October 2026 | Amateur Radio Licensing Guide
1. Start by registering with the FCC. Before you can take an amateur radio licensing examination in the United States, you must register with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN). This is a mandatory first step for new applicants, and it should be completed before scheduling your examination. Begin by visiting the FCC’s Commission Registration System (CORES). Select the option to register for a new FCC username account. You will need a valid email address, which serves as your username, along with a password and personal identification information. Follow the instructions to verify your email address and activate your account. FCC CORES is the system used to register individuals and organizations that conduct business with the FCC. It is different from the Universal Licensing System (ULS), which maintains radio licensing applications and records. Although the two systems are connected, understanding their separate functions will make the licensing process easier.
2. Obtain your FCC Registration Number (FRN). Once you have created and verified your FCC account, sign in to CORES and select the option to register for a new FRN. Most amateur radio applicants should register as individuals. The system will request identifying information, including your legal name, Social Security number or other applicable taxpayer identification information, and contact details. Follow the registration instructions carefully and use accurate information. After completing the registration, the FCC will issue a unique 10-digit FRN. Save this number in a secure location because you will need it when registering for an examination, applying for licenses, paying FCC fees, and managing your license in the future. Your FRN is not your amateur radio call sign, and receiving it does not authorize you to transmit. If you already have an FRN from another FCC service, you generally should use that existing number rather than create a duplicate. Remember that certain license information, including your name and mailing address, will become publicly searchable once your license is issued.
3. Understand the three amateur radio license classes. The FCC offers three levels of amateur radio operator licenses: Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. Most beginners start with the Technician license, which provides access to amateur radio frequencies above 30 MHz, including the popular 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands, along with limited privileges on certain lower-frequency bands. The General license is the next level and provides significantly broader access to high-frequency (HF) bands, allowing operators to communicate across the country and around the world. The Amateur Extra license is the highest level and provides all available U.S. amateur radio operating privileges. Applicants must earn credit for the lower-level examinations before receiving a higher license class, although multiple examinations can be passed during the same testing session. There is no minimum age requirement, U.S. citizenship is not required, and Morse code testing is no longer part of the licensing process. Applicants must meet FCC eligibility requirements, including the restriction concerning representatives of foreign governments.
4. Study for the amateur radio examination. After obtaining your FRN and deciding which license level to pursue, begin studying for the appropriate examination. The Technician test covers FCC regulations, proper operating procedures, basic electronics, radio signals, antennas, electrical safety, and other fundamental radio concepts. One advantage of the amateur radio examination system is that the complete question pools, including correct answers, are publicly available. This allows applicants to study the actual questions from which their examinations will be created. The current Technician question pool became effective July 1, 2026, and remains valid through June 30, 2030. Make sure any books, websites, or practice examinations you use reflect this updated question pool. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) provides study materials and access to the official question pools at www.arrl.org/question-pools. Free online practice exams are also available through various amateur radio educational websites. Studying until you consistently achieve passing scores on practice tests is a good way to prepare.
5. Find and register for an examination session. Once you are comfortable with the material, locate an amateur radio examination session. Licensing examinations are administered by Volunteer Examiners (VEs), who work through FCC-recognized Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs). These organizations oversee examination procedures and electronically submit successful applicants’ information to the FCC. Examinations are available in person through local amateur radio clubs, community organizations, and testing teams. Many VEC organizations also offer remotely supervised online examinations, allowing applicants to test from home using a computer, webcam, and internet connection. You can locate upcoming examination sessions through the ARRL at www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session. When registering, provide your legal name, FRN, valid email address, and any other required information. Examination fees vary by organization, but many sessions cost approximately $15 or less. Some organizations offer reduced-cost or free examinations. Check whether advance registration is required and whether the session uses paper or computer-based testing.
