Amateur radio requires a license from the FCC before you can transmit on the air. Anyone can apply for a license if you pass the exam. There is no age limit - if you can pass the test you can get a license. There have been youth as young as 5 years old pass the exam and get licensed.
The FCC charges a nominal fee (around $30) for the license, and you can usually get your license within a few days. To apply for your license, you must first take an exam. The FCC will issue the license once you have passed the exam, but before taking the exam you will need to go to the FCC CORES site and register for an FCC Registration Number (FRN). This number is your record locator for all licenses issued by the FCC, including your GMRS. You will need your FRN when you take the exam so the examiner can report to the FCC that you passed the exam.
The FCC will update your FRN in the CORES system and issue you a call sign usually within a day or two. Once you have that call sign you can begin enjoying amateur radio!
There are currently three different types of licenses:
Technician
The technician license is considered the entry level. This is perhaps the easiest to obtain. Questions on the exam are mostly about rules and regulations with some basic electronics theory (like Ohms Law). But not to worry because there are plenty of resources to help learn the answers on the exam.
The technician license allows access to the 2 meter (VHF) and 7cm (UHF) band. You will also have limited access to the 6m and 10m bands. The band chart will tell you what frequencies are available in these bands. This is where most connect with friends and neighbors using repeaters located all over the nation.
General Class
The next level up is the General Class license. The General Class allows you to use my bands in the HF range. This is where you will be able to make long distance communications around the world. Questions on this test contain more electronics and antenna theory. The intent is to ensure operators are knowledgeable enough to operate their equipment and build antennas for any band they are operating in.
Extra Class
This is the highest level of license. You gain access to a few more bands, and have expanded access in the General Class bands. This exam is mostly radio and antenna theory.
How to study for the exam
There are several online resources for studying. The test will consist of 35 multiple choice questions. The questions are randomly selected from a pool of ~300 questions. All tests require a score of 74% (26 correct answers) to pass.
Technician Class
The Technician test is the entry level exam. The test consists of mostly rules and regulations, mixed with some electronics theory and operating practices and safety. A good working knowledge of Ohms Law is useful for passing this test.
General Class
The General test will have more technical questions around electronics and antenna theory. Passing this test will allow you to operate on the high frequency (HF) bands where you can enjoy long distance communications. This test will dig a little deeper into radio wave propagation, electrical principles and operating practices.
You can take both tests in the same day, but you must first pass the Technician test. Many operators study for both and take both the same day.
Extra Class
This test consists of 50 multiple choice questions randomly selected from a pool of 600 questions. You still need a score of 74%, or 37 correct answers. The test consists heavily on some advanced RF and electrical theory, antenna design and electronic circuitry.
Where can i find study guides?
Yes! Both online and in print! The ARRL library has several good study guides you can purchase for each of the classes. This is good as a reference even after you are licensed, and good source for those that do better studying written material. There are also very good online resources available, some free and some for a small cost. Two of the most popular are:
Hamradioprep.com
This site charges a one-time flat fee for a lifetime of access. The Technican Class course is $35, and the General Class couse is $55. They also have a course for both Technician, General, and Extra class for $79 (their all access course). They use video for all courses. The narrator in the video will explain the question and provide the answer (as well as an explanation of the answer). You can also get the script for each segment so you can go through the written version as well. At the end, take the practice test. When you score 80% or better on the practice test, schedule for the exam with your local radio club!
Hamstudy.org
This is a free site that provides a practice test as well as study mode. All the possible questions for a test are presented and the answers for each presented. Many use this to more or less memorize the answers before taking the test. It is a good idea to maybe use both so you have a better understanding of the theory behind each of the questions as well.
Where do I take the exam
You have two choices here in NC. First find a local amateur radio club in your area, as they will usually have resources (volunteer examiners or VEs) for administering exams and many clubs have regularly scheduled testing. Sometimes the testing is free of charge, but some will charge a nominal fee to cover their expenses. The Association for Amateur Radio (ARRL) has a listing of testing locations and contact information. You can find the ARRL website at:
www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session
You can also go to Hamstudy.org and you find a listing of all exam sessions by date and location. This is an excellent source for finding exams near you. Go to: