Finding a VE session

Amateur radio exams are administered by Volunteer Examiners (VEs) — licensed hams who volunteer their time. Sessions are held at libraries, community centers, ham clubs, and online. Search for upcoming sessions at HamStudy session finder or ARRL exam session search. Most areas have sessions within a few weeks.

What to bring

• A government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc.)
• The exam fee — typically $15, though some sessions are free. Cash is safest; some accept cards.
• Your FCC Registration Number (FRN), if you have one. You can register at the FCC CORES / FRN registration ahead of time, or the VE team can help you on exam day.
• A pencil or pen. Calculators are allowed but rarely needed for Technician.

What the test looks like

The Technician exam has 35 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official NCVEC question pool. You need 26 correct to pass — about 74%. Questions are randomized, and every question on the exam comes from the public pool, which is the same pool you study on OpenAir. Most people finish in 20 to 30 minutes. Your exam is scored immediately — you'll know whether you passed before you leave.

After passing

The VE team submits your results to the FCC. Your call sign typically appears in the FCC database within 10 business days — sometimes faster. Once it does, you're licensed and legal to transmit. Look up your call sign at FCC ULS license lookup. Your Technician license is good for 10 years and can be renewed for free.