly publications (all online and some printed for an extra member fee): “On the Air” for new hams, “QST”, “QEX”, and the “National Contest Journal”. The ARRL also offers webinars and online courses in the ARRL Learning Center. These courses provide additional instruction and training for getting on the air, emergency communications, and electronics and technology. Once you join you can visit: https://learn.arrl.org/
VIEW THE AMATEUR RADIO BAND PLAN GRAPHIC
Text version https://www.arrl.org/band-plan
For over 100 years amateur radio and ARRL — the National Association for Amateur Radio® — have stood for the development of the science and art of communications, public service, and the enhancement of international goodwill. Amateur Radio’s long history and service to the public has solidified the well-earned reputation that “Amateur Radio saves lives.”Amateur Radio Operators, due to their history of public service, their training, and the requirement that they be licensed by the FCC have earned their status as a component of critical communications infrastructure and as a reliable resource “when all else fails.”