Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Getting Your Ham License
If this is your first attempt at passing the Federal Communication Commission&'s (FCC) Amateur Radio Test for Technician class, the most basic ham level, this article serves as a road map. If you already have your General or Extra class license and would like to study for other credentials through the FCC, consider this a refresher course. The FCC Technician Exam (Element 2) consists of 35 questions, with 26 correct the minimum requirement for a passing grade.
Order your study materials. The best resource is the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Ham Radio License Manual, 2nd Edition, which is available from the ARRL, Amazon.com and some bookstores. The book breaks the information down into compartmentalized lessons with a quiz following each unit. The 35-question exam, based on a 396-question pool, will cover subjects in the following categories: radio waves and electrical transmission; FCC regulations and how they affect you; and your role and responsibility as a ham radio operator.
Although the material might seem dry, the individual study units include excellent illustrations and examples. The best way to absorb this material is to read the table of contents first. Analyze the flow of topics and how they relate to one another. When you begin each unit, read the headings, and with a pencil, make notations in the margins for sections that might be on the exam. After you complete each unit, take the quiz at the end of the chapter.
Find an exam location and session. ARRL&'s website has a search engine that locates a testing center near you. Just type in a keyboard like city, town or zip code. Record the date, time, location and address of the testing center. Many centers schedule Technician class exams on Saturdays. Some offer them on Sunday mornings.
Study the pool of questions and take practice exams. ARRL has a database of Element 2&'s current question pool. It also has updates that might affect material you&'re studying and questions on the Technician exam. HamUniversity.com also offers an easy-to-navigate website and series of practice exams. Both prepare you for the feel of the questions and how long each question might take to answer.
Take the exam. You will need to bring the following materials to the testing center: two sharpened No. 2 pencils, a driver&'s license or two other forms of valid identification and $15 (cost of the exam). You may bring a calculator with all memory functions deleted.
Congratulations if you pass the Technician class exam on the first attempt. Many do not. For the $15 payment, you can also try your luck on a General class exam. Even if you fail the General exam, the experience of taking it will benefit you if you choose to study for the next licensing level. If you fail the Technician exam, don&'t be discouraged. Many do fail. You can pay an additional $15 and retake the exam then, or you can study and return another month to try retaking the exam.
Join the nonprofit ARRL for $39 per year. With that membership, you get a subscription to QST Magazine and access to ARRL&'s current news, membership information and resources. If you don&'t own equipment, find a ham radio club; the ARRL website has resources for this. Some hams have their own equipment, so you can hear others transmit or gain valuable hands-on experience.
Consider becoming a volunteer member of your own community&'s Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES). By getting involved, you become an important link in emergency preparedness.