POTTSTOWN AREA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
PAARC holds Amateur Radio License Exam sessions with ARRL accredited Volunteer Examiners prior to most club meetings. Exams take place at St. James Lutheran Church, 93 Kugler Rd. (Swamp Pike and Kugler Rd. intersection) in Limerick, PA.
We offer electronic/paperless in-person exam sessions, and a tablet will be suppled for you to take your exam.*
Important: You’ll need a FCC FRN Number to take an exam and apply for a license. ARRL link: What to bring to an exam session
⇒ Register for your FCC 10-digit FRN Number here: https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do.
PAARC LICENSE EXAM SESSIONS
Exams are on most first Fridays of the month at 5:00 pm unless noted otherwise below. If no one has registered a week before the meeting, the session may be canceled. Exams are not offered in July and August. The cost to take an exam is $15. Please bring exact funds. If you are sitting for one exam and pass it, you will be offered the opportunity to sit for the next operator class exam for no additional charge. After your exam(s) you are welcome to stay for the PAARC general meeting at 7:00 pm.
Sign up: https://hamstudy.org/sessions
Choose the Pottstown Area Amateur Radio Club (PAARC)
If you do not see our exam session listed on hamstudy.org please contact us.
2026 Scheduled License Exam Sessions
Friday, Jan. 2
Friday, Feb. 6
Friday, March 6
Friday, April 3
Friday, May 1
Friday, June 5
*No walk-ins.You must pre-register for an exam session. *Exam dates are subject to change.
What to Bring to an Exam Session
See the FCC instructional video with instructions on how to obtain an FRN through the FCC’s Commission Registration System (CORES): https://www.fcc.gov/rofrn
⇒ Two forms of ID, or 1 photo ID
⇒ Exam fee of $15.00 due at the session, cash or check. (In addition, the FCC license application fee is $35.00 for a 10 year license.)
⇒ Two or more pencils
⇒ Calculator, if desired
OTHER AREA EXAMS
Other clubs and groups also offer in-person tests. Check the ARRL site for regional exam sessions:
http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session/
ONLINE LICENSE EXAMS
ARRL VE Teams
http://www.arrl.org/FindOnlineExam
HamStudy.org Remote Exams
https://hamstudy.org
Search for additional examination dates and teams like GLAARG where some PAARC VE’s have been participating in test sessions. Click on “Find a Session” to display the list of upcoming exams.
Licenses
TECHNICIAN 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.
GENERAL LICENSE
The General class license grants some operating privileges on all Amateur Radio bands and all operating modes. This license opens the door to world-wide communications. Earning the General class license requires passing a 35 question examination. General class licensees must also have passed the Technician written examination.
AMATEUR EXTRA LICENSE
The Amateur Extra class license conveys all available U.S. Amateur Radio operating privileges on all bands and all modes. Earning the license is more difficult; it requires passing a thorough 50 question examination. Extra class licensees must also have passed all previous license class written examinations.