AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE LEVELS

AND REQUIREMENTS

In the US, there are three license levels, or "license classes"

which are Technician class, General class and Extra Class.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) grants these

licenses.

LEVEL 1: Technician Class License

EXAM: 35-question Technician Written Exam (Element 2)

PRIVILEGES: All VHF/UHF amateur bands (frequencies above

30 MHz) and certain HF frequencies on the 80, 40, and 15

meter bands using CW, and on the 10 meter band using CW,

voice, and digital modes.

LEVEL 2: General Class License (upgrade from Technician)

EXAM: 35-question General Written Exam (Element 3)

PRIVILEGES: All VHF/UHF amateur bands and most HF

privileges (10 through 160 meters).

In addition to the Technician privileges, General Class

operators are authorized to operate on any frequency in the

160, 30, 17, 12, and 10 meter bands. They may also use

significant segments of the 80, 40, 20, and 15 meter bands.

LEVEL 3: Extra Class License (upgrade from General)

EXAM: 50-question Extra Written Exam (Element 4)

PRIVILEGES: All amateur privileges.

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IS KNOWLEDGE OF MORSE CODE AN FCC-LICENSE

REQUIRMENT?

Beginning February 23, 2007, the FCC no longer requires

passing a Morse code examination for any Amateur Radio

license class.

ARE WRITTEN TESTS AN FCC-LICENSE REQUIREMENT?

ARE THERE EXEMPTIONS?

As of April 15, 2000, you may be examined on only three

classes of operator licenses, each authorizing varying levels of

privileges. The Amateur Operator/Primary Station License

class for which an examinee qualifies for is determined by the

exams taken at a VE test session. The exams cover

regulations, operating practices, and electronics theory. There

is no exemption from the written exam requirements for

persons with difficulty in reading, writing, or because of a

handicap or disability. There are exam accommodations that

can be afforded examinees. Most new amateur operators start

at the Technician class and then advance one class at a time.

The VEs give examination credit for the license class currently

(and in some cases, previously) held so that examinations

required for that license need not be repeated. The written

examinations are constructed from question pools that have

been made public (see: www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html ).

Helpful study guides and training courses are also widely

available. To locate examination opportunities in your area,

contact your local club, VE group, one of the 14 VECs or see