How to Get Your Ham Radio License
In the US, amateur radio licenses are issued by the FCC, and the exams are run by volunteer teams of licensed hams. There is no age limit and no Morse code test, and you do not need to be a US citizen, only to have a US mailing address. Most people go from zero to a call sign in a few weeks. Here is the whole path.
Choose your license class
There are three classes. Almost everyone starts with Technician, which opens every amateur band above 30 MHz plus some HF. General adds most of the HF bands for worldwide contacts, and Amateur Extra grants every privilege.
Each class needs the one before it, but you can sit more than one exam at the same session.
Study the question pool
Every exam question comes from a public pool, with the answers published. The Technician exam is 35 questions and you need 26 right. Studying the pool directly, a little each day, is the quickest route; most people need two to four weeks for Technician.
Try the Technician practice test to see what the questions look like.
Get an FCC Registration Number (FRN)
Before your exam, register in the FCC's CORES system. It is free and gives you a ten-digit FRN, which the examiners need to file your application.
Find an exam session
Exams are given by teams of Volunteer Examiners, in person at clubs and libraries and, with some teams, online by video. The ARRL keeps a searchable list of exam sessions.
Each team sets its own session fee; many charge around $15 and some charge nothing. Check what to bring, usually photo ID and your FRN. A simple calculator is generally allowed.
Pass, pay the FCC fee and get your call sign
The examiners grade your exam on the spot. When you pass, they file your application and the FCC emails you a link to pay its $35 application fee for a new license (upgrades have no FCC fee). Once it is paid, your license and call sign appear in the FCC's license database, usually within one to two weeks of the exam.
You can transmit as soon as your call sign shows up. Licenses last ten years.
Start with the Technician pool
A free account gives you 20 questions a day with flashcards, quizzes and full timed exams, and the adaptive engine keeps bringing back the questions you miss.
Common questions
Do I need to learn Morse code?
No. The FCC dropped the Morse code requirement for every license class in 2007.
How much does it cost in total?
Usually around $50: a session fee set by the examiners (often about $15, sometimes free) plus the FCC's $35 fee for a new license. Upgrading to General or Extra later has no FCC fee.
What if I fail?
Nothing is recorded against you. Many teams let you retake with a different version of the exam at the same session, which may cost another session fee, or you can come back another day.
Can I take more than one exam at once?
Yes. If you pass Technician, many teams let you try General straight away, and then Extra.
How long does the license last?
Ten years. Renewing it costs the same $35 FCC fee as a new license, with no exam.