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Amateur radio encompasses many facets, interests, disciplines, and transmission methods. You might start counting the different ways to engage and easily surpass 1,000, only to lose track soon after. And that’s just focusing on the operational aspects. The true joy, however, lies in being part of a community of curious individuals, all 3.3 million of us worldwide, sharing a passion for global amateur radio. Welcome!

FCC Volunteer Examiner Sessions for Radio Amateur Licenses [ FCC Part 97 ]

Preparing For The Exam

Practice tests are available at several websites such as the ones below:
http://aa9pw.com/radio/
http://www.eham.net/exams/

https://hamstudy.org/
http://www.qrz.com/ht/

Printed / Bound Study Guides and audio cd’s: 

Publisher American Radio Relay League – ARRL / Author: Gordon West, WB6NOA

Technician Class Study Guide: https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2015951493

General Class Study Guide: https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2015951532

Amateur Extra Study Guide: https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2015951541

These study guides are available to purhcase through the publisher’s link above, or Amazon.com / gigaparts.com / hamradio.com / dxengineering.com /

Entire FCC License Class question pool collections and valid to/from dates found here: http://arrl.org/question-pools

Please note: These questions expire every three years and are updated and replaced with new questions. When purchasing, ensure that the advertised copy and what you receive show on the front cover for a valid period. Get to work, study, and come and get your license before you start studying from a new group of questions!

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FCC Related Information: 

The FCC released a Public Notice (https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-307A1.pdf>) on 23 March 2022 stating that amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, would become effective on 19 April 2022. Congress mandates the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to impose and collect fees.

The $35 application fee, effective on 19 April 2022, will apply to new, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call sign applications. The fee will be per application. [Candidates 18 or younger are eligible for an FCC Fee Refund from ARRL.org https://www.arrl.org/youth-licensing-grant-program ] 

Administrative updates, such as a name change, mailing, or email address, are exempt from fees.

New and upgrade applicants will pay the $15 exam session fee to the ARRL VE team as usual and pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC by using the CORES FRN Registration System (CORES – Login<https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do>). VEC and VE team licensing procedures will not change. [NOTE: $5.00 Test Fee for those candidates aged 18 or younger ] 

When the FCC receives the examination information from the VEC, it will email a link with payment instructions to each successful candidate. The candidate will have ten calendar days from when the application file number is issued to pay. After the fee is paid and the FCC has processed an application, examinees will receive a second email from the FCC with a link to their official license. The link will be valid for 30 days.

Per usual procedures, examinees who pass multiple exams at one session will have one application transmitted to the FCC reflecting the highest level of license class earned. The candidates will have an extra step before the license is issued. VE teams can point candidates to our FCC Application Fee webpage www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee<http://www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee>. Our new ARRL VEC CSCEs also include information about the application fee and point candidates to the webpage.

What is Required to Take a Test

NCVEC QUICK-FORM 605 APPLICATION

If you have access to a printer, you may fill-out online and print the NCVEC Form 605 here prior to the exam day: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/VEs/NCVEC_Form_605_July_2022_INTERACTIVE.pdf

AMATEUR OPERATOR/PRIMARY STATION LICENSE

The FCC requires the VE Team to collect all of the information listed on the current NCVEC Form 605 (SECTION 1), including ALL fields except for a previous call sign in the case of an applicant that is testing for a first license. Candidates are asked to know the information on the form to ensure that they will qualify to take the exam. It is further recommended that the candidate fill out the fields in the form on a computer bring a printed paper copy to the VE session to expedite processing.

A VALID FRN IS REQUIRED TO EXIST AND BE PROVIDED ON THE FORM FOR THE CANDIDATE BEFORE THE VE TEAM CAN ADMINISTER AN EXAM TO THE CANDIDATE. This change went into effect on May 20, 2021. You can register for an FRN here: https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/universal-licensing-system-uls-resources/getting-fcc-registration-number-frn

FCC Video Tutorial – How-To create a Federal Registration Number: https://www.fcc.gov/rofrn

E-MAIL ADDRESSES ARE ALSO REQUIRED FCC CORRESPONDENCE, INCLUDING NOTIFICATION OF GRANT OF LICENSE. This requirement went into effect as of June 29, 2021.

PLEASE AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT AND WASTED TIME, BY MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE MET THE RECENTLY ADDED PRE-REQUISITE CONDITIONS LISTED HERE PRIOR TO ARRIVAL TO TAKE AN EXAM. THE VE TEAM CANNOT ADMINISTER EXAMS TO CANDIDATES THAT HAVE NOT PROVIDED COMPLETE INFORMATION, NOR DO THEY HAVE AUTHORITY OR CONTROL TO OPERATE INFORMATION SYSTEMS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT EXIST AT THE TEST FACILITY. Please be prepared with what is required when you arrive.

Positive Identification Requirement

Each candidate must be positively identified before being issued any test materials. Holders of valid state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards with a photograph are sufficient. Holders of federally issued identification, such as military identification cards, passports, or law enforcement agency identification cards, are also sufficient. Municipal law enforcement identification cards with photographs are also enough. School-issued identification cards with photos are adequate for students.

