How Hard Is It To Get A Ham Radio License

From books, to Youtube videos, to online classes, there is a lot of information out there. So how do you brand sense of it all and finally become your license? It's easier than you think. Follow these 3 steps to finally get your license and get started in ham radio.

Basic Requirements

Stride i: Choose the Level of License

There are 3 classes of licenses that are offered by the FCC (The Federal Communications Committee, the branch of authorities that controls ham radio licenses). You accept to pass a examination for each level, and you lot have to start at Technician and advance up.

If yous're new to ham radio, then y'all have to laissez passer the Technician License first. You can take the General License test the same day without whatsoever extra fee, if you're feeling confident. It really depends on how to program to use amateur radio. To find out which level of license will best arrange your needs, check out our mail service on the Technician License vs. the Full general License.

Technician License Course

Take a free v-infinitesimal lesson to take the showtime pace to getting licensed.

Footstep 2: Study For The Examination

Now that you have decided which license is all-time for y'all, you lot demand to start preparing for the test.

The entry level Technician License Exam requires around 10 hours of study for about people. The Technician and General License exams each accept 35 questions, and the Amateur Extra has 50. In order to laissez passer the each test, you must go at least a 74%. For Technician and General, this ways you must get 26 questions correct out of the 35 questions. When it comes to ham radio, you could say that "C'due south are for degrees" (see our detailed guide on how many questions are on the ham radio license exams).

As far every bit written report materials, in that location are free options besides as more premium paid options. Considering that study materials volition profoundly heighten your experience and really teach you a lot virtually ham radio, well-nigh people decide to invest at least a small-scale amount into study materials. Overall, we judge that the Technician License volition cost you $85 when yous take into account the cost of study materials, the FCC license fee and the cost of actually taking the exam (see license price commodity for full breakup). Allow's take a expect at some of the study options to get ready for the test.

Take An Online Class

It's now possible to learn everything you need in an online class from your phone, tablet, or figurer. You also become nice bonuses like videos and exams that track where you're having problem. Since access to our online form never expires, you can also go back and reference the cloth at whatsoever time. Not sure if an online class is right for yous? Endeavor a free lesson and encounter if you can laissez passer the sample questions directly from the real FCC test.

Books

Some people prefer having study materials they can put their hands on – and we don't blame them! If you lot prefer a volume, we converted all of the knowledge nosotros've acquired from running an online class into the book, The Ham Radio Prep Technician Class License Manual available on Amazon. At that place are no shortage of dissimilar books with different learning styles. For case, the ARRL has manuals which are more dense and have longer to read, simply many hams buy them to keep as a reference.

Mobile Apps

Pace 3: Have Your Exam In-Person or Remote

The moment of truth arrives – y'all must now accept the examination by an FCC accredited Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). VECs are the only organizations legally allowed to conduct ham radio license test sessions in the United States.

In-Person Test Sessions

For most people, the easiest manner to take the exam is with a friendly local ham radio social club. Many local clubs are ARRL affiliated. You lot can search for an in-person exam with one the ARRL exam search page. It'southward easiest to search this page using only your zip code. These exam sessions are run by friendly local ARRL affiliated clubs who desire nix more than to see you pass!

Remote/Online Exam Sessions

What if an in-person exam session but isn't available? According to a recent discover by the FCC, it is at present 100% possible to have the examination online, and in that location are several VECs that offering remote exams, such as the Anchorage Alaska Radio Guild VEC and the Greater Los Angeles Amateur Radio Club (aka GLAARG). If yous would like to have the test online, bank check out our page about ham radio online testing to meet what are the best options and how to go registered.

Congratulations, Yous've Earned Your License!

The volunteers examiners will give you an official signed newspaper saying that y'all passed on the spot. Your official license with call sign will arrive to you in a PDF to your email so you can impress it out to put in your wallet or frame on your wall. Actually, y'all don't even take to await for your license to go far to start transmitting – you can begin as presently as your proper name appears in the FCC database. Then you can begin practicing for disasters, or just chat with other amateurs and explore your new hobby.