A FCC issued operating license is required for the Amateur Radio Service. Exams are administered by a network of Volunteer Examiners (VE) and are routinely scheduled by many VE groups. Exam sessions can also be researched at ARRL.

The FCC currently issues three different license class designatons: Technician, General, and Extra. Most VE sessions will be capable of providing exams for all three license classes. It would be a good idea to contact the VE group to ensure the license exam you desire to take will be available.

The Technician Class license is the entry level license. Morse code is not a requirement for the Technician Class license. From a question pool of about 400 items, the exam is 35 multiple choice questions. The questions check basic knowledge on FCC regulations, radio, electronics, and operating practices. Passing the exam requires answering 26 questions correctly.

There are several options for taking a license class in person or online. These options may be at no cost or for a fee/subscription. Use your web browser to search for "ham license study" or "ham practice exams".

OSCAR generally will offer a free, in person, Technician license class in the spring each year. OSCAR Technician license classes utilize the ARRL License Manual. This manual includes all of the possible questions and answers that may appear on the Technician Class license exam. If you purchase the license manual, be sure you purchase the most current edition. The 5th Edition is valid for the Question Pool through June, 2026.

The ARRL also offers ARRL Exam Review. This free resource provides sample exams to check knowldege and build confidence for the exam. ARRL Exam Review includes all of the questions (and possible multiple choice answers) for the current FCC exam pools and provides different review options. You can choose to review by chapter of the ARRL study manual or by question pool topic.

An amateur can advance to the General Class or Extra Class by demonstrating additional knowledge through an examination. The higher level license classes enjoy additional operating privileges as a reward.

If you are planning to take an exam, be sure to contact the VE group before the exam date. The VE will be able to help assure that you bring the required documentation for the exam session, such as identifcation. This also provides an opportunity for you to inform the VE if you have a disability and may need additional assistance.

There is a fee for taking the exam. For 2024, the exam fee is $15.00. In addition, there is a $35 FCC License Application fee.