In the US, there are three amateur radio license classes—Technician, General, and Extra. You can get one or all depending on what you want to do.
The quickest way to get licensed is to focus on the Technician class
The Technician class license is the entry-level license of choice for most new ham radio operators. To earn the Technician license requires passing one examination totaling 35 questions on radio theory, regulations, and operating practices.
Get your Technician license in 5 easy steps
Number 1 – Download the free “Ham Tech” app to your phone or buy one of the many ham radio examinations apps.
Number 2 – Open the “Ham Tech” app in your spare time and take the practice exams under each topic until you have the correct answers memorized. If you do not entirely understand the reasoning behind some of the answers, don’t worry. You can get more in-depth after you get licensed.
Number 3 – Find out where the next amateur radio license exam will be in your area by going to the ARRL site and entering your zip code.
Number 4 – Show up on the date of the exam and take the test.
The Technician license exam is a 35-question test drawn from the question pool you have been studying in the “Ham Tech” app.
The question pool is divided into 10 groups. The groups are subdivided into question topics. There are 35 topics represented in the question pool. One question will be randomly selected from each topic to make up a Technician exam. You must correctly answer a minimum of 26 questions on the exam to obtain a Technician license.
Exam sessions are conducted by volunteers working under the direction of the FCC and a Volunteer Exam Coordinator (VEC). There will likely be a charge for taking the exam. The exam fee is set by the VEC and is usually $15 or less.
Number 5 – After you pass the exam, the VIC will give you all the information you need to finish the process.
I got my Technician class license this way. I hope this will relieve you of some of the stress many people have about this process. It is not a hard test. You can do it.
Having your amateur radio license will give you one more way to communicate during a disaster.
Timothy French 