Are you interested in becoming an Amateur Radio operator? It's quite simple! Amateur Radio operators, also known as "hams," receive licenses from governments across the globe to use specific radio frequencies. In the United States, the entry-level permit is called the Technician class, and it's necessary for both routine and emergency communications in your local area. To get this license, all you have to do is pass a 35-question multiple-choice written exam. The questions and answers are all public information, so you can efficiently study and prepare. You don't have to be a US citizen but need a valid photo ID. No age restrictions exist, and you no longer need to know Morse code to obtain any US Amateur Radio license. Once you have your permission, you'll need to renew it every ten years, but you won't need to take another exam.

Information about becoming a ham radio operator is also available from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for Amateur Radio in the United States.

It’s relatively easy to get your ham radio license.  The first step is to obtain your Technician license.  To do this, you must take and pass a 35-question exam administered by Volunteer Examiners, typically from a local amateur radio club.

Many clubs, including ours, offer low-cost testing. The FCC charges an administrative fee of $35 for the license.

You can find both online and in-person testing options available.

If you want to take your test with us, you can register in four easy steps!

The technician test contains 35 multiple-choice questions randomly chosen from a question pool.  A passing score is 70%, which means you can miss up to 9 questions.  Don’t worry – these questions and the answer choices are available online to help you study!

When an individual successfully passes an Amateur Radio license exam, they must pay the FCC a $35 application fee.

Additionally, the examining team may collect an exam fee of approximately $15 at the time of the exam.

However, for candidates seeking a new license who are under 18 and taking the exam through the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) program, the ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program will cover the $35 FCC application fee. In this case, the examiners will only collect a $5 payment for the exam. You can learn more about the YLGP here.

Many individuals use a book to prepare for their ham radio test. The Granite State Amateur Radio Association suggests using the Gordon West/W5YI study guide for those seeking guidance.

You can look up organizations that offer ham radio classes in your local area.

Additionally, it is advisable to practice for the test on your own. You can find various websites and smartphone apps to help you with this, with hamstudy.org being a highly recommended option.

If you are ready to start your journey into ham radio, here are four steps to get you on the way to taking your Technician Test.