| Register here for a test session |
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Please visit the ARRL site that explains hamradio. We'll open this in a new window for you so you'll remember to come back.
Yes! After almost 4 years of discussion, the FCC decided to eliminate Morse code telegraphy testing for any of the classes of Amateur Radio licenses. This decision was announced on December 15, 2006 and the changes became effective on February 23, 2007.
Read the entire 42 page FCC Report & Order (PDF).
No! Expired CSCEs for Element 3 are no longer valid for upgrades to General. However, if you held a Technician-class license issued prior to 1987-03-21 and you can supply proof of that, you can receive credit for the current Element 3. This is true even if that Technician license has expired. The ARRL VEC has all the details.
Yes! As of February 23, 2007, all Technician-class radioamateurs gain access to parts of the HF spectrum regardless of whether they ever passed a Morse code test. Technicians can use CW from 3525-3600, 7025-7125, 21025-21200, and 28000-28500 kHz. They can also use Data from 28000-28300 kHz and SSB voice from 28300-28500 kHz. No additional testing or paperwork is necessary!
Yes, please! All paperwork is prepared in advance to speed the session. Registration also allows the SCARS VE Team to manage demand. "Walk-ins" are welcome, but will be handled on a space-available basis and will be processed only after all pre-registered applicants are checked in. Please use our online form to register and thanks!
| Upcoming Exam Dates and Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Register here for a test session | ||||
| Date | Elements Passed |
New Hams |
Upgrades | Days to issue license |
| 2012 | ||||
| January 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | |
| February 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| March 8 SCARS License Class only |
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| April 5 | ||||
| May 3 | ||||
| June 7 | ||||
| Previous results: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 | ||||
| Identification | A legal photo ID will be needed. A driver's license or Federal Common Access Card is ideal. If photo ID is not available, two forms of identification must be presented (birth certificate, report card, library card, Social Security card, utility bill, bank statement, Non-photo ID/driver's license, etc). Students may bring a school ID card, minor's work permit, school report card, library card and/or a written note from a legal guardian. |
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| Licence, CSCE | If you are already an Amateur Radio Operator and you are upgrading, you'll need to bring your original FCC license and a copy, as well as any Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE - also original and copy) for upgrades not yet reflected on your license. |
| Fee | For 2012, the ARRL VEC fee for participating in the test session remains $15. This fee covers ARRL VEC costs associated with preparing the exams and transmitting the data to the FCC. It covers all exam elements that a candidate passes in a given test session. An additional fee will be collected if a candidate wishes to retake a failed exam element. |
| Pencil or pen | Tests are multiple choice and hand graded, so pencil or pen are permitted. Please note that all forms (Form 605, CSCE) must be in ink. The VE Team has a supply of pens and pencils but candidates are encouraged to bring their own. Note: Please do not write in the exam booklet - scratch paper is available. |
| Calculator | We have a few simple electronic calculators for candidates' use. Sorry, no PDAs, Smart Phones, or any other network-connected devices! |
| Form 605 | Sessions go faster if you register for your exam. However, if you choose not to pre-register please be sure to fill out the NCVEC Form 605 (Instructions for Form 605) and bring the completed form with you to the session. This is the form that all VECs, ARRL VEC included, use to collect candidate information in preparation for transmission to the FCC. Complete Section 1 only and leave any confusing boxes blank until the exam session. |
Note: The FCC requires licensees to register in their Universal Licensing System before a license can be issued. The ARRL VEC will handle this task for candidates, but for them to do that candidates will need to incude their TIN, or Taxpayer Identification Number, on the Form 605. Since the TIN is a candidate's Social Security Number, candidates who wish to further protect their privacy may wish to register in the ULS and receive an FRN ("FCC Registration Number") before registering for their exam session. Current licensees may have their FRN printed on their license; if not, FRNs can be determined by visiting an online callsign server.
If you've studied the ARRL license manuals and are comfortable with the questions in the question pool, then you are probably ready to take the test.
If, on the other hand, you have been passing on-line practice exams and doing little else in the way of preparing, then it has been the team's experience that you are likely not sufficiently prepared to pass the written exam.
This is not a blanket indictment of on-line test sites, just our observation that students who fail the written tests, especially the entry-level Technician test, often state that they can't understand why they failed since they "always pass" the on-line test.
The Question and Answer Pools are in the public domain, per FCC regulation, but these provide no background material to help future hams actually understand the answers. There are many study guides available that do provide this background and the team has made some recommendations below.
The exam is a 35-question, multiple-choice exam. Questions are drawn from a pool of over 500 questions. The subject breakdown is covered in the next table.
Rather than try to memorize the pool, the SCARS VE Team recommends the following ARRL study guides for people interested in obtaining a Technician-class license:
(Recommended for returning hams or candidates that are very familiar with electronic theory.)
For candidates studying for the General- and Amateur Extra-class licenses, the team recommends the following ARRL study guides:
As reference material, particularly for the Technician exam, the team
recommends FCC Rules and Regulations for the Amateur Radio Service (ARRL publication)
| Technician Exam Breakdown | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sub Element | Subject | Number of Questions on Exam (Total 35) |
| T1 | FCC Rules | 5 |
| T2 | Methods of Communication | 2 |
| T3 | Radio Phenomena | 2 |
| T4 | Station Licensee Duties | 3 |
| T5 | Control Operator Duties | 3 |
| T6 | Good Operating Practices | 3 |
| T7 | Basic Communications Electronics | 3 |
| T8 | Good Engineering Practice | 6 |
| T9 | Special Operations | 2 |
| T0 | Electrical, Antenna Structure and RF Safety Practices | 6 |
Succesful candidates should be familiar (very familiar) with the following:
The ARRL maintains a database of upcoming exams.
Once a candidate has successfully completed an examination for a new license or upgrade, the SCARS VE team completes the necessary paperwork and sends the results to the ARRL VEC by overnight courier. The ARRL VEC then verifies the paperwork and enters the data into a system that transmits the resulting information to the FCC. The FCC then updates its master database of Amateur licensees. Once a candidate's information and callsign appear in the the FCC database, the license has been legally granted and Amateur Radio operations may begin! A variety of databases are available on the net where candidates may check to see if the FCC has acted on their application.
N5UWY - Peter Laws, VE Team Liaison (129) K5JVS - Jack Springer (80) N5KUK - Ken Brown (19) AG5OK - Gerald Turner (32) WG5T - Bill Baker (94) N5THX - Trey Brown (8) WB5ULK - Gary Skaggs (26) AC5VT - Hank Mork (105) KA6HCB - George Wolken (51) KH6AAA - Tom Seale (4)
Last Update: 2012-02-02 @ 21:26:22