Two alternate forms of identification are required for candidates who are unable to provide a valid official identification card with a photo. Students or minors not holding a photo identification card will only require one alternate identification method if accompanied by a legal guardian holding a photo identification card, as listed above.

Further explicit details of what identification documents will satisfy requirements are specified on the ARRL’s page, which discusses what to bring to an amateur radio session. [ http://www.arrl.org/what-to-bring-to-an-exam-session  ]

In cases where instructions are not followed and guidelines are not listed (e.g., an expired driver’s license or state ID is presented as a single ID), the VE Team has discretion. ALL SVARC / NSDXA VE Team decisions are likely to err on the side of not risking integrity and are final. They are not open to debate, argument, or challenge by any candidate or non-VE personnel at the test location.

Test Fee – $15.00 [$5.00 for candidates aged 18 or younger ]

The Current test fee is USD 15.00. Cash, checks, and money orders are acceptable payment methods. Checks and money orders made payable to ARRL-VEC. 

Note that a candidate who has successfully passed one exam may test for the next higher class of exam without paying an additional fee; however, an additional fee is required for each subsequent attempt on any exam that was not passed. For example, a candidate who passed a technician class exam would be able to take the general class exam without paying an additional exam fee. If that same candidate passed the general exam during the same session, that candidate would also be eligible to take the extra class exam if they wished to attempt it. On the other hand, if a candidate did not pass the technician exam, they might elect to make a second attempt. In this case, a second exam fee of $15.00 USD will be collected prior to issuing a second examination.

Printed Copies of Existing and Expired Licenses and CSCE Documents

License holders should be prepared to provide printed copies of any current licenses or previous licenses held for any upgrade or reinstatement options in the package that will be sent to the ARRL for processing. Additionally, holders of CSCEs indicating credits not indicated on the current license should also be provided to verify eligibility to take an exam. An example of the latter case would be a candidate who holds a Technician class license and recently passed a general class examination, which still needs to be reflected on the current license. The CSCE will serve as proof of passing the General Class element, making the candidate eligible to take the Extra Class license exam.

No Notes and no formulas in Calculators

The VE Team keeps a couple of basic calculators on hand that exam candidates may use. Notes or calculators with stored formulas are not allowed. Cell phones or similar smart devices with calculators are also prohibited. Cell phones and similar smart devices are required to be turned off while candidates are taking tests to prevent unnecessary disruptions to all candidates.

Appropriate Attitude and Respect for Rules

This VE Team reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for no reason. It is unfortunate that this needs to be said, but it seems necessary.

This SVARC / NSDXA VE Team operates in good faith and with unwavering integrity in all that we do to preserve and perpetuate the FCC’s continued acceptance of this way of administering amateur radio licensing to the general public. As there is a test involved in attaining the status of amateur radio operator anywhere in the world, it is fair to say that an amateur radio license is earned. Indeed, it is not an entitlement. The amateur community here in the United States remains proud of the achievements of those who were successful and the pedigree of integrity, as demonstrated by diligently paying careful attention to the details in all that we do to provide and perpetuate the service.

While the ARRL VEC provides much explicit instruction and guidance on those they certify as VEs, not every situation is “in the book.” Sometimes, VEs must make a judgment call; sometimes, a candidate may not agree with a VE’s judgment call. We ask that candidate to remember that the ‘V’ in VE stands for volunteer. We also ask the candidate to consider that the VE receives nothing in return for enabling the test session to occur. Sure, the VE is human, as is the candidate. The purpose of the VE is to allow an exam session and ensure it operates according to the standards required by the ARRL VEC and the FCC. Erring on the side of caution in questionable matters is often necessary to protect the validity of the entire session for all candidates attending and working toward achieving their amateur radio license goals.

For this reason, we must state it here – VE decisions on undefined gray areas are not open to challenge or discussion by non-VE team members. Any person attending a VE session who becomes belligerent, disruptive, threatening, or deemed an unacceptable security threat must leave the session and the property where the session is being held. Permanent banning of any or all components that comprise an intolerable security risk may also occur. Law enforcement having jurisdiction will be contacted for engagement as deemed necessary to address any threat to the integrity of VE Testing events.

Finding VE Alternative Sessions

Other locations are available in addition to our testing location. Please utilize the ARRL search tool (http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session). Other popular alternative Volunteer Examination Coordinators (VECs), such as the WY5I VEC group and the Laurel VEC, offer amateur radio licensing test sessions as well.

Online Amateur Radio Testing

Organizations offering online testing (as of 14 December 2020) include the WY5I VEC group and the Greater Los Angeles Amateur Radio Group (GLAARG) VEC, with details available at https://glaarg.org/remote-sessions/.

Exceptions to Normal Monthly Testing

August – No VE session is held at the SVARC clubhouse, as there is a VE session in conjunction with the SVARC Berryville Hamfest (held the first Sunday in August annually).

Other Exceptions

Disclaimer: Inclement weather can cause last-minute cancellation of a VE session. If there is any question regarding whether a VE session will be held or not, please get in touch with the SVARC VE Team Coordinator.

The Shenandoah Valley Amateur Radio Club supports these fine organizations:

Celebrating 75 Years in 2023