How to Get Your Amateur Radio License

Getting your amateur radio license may sound intimidating, but it really isn’t. You don’t need an electronics degree, you don’t need to know Morse code, and you don’t need to buy a radio before you begin.

You just need a little curiosity, some study time, and a willingness to learn.

George County ARES is happy to help you get started.

The Three Amateur Radio License Classes

The FCC currently issues three classes of amateur radio license: Technician, General, and Amateur Extra.

Technician

The Technician license is where most people begin. The exam consists of 35 questions covering basic radio theory, FCC rules, operating practices, electrical and electronic principles, antennas, and safety.

Technician privileges include extensive VHF and UHF operation, which covers much of the local repeater, DMR, System Fusion, public-service, and emergency-communications activity that new operators encounter first. Technician licensees also receive limited HF privileges.

General

The General license is the next step and requires another 35-question examination.

General opens substantially more HF operating privileges, making it the license many operators pursue when they want to communicate throughout the United States and around the world using voice, digital modes, and other forms of HF operation.

You must hold, or qualify for, Technician before receiving General privileges.

Amateur Extra

Amateur Extra is the highest U.S. amateur radio license class. The Extra examination contains 50 questions and covers more advanced radio theory, electronics, operating practices, and regulations.

Extra provides all available U.S. amateur radio operating privileges.

You don’t have to earn all three at once. Start with Technician, get on the air, learn by doing, and upgrade when you’re ready.

Studying Doesn’t Have to Cost Anything

There are excellent free study resources available online for every license class.

HamStudy.org

HamStudy.org is one of the easiest places to start. It offers free study tools, explanations, flash cards, question pools, and practice exams for:

HamStudy tracks the current question pools, which is important because the pools change periodically.

KC3ICT Ham Study

KC3ICT Ham Study provides free flash cards and practice exams for Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. No account or paywall is required, and study progress can be stored locally in your browser.

This is a nice alternative if you prefer a simple, privacy-conscious study tool.

Official ARRL Question Pools and Practice Exams

The ARRL Question Pools page provides the current public examination question pools for all three license classes.

ARRL also provides an Exam Practice resource for working through practice questions before test day.

The current pools are:

Technician: July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030
General: July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2027
Amateur Extra: July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2028

Be careful when using old books, downloaded study guides, or videos. Make sure the material matches the question pool that will be in effect on the date you take your exam.

KB6NU No-Nonsense Technician Study Guide

If you prefer studying from a conventional written guide, the KB6NU No-Nonsense Study Guides include a free PDF edition of the current Technician study guide.

The General and Amateur Extra guides are also available there, although the current PDF editions of those guides are paid products.

Practice Until You’re Comfortable

Don’t worry about memorizing every question in one sitting.

Study a section, take practice exams, and pay attention to the areas where you’re consistently missing questions. When you’re regularly passing practice exams with room to spare, it’s probably time to schedule the real thing.

And remember, the goal isn’t merely to pass a test. The material gives you the foundation you’ll use when you begin operating.

Get an FCC Registration Number

Before taking an amateur radio examination, you will need an FCC Registration Number (FRN).

The FCC manages FRNs through its Commission Registration System (CORES).

Register for an FCC account and obtain your FRN before the exam session. Keep the FRN with your licensing records because you’ll continue to use it for FCC licensing transactions.

Taking Your Exam With George County ARES

George County Mississippi Amateur Radio Emergency Service, LLC does not charge an examination fee.

We conduct amateur radio examination sessions on a quarterly basis and welcome anyone who is ready to test for Technician, General, or Amateur Extra.

We also understand that not everyone can easily travel to a regular examination session. Special examination sessions can be arranged for shut-ins who are unable to attend one of our normal sessions.

If you need a special session, please contact George County ARES so we can discuss the circumstances and make arrangements.

Check the George County ARES Calendar for scheduled examination sessions and other upcoming activities.

A Note About Fees

George County ARES does not charge you to take the amateur radio examination.

The FCC does currently charge a $35 application fee for a new amateur radio license, paid separately to the FCC after the examination process. That FCC fee is not collected by George County ARES and is separate from our free examination session.

Upgrades to an existing amateur radio license do not necessarily involve the same FCC application fee situation, so follow the instructions provided with your examination results and from the FCC for the particular application being filed.

About Our Volunteer Examiner Team

The George County ARES Volunteer Examiner Team is accredited through the Laurel Amateur Radio Club Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (Laurel VEC).

A note about the name: Despite the name, the Laurel Amateur Radio Club associated with the Laurel VEC is not located in Laurel, Mississippi, and is not affiliated with any local Laurel-area amateur radio organization.

The Laurel VEC is one of the Volunteer Examiner Coordinators authorized through an agreement with the Federal Communications Commission to coordinate amateur radio examination sessions. Laurel VEC-accredited Volunteer Examiner teams administer examinations for new amateur radio licenses and upgrades to existing licenses.

The Laurel VEC has provided amateur radio examination and licensing services without charging examination fees since 1984. George County ARES continues that tradition: we do not charge candidates an examination fee.

Our Volunteer Examiners donate their time and receive no compensation for conducting exam sessions.

Amateur Extra class license holders who are interested in joining the George County ARES VE Team and who are accredited, or qualify for accreditation, through the Laurel VEC are welcome to /contact/ for more information.

For additional information about the VEC and its examination program, visit https://larc-vec.org/.

What Happens After You Pass?

After your successful examination is processed, follow the FCC instructions associated with your license application, including payment of any applicable FCC fee.

For a new licensee, do not transmit until the FCC has granted the license and your call sign appears in the FCC licensing database.

Once that happens, congratulations. You’re a ham.

And that’s when the real learning begins.

Come Meet Us Before You Test

You don’t have to wait until you’re licensed to get involved with George County ARES.

Visitors and non-hams are welcome and encouraged to come to our meetings and public events. Come meet local operators, ask questions, see the equipment, and learn what amateur radio is actually like before taking the exam.

You can also listen to our weekly nets while you’re studying. Listening is one of the best ways to become familiar with repeater procedures and how amateur radio conversations work before you receive your own call sign.

See the Calendar for meetings, nets, testing sessions, training, and special events.

Ready to Start?

Here’s the short version:

Start with the Technician material.
Use free study tools such as HamStudy.org or KC3ICT Ham Study.
Take practice exams until you’re consistently comfortable with the material.
Register with the FCC and obtain your FRN through CORES.
Check our Calendar for the next quarterly examination session, or contact us if you need a special session because you’re unable to attend normally.
Take the exam with George County ARES. We do not charge an examination fee.
Complete any required FCC application steps after passing.
Wait for your license grant and call sign before transmitting.
Get on the air and have fun.

If you have questions along the way, contact George County ARES. Helping new operators get started is part of what keeps amateur radio growing.