Requirements for Testing

From The WB7TJD Wiki

REQUIREMENTS FOR TESTING

(Applicants Must:)

Have Photo I.D. and $15.00 test fee effective Jan 1, 2009 (exact change PLEASE).
Provide originals and submit copies of any license or CSCE.

Examination Elements
Available Licenses
& Requirements

Background

Amateur radio exams are offered to the public by teams of Volunteer Examiners accredited with a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC).

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set up a framework where Volunteer Examiner Coordinators work in liaison with the FCC, and coordinate testing sessions. The VEC accredits licensed radio amateurs to serve as volunteer examiners (VEs). These volunteers administer the license exams and coordinate their exam sessions through the VEC. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is one of approximately 14 VECs, and probably the largest.

Examination elements currently offered:

This is a description of the examinations offered for amateur license upgrades and new licenses. This section is updated to reflect the status as of February 23, 2007.

Element 1 - Morse code examinations have been discontinued, and no amateur license requires proficiency in Morse code.
Element 2 - Technician written exam. 35 questions, multiple-choice. Requires 26 correct answers to pass.
Element 3 - General written exam. 35 questions, multiple choice. Requires 26 correct answers to pass.
Element 4 - Amateur Extra written exam. 50 questions, multiple choice. Requires 37 correct answers to pass

Written requirements to pass info taken from W5YI-VEC Web site posting of their VE manual.

Available licenses and their requirements:

This is a description of the licenses you can upgrade to, and what exams or exam credits you need to get them.

Technician Class - Element 2
General Class - Els. 2, 3
Amateur Extra Class - Els. 2, 3, 4

Examination credits for licenses held:

This is a description of the examination credits held in your current class of license, that you can apply toward an upgrade of operator class. Your license must be current or within its 2-year grace period to convey the examination credit, except where noted.

Novice Class - Currently held or expired license has no examination credit. Until recently, the Novice license held only Morse code credit.
Technician class license, current or within its grace period is good toward Element 2 exam credit
"Holders of a pre-March 21, 1987, Technician class license or CSCE who now hold at least a Technician license may claim credit for a new General class license after April 15, 2000, without additional testing." -- ARRL Web site. Must file paperwork and pay exam fee at a test session to upgrade to General. This license carries Els. 2 and 3 exam credit.

"Starting April 15, 2000, individuals who qualified for the Technician class license prior to March 21, 1987, will be able to upgrade to General class by providing documentary proof to a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, paying an application fee, and completing FCC Form 605." -- ARRL Web site
General Class - Els. 2, 3 exam credit
Advanced Class - Els. 2, 3 exam credit

Requirements for Testing

From The WB7TJD Wiki

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