You must meet these requirements:
There is no age requirement to become an amateur radio operator.
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You will need a signed government-issued picture ID, like a drivers license, passport, school ID or identity card.
You must have a US address where you can receive mail from the FCC - that’s an FCC requirement.
The candidate must consent to the audio and video recording of the session. We need that in case our VEC asks for proof. We will not video your ID documents.
All session audio, video, and screen-share contents for any fully-remote exam session could be recorded and retained for a year for test integrity audits, review, and training.
You need a laptop or desktop computer, with an up-to-date Chrome web browser and webcam. We’ve tried a few other browsers that worked, but it would be a shame to cancel the test session because your browser is incompatible. So make sure you have Chrome before the exam. Be sure you can share your screen and your camera at the same time - you can’t do that on an iPad.
You will need to close all applications except Chrome and Zoom. If there are exceptions, you will have to explain to the examiners and we might not be able to administer the exam. You should disable pop-ups and messages - they’re not likely to invalidate the exam, but they are annoying. Put all electronic devices in another room.
The camera must clearly show the candidate’s entire face or a side view that shows the entire test area. The camera must be high enough quality to be usable for reviewing identification documents. Please try out your camera here to see if you can read your driver’s license:
http://zoom.com/test.
If you can’t read it, we can’t read it, and you’ll need another government-issued signed picture ID, like your passport. We need to see around the room, and we need to see at least your face during the exam. We need to see your eye movements too, so no dark glasses. A side view showing you at the computer is even better. You can use one computer to take the exam and a cell phone (out of reach and with sound turned off so we don’t hear ringing or notifications) logged into the Zoom meeting to show a side view. If you’re planning to use two devices, make sure both can get to the Zoom test. Please try this before the session!
Only a single monitor may be used. If you use multiple monitors, turn them off or unplug them. The examiners will ask to verify the other monitors are not going to go on during the exam. If they do, and you turn around to look at them, the VEs will probably terminate the exam. Almost for sure, they’ll question what’s going on, because at least 3 VEs are looking at you at all times.
At the start of your exam session, you will need a way to show the VEs your screen, computer, and working space. This can be accomplished by one of the following:
A laptop with camera and microphone, running the Zoom app, to join the same video call.
Alternatively, a webcam that will show the examinee at all times.
A stable broadband internet connection, of at least 3mbps download and upload. We have had to postpone/reschedule sessions that did not have enough bandwidth on the examinee’s side. If your audio or video is cutting out, we’ll put you back in the Waiting Room and might lose your place in line. We have terminated exam sessions due to insufficient bandwidth or unstable Internet connections.
Test your internet speed at https://www.speedtest.net/ and https://fast.com. Hands-free speaker and microphone setup:
Built-in to the computer is best.
Headphones and headsets are NOT allowed for participants because we don’t know what you’re listening to. You might be able to take off the headset while taking the exam and put them on before and after to receive instructions.
Microphone must be on and everything going on at the examinee’s location must be audible to the VE Team throughout the exam session. We have successfully used a side-view phone, which was out of the reach of the examinee.
Optional:
Blank piece of paper and pen or pencil for doing calculations. We prefer that you use an on-screen calculator so we see what you’re doing and we don’t have to see you take your attention away from the screen.
Calculator without user-defined functions – square root, inverse tangent and other functions necessary for calculations related to the exam questions are ok.
A quiet space with a clear desk or table that can be kept that way for the entirety of the session. The following circumstances could invalidate your exam and require that you reschedule or at least exit the test room and possibly go to the end of the queue.
Another person walking into the exam space or being visible or audible
Obvious candidate distractions from any source (including phones, watches, pets, standing up, leaving your chair, etc.)
Appearing to look at anything but the exam screen. Reaching for things outside the view of the camera. Eyes moving away from the exam screen.
Any other suspicious circumstances as determined by the examiners – we need to maintain the integrity of the exam process – please help us do that!
With 3 or more VEs watching your eyes throughout the exam, you’re really being scrutinized, even more than an in-person exam.
Register for the session:
Go to
https://hamstudy.org/sessions and select your exam session. Follow the instructions in the Notes. For remote exams, you can ignore the session time we are giving exams for at least three hours at a time, but you need to REGISTER for the exam!
NOTE: ALL THE INFO YOU PROVIDE, except for your email address and phone number, WILL BE PUBLIC IN THE FCC ULS DATABASE as part of your license. So, when giving your address (the place where the FCC can contact you), you might want to give a P.O. Box, work address, or something other than where you actually live.
This is a good place to mention that if you’re upgrading, and your name doesn’t match what’s on your current license (in ULS), there could be a delay in processing your exam results - the FCC kicks back applications where the name on the application doesn’t match the ULS entry. We’ve had slight variations in names, like JR as part of the surname rather than as a suffix. It might look the same to you, but the computer will see it as a different name.
Register for the session following all prompts. Your information will be used on your license application. YES, YOU DO NEED AN FRN, so follow the prompts until you have one. Hamstudy.org interfaces with the FCC website so you can get your FRN. If you have an FRN, hamstudy will use it to verify your info.
Complete appropriate payment for the exam based on VEC fees. You will receive an invoice for payment.
Test out your computer, webcam, and microphone system by running Zoom in advance with someone else.
Verify that they can see and hear you, that you can share your screen
Verify that they can ready your ID.
Please do this in advance because it takes 15 minutes to do this if you’re not ready, and we have lots of folks waiting to take exams.
Ensure you have your ID ready to show to the VE team. You may use a drivers license, or any government-issued, signed picture ID. The GLAARG VEC folks only require that the VEs are satisfied as to your identity, so a Drivers License might be sufficient (if we can read it) - test to see that you can read your ID at
http://zoom.com/test before the test session. A minor will have to have an adult verify both the adult’s identity and that of the minor.