73·STUDY

How to get your ham radio license

Passing the exam is the part everyone studies for. Here's the rest of the process around it, in order.

  1. 1

    Get an FRN from the FCC before exam day

    Register an account at the FCC's CORES system (apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb) and get an FCC Registration Number (FRN). You need this before you sit for the exam, VE teams ask for it on the exam paperwork. It's free and takes a few minutes.

  2. 2

    Study the pool

    Every question on your exam comes verbatim from the public NCVEC pool for that license class, there's no surprise content. That's the entire premise of this site: work through the pool with practice mode until you're consistently answering correctly, then confirm you're ready with a simulated exam.

  3. 3

    Find a VE test session

    Volunteer Examiners (VEs), licensed hams accredited by a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC), run the actual exam sessions. ARRL's exam-session finder is searchable by ZIP code and lists sessions from every VEC, not just ARRL's own. Sessions run in libraries, hamfests, club meetings, and community centers, often on weekends.

  4. 4

    Bring the right things and pay the session fee

    Bring a government-issued photo ID and your FRN. Most VE teams charge a session fee set by their VEC, not the FCC, commonly around $15, which covers an attempt at every exam element you're prepared for in one sitting. Some VECs waive it for youth candidates or under specific programs.

  5. 5

    Take the exam (and consider going further in the same sitting)

    If you pass Technician and think you might be ready, ask the VE team if you can also attempt General right then. Passing Element 2 and Element 3 in the same session gets you straight to General with no separate appointment. The same logic applies from General to Extra if you're prepared for Element 4 too.

  6. 6

    Pay the FCC's $35 application fee, after the session

    This part surprises people: you don't pay the FCC at the test table. Your VE team submits your results, the FCC assigns a file number, and you'll get instructions to pay the $35 application fee online through CORES. You have 10 calendar days from when the file number is issued to pay it.

  7. 7

    Wait for your callsign to post in ULS

    Once the fee clears and the FCC processes your application, your new license (and callsign) shows up in the FCC's Universal Licensing System, usually within a few business days. That's the moment you're legally on the air. Licenses are valid for 10 years and renewable.

Common questions

Do I need to know Morse code to get licensed?

No. The FCC dropped the Morse code requirement for all US amateur license classes in 2007. Code proficiency is no longer tested for Technician, General, or Extra.

How much does getting licensed actually cost?

Two separate fees: a VE session fee (commonly around $15, set by the VEC administering your session, not the FCC) paid at the test, and a $35 FCC application fee paid separately online after you pass, through the FCC's CORES system, within 10 days of your file number being issued.

Can I take the exam more than once if I fail?

Yes. Most VE sessions let you retake a failed element the same day for an additional fee set by the VEC. There's no FCC-imposed waiting period between attempts.

How old do I have to be?

There is no minimum age. Amateur radio licenses are issued to any US citizen or resident who passes the exam, regardless of age.

More questions about the process, or about this site? See the fullFAQ.

Published 2026-08-28 · Last updated 2026-08-28 · Not sure which exam to study for first? Seewhat license do I need, or jump straight intoTechnician practice.