General Info on Amateur Radio Exams
INTRODUCTION
Until 1984, all those taking a test except novice had to travel to arrive in an FCC office (Kansas City or Denver) by 8 A.M. If a test was failed, the applicant had to wait 30 days to take it again. The volunteer examining program has brought testing to you! Testing in Manhattan is a volunteer effort of members of the Manhattan Area Amateur Radio Society (MAARS).
Here's a quick introduction on preparing for an amateur radio license.
LICENSE TESTS
All amateur written tests are constructed from a standard national question pool. The questions in the pool are word-for-word what you will be asked on your test, and all questions are included in license preparation books. For any test, the total number of questions in the pool is about ten times the number of questions on the test you'll take (technician - 35, general - 35, amateur extra - 50). For example, if you're studying for a technician written test, you'll need to be able to answer about 350 questions.
All written tests will be multiple-choice, with the same four possible answers you've worked with when studying the question pool. The passing grade is about 74% (26 of 35 correct for technician or 37 of 50 correct for extra). Your test will be graded promptly after it's turned in, and you'll be told your score, but not which questions you missed.
Various excellent books are available from the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St., Newington, Ct. 06111. All can be purchased on their excellent Web site. On this one page, you'll find all the publications listed below.
605 FORMS
The FCC form 605 will be available at the test session. You don't need to find one or fill one out in advance.
AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE
If you're licensed now and you pass tests that will upgrade your license, the examiners must have a photocopy of your license to send in with your 605 form. You cannot be tested if you forget to bring your license copy.
CERTIFICATE OF SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF EXAMINATION (CSCE)
Most amateur radio licenses call for passing more than one test element. If you pass an element at our session, you'll receive a certificate which shows what you passed. It will be accepted for 365 days by any volunteer examiner in the country.
If you are taking a test element that will complete your requirements for a class of license, you must have a photocopy of your CSCE which shows that you've already passed the other element required for that license. The examiners are not allowed to accept the original. If you don't have the CSCE copy, or if it has expired, you'll need to retake the other test element.
TEST FEE AND RETAKES
The test session fee is $15.00 for 2009. You can take all the tests you can pass at that session for that one fee. Please bring the exact change for the test fee, or a personal check. Your examiners can't leave the room to get change if they run out.
If you retake a failed test element, the examiners must collect another test fee. A same-day retake might pay off if you're within a question or two of passing the first time, but the pass rate on same-day retakes is low. Availability of retakes will be at the examiners' discretion, based on time and alternate test versions available.
WHAT TO BRING TO THE TEST
Bring the test fee (exact change or check), a photocopy of your license (if upgrading), a photocopy of your Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (if you need to show you've already passed an element), and photo identification. You may use a calculator as long as you can demonstrate that it does not have information, formulas, etc. in memory. The examiners will supply pencils, pens, paper, blank forms, etc.
IT'LL TAKE SOME TIME!
While tests can be taken in ten or fifteen minutes, grading, certificates of completion, 605 forms, etc. add considerably to the length of test sessions. Every form must be hand-signed by three examiners. Please allow 1.5 to 2 hours to wrap up your test session.
HOW LONG 'TIL I GET MY LICENSE?!
Results have varied from unbelievably fast to six weeks.
If you would like to know your callsign as soon as possible, use one of the several callsign servers on the Internet. Here are some options:
WHAT IF I JUST WANT TO RENEW MY LICENSE?
Amateur radio licenses may be renewed 90 days prior to expiration of the license.
Detailed information on renewal options and procedures is available on the ARRL's License Renewal page.
modified 4/05/09 |
