Find a Testing Location Through the ARRL Website
Please go through the list below to make sure you bring all of the necessary items for your ham radio exam:
1. A legal photo ID (driver’s license, passport)
2. If no photo ID is available, two forms of identification:
a. non-photo ID/driver’s license (some states still have them)
b. birth certificate (must have the appropriate seal)
c. social security card
d. library card
e. utility bill, bank statement or other business correspondence that
specifically names the person; or a postmarked envelope addressed
to the person at his or her current mailing address as it appears on
the Form 605.
3. Students/minors may bring any of the above items and/or a school ID,
minor’s work permit, report card, or a legal guardian may present a
photo ID.
4. Social Security Number (SSN) or your FCC issued Federal
Registration Number (FRN); VEC’s are required by the FCC to submit
either your SSN or your FRN number with your license application
form. If you prefer not to give your SSN at the exam session, then
you may register your SSN with the FCC before exam day. Once you
have a FCC issued FRN, you may no longer use your SSN on the
application. For instructions on how to register your SSN with the
FCC and receive a FRN, visit the FCC’s FAQ page and the
FCC’s registration instructions page. Please note that some
exam teams will only accept a valid FRN on your application.
Check with your local exam team before exam day.
5. If applicable, bring either a photocopy of your current Amateur Radio
license or a reference copy printed out from the FCC website, the
license information printed from ARRL website or QRZ website,
or the original(s) and photocopy(s) of any Certificates of Successful
Completion of Examination (CSCE) you may hold from previous
exam sessions. If your license has already been issued by FCC,
the CSCE showing license credit is not needed. The photocopy(s)
will not be returned.
Instructions on how to obtain an official FCC license copy are on
our Obtain License Copy web page.
6. Two number two pencils with erasers and a pen.
7. A calculator with the memory erased and formulas cleared is allowed.
You may not bring any written notes or calculations into the exam session.
Slide rules and logarithmic tables are acceptable, as long as they’re free
of notes and formulas. Cell phone must be silenced or turned off during
the exam session and the phones’ calculator function may not be used.
In addition, iPhones, iPads, Androids, smartphones, Blackberry devices
and all similar electronic devices with a calculator capability, may NOT
be used.
Bring the testing fee (usually $15-$20), two #2 pencils, a simple calculator, and a form of identification. You may not use your cell phone, or a cheat sheet. Everything must be done from memory. However, you can bring a blank sheet of paper and write down notes for yourself once you sit down to take the exam. So, we highly recommend writing down the 3 formulas right when you sit down, and anything else you want to dump from your memory so that you can think clearly about the questions on the test in front of you.
The test is comprised of 35 questions, taken from a pool of 426 questions. Make sure to Take The Final Quiz (make sure you are Logged In and registered for our Online Ham Radio Class)over and over and over again. The Final Quiz for the class will test you exactly how the FCC will. It has all 426 questions loaded, and it will randomly pull 35 to quiz you on. Once you complete it, and the results are calculated, you can go through them. Figure out which ones you missed, which ones you got right, and then restart the quiz! Keep doing this over and over until you are averaging over 90% correct on each attempt.
Keep in mind the notes below, and choose the best answers that follow the below guidelines.
- There must always be someone responsible for a transmission
- ID yourself minimum of every 10 minutes and at end of conversation
- Always responsible for your own emissions & transmissions
- Exceptions can be made in cases of life or death, and protection of private property
- Never willfully interfere with other signals
- No one has absolute right to a ham fequency
- Always adhere to the governing country’s rules and regulations
- ITU > FCC > ARRL Band Plan > Local Frequency Coordinator
- Always be respectful and Always give the benefit of the doubt to others
- Power (watts) = Volts (Voltage) multiplied by Amps (Amperes)
- Resistance (Ohms) = Volts (Voltage) divided by Amps (Amperes)
- Wavelength (meters) = 300 / frequency (in MHz)
- SWR in antennae
- Lower the SWR, the more efficient the signal is, lower losses
- Higher is more loss, less readable signal. Goal is below 2:1
- Pay close attention to your units and make sure to convert answers to the correct units
- 3 feet per meter
- 12 inches per foot
Pico (p) — Micro (µ) — Milli (m) — Zero — Kilo (k) — Mega (M) — Giga (G)
-1billion -1million -1thousand 0 1thousand 1million 1billion
If you haven’t yet, sign up for our Online Ham Radio Class and then breeze right through your exam when you are ready!