Beginning in the 1980's, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) delegated the responsibility for administering Amateur Radio license tests to 14 organizations known as Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs). These organizations operate independently from each other, and are responsible for arranging volunteers to administer exams, maintaining records of exams given, and submitting applications for new licenses or upgrades electronically to the FCC.

While there are 14 organizations, the 4 largest VECs administer more than 80% of all amateur radio exams in the USA. They are:

• ARRL VEC
• W5YI
• Laurel VEC
• GLAARG

The exam administration is performed by Volunteer Examiners (VEs). These people are accredited by one or more of the VEC organizations, and volunteer to monitor and enable exam sessions.

Yes! You can take your US amateur radio license exam either online via videoconferencing software or in-person locally. In-person testing is often offered at hamfests as well.

Regardless of whether you are testing remotely or in-person, you should expect to present your ID and likely pay an exam fee to your VE team. Your VE team will consist of at least three, but most likely four or more volunteers. You will be given a multiple choice exam with 35-questions [technician (element 2) or general (element 3)] or 50-questions for amateur extra (element 4). This exam could be printed on paper or electonically on a tablet or computer depending on whether you are testing in-person or remotely.

When you pass your exam, 26/35 for technician and general or 37/50 for extra, you will be given a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) signed by you and three of your VEs. This is your proof that you passed your exam today. If you decide to take the next element exam before your application for your new license grant or upgrade has been processed by the FCC, you will present the CSCE to the next VE team. If you are already licensed, you use /KT, /AG and /AE along with your CSCE as proof to utilize your new privileges. If you are a new ham radio operator, you’ll need to wait until your call sign has been issued by the FCC. Up until that point, you may buy, program and listen to radios, but shouldn’t push the button until you have a license.

The HRCC VE Team administers exams remotely to the HRCC community. The exam session usually consists of one applicant and 3-4 VEs will take place over Zoom. The applicant provides VEs with a virtual tour of their room and surroundings. Once that is done, the applicant will screen share through Zoom allowing the VEs to monitor the exam process on the screen and the room in which the applicant is located. Applicants are welcome to take more than one element in an exam session. Retests are possible, but a second exam fee may be required. Most HRCC community members come prepare to pass the exam on their first attempt.

• An ID: a Driver License, a passport or another type of ID which the Volunteer Examiners find acceptable. A photo ID is preferred, but some exceptions can be made.
• Payment: Pay online or in-person depending on the team. Exam fees may range from free to $15 depending on the VEC associated with the team.
• Completed 605: If you register on HamStudy.org, the 605 is created as part of the registration process and you'll just need to confirm its correctness once you have passed.
• Your FCC Registration Number (FRN): The FCC requires all applicants to register for an FRN prior to submitting applications for a license. You can do so by following the instructions on the FCC website (https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/knowledge-base/universal-licensing-system-uls-resources/getting-fcc-registration)
• Calculator (optional): If remotely testing, you may use the calculator app on your computer. If you are testing in person, a basic calculator is allowed. In either case you must demonstrate to the VE's satisfaction that all memories have been cleared.
• Scratch Paper (optional): One blank sheet of paper and a pen or pencil

If you are testing remotely, you will need:

• Computer, Tablet or Smartphone: For the HRCC VE team exams, you usally only need one device to take your test on. A smartphone may be used as a second or back up device and may be required by some VE teams.
• Zoom and Internet Connection: You'll need Zoom https://zoom.us/download installed on a device with a stable network connection.
• Webcam and Microphone: A seperate speaker and microphone is preferred. Headphones must be removed before testing begins. A second device may be used for audio/video.

The HRCC VE team, made up of members from the HRCC Community, offers examinations for both new and upgraded licenses. Contact us thru Discord, join us for a scheduled remote exam session or send us an email.

• Discord: Join the HRCC Discord server at https://discord.gg/hrcc. Look for a channel named #testing-questions. Chat with the team, ask questions, or schedule an exam.
• Regularly Scheduled Sessions: Register at https://hamstudy.org/sessions/hrcc/all. The HRCC team offers evening sessions with occassional morning throughout the week.
• Email: To set up a time that works best for you, send an email to the HRCC VE team at [email protected]. One of the team members will contact you back at the address you emailed from.

There are several resources to help you find an in-person testing sessions near you.

• Contact your local Amateur Radio club (http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club). Many offer regularly scheduled exam sessions, prep classes, and meetings to help learn the material.
• HamStudy is a popular test prep software which also advertises local test sessions at https://ham.study/sessions
• The ARRL has advertises local test sessions at https://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session

New Hams: If you are a new ham, log in to CORES (https://apps.fcc.gov/cores) and pay your FCC processing fee of $35 once your application has been submitted by the VEC. You can confirm that your application has been submitted by searching the ULS Application Search (https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/ApplicationSearch/searchAppl.jsp) by FRN. You have 10 calendar days to pay before your application is dismissed. After that, the VEC has to resubmit your application to the FCC. Keep an eye out for an email or two with instructions on how to do this. More info can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/payment-process-uls-individual-filers.

Upgrades to an Existing License: Applications will likely get processed the same day as submitted. Only new hams are required to pay the $35.

New Hams: The FCC follows a daily batch processing schedule. If you pay your application fee prior to 6pm Eastern (3pm Pacific) on standard FCC business days, your license will be issued during the FCC routine maintanence window that evening. Any payments received after the 6pm cutoff will be processed the following business day.

Upgrades to an Existing License (with or without a new systematic callsign): Your upgrade will appear immediately after the VEC office electronically uploads your application to the FCC. This will be between one hour and ten days after your session depending on the testing team and location.