6. Prepare for examination day. Before attending your scheduled examination, confirm that your FRN is correct and that you have the identification and payment required by the examination team. In-person applicants generally need a government-issued photo identification card, such as a driver’s license or passport. Applicants without acceptable photo identification may be permitted to present alternative identification, following the examining organization’s requirements. You will also need your FRN and valid email address. The examination team will collect or verify the information needed for your FCC Form 605 application, including a required basic qualification question concerning felony convictions. Applicants answering yes must follow additional FCC procedures. Paper examination sessions may require pencils and other supplies, while computer-based sessions generally provide the testing interface electronically. A basic calculator may be permitted if its memory has been cleared, but smartphones and devices containing stored notes are generally prohibited. Remote examination candidates must follow the testing organization’s instructions concerning webcams, identification verification, screen monitoring, and the examination environment. Always review the examination team’s instructions before test day.
7. Take the examination and receive your results. The Technician examination contains 35 multiple-choice questions, and you must answer at least 26 correctly to pass. The General examination also contains 35 questions and requires 26 correct answers. The Amateur Extra examination contains 50 questions and requires at least 37 correct answers. These are closed-book examinations covering material from their respective published question pools. Results are normally provided after the examination has been graded. If you pass the Technician test, you may be offered the opportunity to attempt the General examination during the same session, depending on the testing organization’s procedures. It is possible to pass all three examination levels in one session and qualify directly for an Amateur Extra license. Successful applicants receive a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE), or the equivalent electronic record, documenting their examination credit. Keep this document for your records. Importantly, passing an examination does not immediately authorize a new applicant to transmit on amateur radio frequencies. You must first receive an official license grant and call sign from the FCC.
8. Your examination results are submitted to the FCC through ULS. After you pass, the Volunteer Examiner team forwards your examination results and application information to its coordinating VEC. The VEC reviews and submits the application electronically to the FCC for processing. The application enters the FCC’s Universal Licensing System, commonly called ULS. This is the official federal database used to process and maintain amateur radio licenses and many other wireless service authorizations. New applicants normally do not need to submit a second initial license application personally because the VEC handles that process. Once the FCC receives and accepts the submission, an application file number is assigned. You can monitor its progress by visiting the FCC ULS Application Search and searching with your FRN or other application information. Processing times vary depending on how quickly the testing organization submits the results and whether the FCC requires additional review. When your application appears in ULS, you can proceed with the required FCC payment.
9. Pay the FCC application fee within the required deadline. New amateur radio applicants must pay a separate $35 FCC application fee before their initial license can be granted. This is different from the fee paid to the Volunteer Examiner organization for administering the examination. The FCC payment must be made directly to the federal government through its CORES payment system, available from your FCC CORES account. After your examination information has been submitted, the FCC normally sends an email containing payment instructions. However, you do not have to wait for that email if your application already appears in the FCC system. Sign in to CORES, locate the pending application fee associated with your FRN, and complete the payment using an available payment method. The FCC requires payment within 10 calendar days after the application file number is issued. If payment is not received within that period, the application will be dismissed. Your VEC may be able to resubmit it without another examination while your examination credit remains valid. Applicants who pass multiple examination levels in one session generally pay one FCC application fee for the resulting initial license application.
10. Receive your call sign, verify your license, and begin operating. After the FCC receives your payment and approves your application, your amateur radio license will be granted and an official call sign assigned. You can verify your authorization by visiting the FCC ULS License Search and searching for your name, FRN, or assigned call sign. Once your license appears as granted and active in the FCC database, you may begin transmitting within the frequencies, power limits, and operating privileges authorized for your license class. The FCC provides electronic license documents rather than automatically mailing paper copies. You can access and download your official authorization through the FCC ULS License Manager using your FCC credentials. Amateur radio licenses are valid for 10 years and can be renewed through the FCC. Licensees must also maintain accurate contact information and comply with FCC Part 97 regulations. As you gain experience, you may upgrade your license by passing additional examinations or apply for an available vanity call sign. With your license and call sign officially issued, you are ready to explore amateur radio, communicate with other operators, experiment with equipment, and participate in a worldwide community of radio enthusiasts.
Published by KI7QQC | Amateur Radio Information and Education
Licensing procedures, fees, and examination requirements are subject to change. Applicants should confirm current requirements with the FCC and their selected Volunteer Examiner Coordinator before testing.
