How To Get Your Ham Radio License
June 15, 2018
Step 1: Choose the level of license
First, there are three levels of ham radio licenses offered by the FCC (the government agency that regulates the airwaves). If you don’t yet have a license, this isn’t really a choice – you have to start with the Technician License. Once you have your technician license you can try for a higher level if needed.
The Technician License
The technician license is your stepping stone into ham radio. It’s an official government license that gives you capabilities that ordinary citizens don’t have. In fact, less than .5% of Americans have their Technician License. It’s the first test you must pass, and it gives you some great communication capabilities. The Technician License is suitable for all local communication – you will have no problem communicating around town. We could go into the details about which frequencies you can use, etc. – but you won’t need that until you have your radio. Its very common for people with their technician license to use the 2-meter band on small handheld radios to talk across town. Get a license with your friend and you could have your own secret communication channel! Of course, technician licensees can also operate on 80, 40, 15 and 10-meter bands, and capability for long range communication as well.
The license lasts for 10 years, and after it expires there is a two-year grace period where you can renew it without having to take the test again. However, you aren’t allowed to transmit during that time.
The General License and the Amateur Extra License
Levels two and three are the general License and the amateur extra license. You have to pass the technician license before you can upgrade to the general and amateur extra levels. Generally, most hams find that the Technician License is sufficient, but the general and amateur extra licensees give access to additional frequencies and even longer-range communication. Its best to start with your technician license, and if you find that you need additional capabilities you can take the next test to upgrade to the general at any time.
Step 2: Study For The Exam
Assuming you are starting with the Technician License, the license exam consists of 35 questions that are pulled from a question pool of 426 questions. Because there are so many questions to study, it is really difficult to study with just practice tests (like apps). The books cover the material, but the problem with the books is that they aren’t interactive, and you can’t take random computer-generated tests to test your knowledge.
The best way to learn is with an online course. Ham Radio Prep is built to teach you all of the material, as well as test your knowledge along the way. We present the material in an organized way that makes it easy to learn, even for a beginner, but still covers all the concepts.
Step 3: Sit for The Exam
Now you’re ready for exam day. Register for the exam by finding a testing center near you with ARRL. The exams are administered by friendly volunteers. All you need to bring is a pen/pencil (the volunteers usually bring extra), Government issued ID, and $15 in cash. If you fail, you can always retake the exam at any time, so no need to sweat. If you study with Ham Radio Prep, you won’t sweat it!