HAM Licensing Information

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Please note:  I downloaded this text from a web site sometime in the last year and was not able to find it again in order to give proper credit.  If anyone has any information regarding the author please email me at lamppost26@hotmail.com with the subject heading AUTHOR INFO.  This will ensure that the information gets through my SPAM filter.  Thanks.

The first thing that needs to be understood with respect to Amateur Radio licensing is the three license classes available in Amateur Radio.They are:

• Technician
• General
• Amateur Extra

The Technician class license is the introductory license class for the Amateur Radio Service. To obtain a Technician license, one must pass a 35 question test (Element 2) that covers basic radio theory, FCC regulations, RF safety and other subject matter relating to Amateur Radio. The license class conveys all privileges for frequencies above 50 MHz. These are the VHF/UHF bands of 6 Meters, 2 Meters, 1.25 Meters (or 220 MHz), 70 Centimeters (or 440 MHz), 33 Centimeters (or 900 MHz), and 24 Centimeters (or 1240 MHz/1.2 GHz). A Technician who also passes a 5 WPM Morse Code test (Element 1) will also receive some privileges in the HF spectrum. Such limited access is provided on 15, 15, 40, and 80 meters.

The General class license is the introductory license class for operating in High Frequency (HF) spectrum. HF is also known as the low bands and short wave. The General license requires passing of a 5 WPM Morse code test (Element 1) and a more intensive test in radio theory (Element 3), Naturally the General class license also requires that all requirements for the Technician class license also be met prier to the granting of the license. General class licensees have access to some spectrum to all HF bands allocated to the service by the FCC.These are in the bands of 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 30, 40, 75/80, and 160 Meters.

The Amateur Extra class license (or just Extra) is the highest license class available in the Amateur Radio Service. While no additional Morse Code proficiency is required, applicants are required to take a 50 question test in radio theory. Passing this test "theoretically" indicates mastery of all radio theory as required by the FCC. This 50 question test (Element 4) is truly challenging and more that compensates for the removal of higher Morse proficiency.

Getting Started

To begin your path toward becoming a Ham or upgrading, your first step would be to obtain study materials which contain the actual questions that will be on your test. These study materials can be found at your local radio dealer, an online resource, or your corner Radio Shack. The books that are found for theory will contain the question pool for the license class you are targeting. From this question pool, your test will contain a selection 35 to 50 of these questions. There are also computer software applications which can assist you in the learning of the material. Videos and audio tapes can also be found. Speaking of audio tapes and software applications, both are also available for learning Morse code. When setting your softare or selecting your tapes, make sure that the character speed is set to 15 WPM with 5 WPM spacing and that the tone is 720 Hz. When you think you have mastered the material take a practice test and see how you do. You can take a test from a web site (such as qrz.com or using one of the many software applications designed for this purpose.

Taking The Test

First and foremost, you need to find a Volunteer Examiner (VE) test session in your area. You can find a test site by looking for postings at a local radio dealer, asking a local radio club, asking a friend who is involved in Amateur Radio, or by visiting the web site of the American Radio Relay League Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL/VEC) and using the exam search page. Once you find that plan on attending the session. When attending the session you should bring:

• One or two pens or pencils
• A calculator (with no memory capabilities)
• Test sitting fee ($10) - Cash is preferred. (Remember, you may need to sit more than once.)
• One photo ID or two non-photo IDs.

If you are already a ham and are upgrading, you also will be required to furnish a copy of the following (you will also be required to show the original):

• Your current FCC license
• Any Certificates of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) you are using for credit.
• Any "Documentary Proof" for non-examination credit for a test element.

Please Note: For upgrade purposes a CSCE is good for 365 days from the date of its originality regardless of the credit it conveys. That means that if you have a CSCE for Morse credit and you wish to use it to upgrade from Technician with HF to General you must do so within the 365 day validity time frame. The CSCE will remain valid for lifetime Morse credit for operating purposes, but will not be valid for upgrading on the 366th day. If your CSCE "expired" and you want to upgrade you will need to re-obtain credit either by retaking Element 1 or showing the "Documentary Proof" that you have Morse credit by a "non-exam" means a second time.

Upgrading Procedures

The following table illustrates which element you must pass to obtain a particular license class from each point in the process.

The following table illustrates which element credit you may be granted for particular license classes and other documents.

(Source: ARRL VE Manual)

I will repeat myself: For upgrade purposes a CSCE is good for 365 days from the date of its originality regardless of the credit it conveys. That means that if you have a CSCE for Morse credit and you wish to use it to upgrade from Technician with HF to General you must do so within the 365 day validity time frame. The CSCE will remain valid for lifetime Morse credit for operating purposes, but will not be valid for upgrading on the 366th day. If your CSCE "expired" and you want to upgrade you will need to re-obtain credit either by retaking Element 1 or showing the "Documentary Proof" that you have Morse credit by a "non-exam" means a second time.

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