How to get a Ham Radio License

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Step By Step Guide:
How To Get Your U.S. Ham Radio License By Ed Mitchell, KF7VY
IMPORTANT NOTE 8 January 1999: Effective April 15th, 2000, new rules will take effect. Under the new rules there will be just three licenses: Technician (no telegraphy requirement), General and Extra class (5 word per minute telegraphic proficiency required by international regulations). The remainder of this Guide has not yet been updated to reflect the new rules.
The following is intended for persons interested in obtaining an U.S. Amateur Radio license. Procedures and requirements are different for other nations. Please see How to Get Licensed Throughout the World for information on licensing in other nations.
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1. Read Our Welcome to Amateur Radio section
Read Start here-Welcome to Amateur Radio to understand what Amateur Radio is about and to choose the type of license you wish to have. The most popular introductory Amateur Radio license is the "no code required" Technician class license. Another alternative is the Novice class license. The "no code" Tech license enables you to use popular "FM" two-way radios and repeaters on the VHF and UHF bands. You can also send computer data, television signals or use Amateur Radio orbiting spacecraft with the Tech license. Decide which license you wish to pursue - most new hams are entering the hobby with the "no code" Technician class license which requires passing a 55 question multiple choice examination.
2. Studying For the Exam
Thee are several ways to prepare for the Amateur radio exams:
Take a class: If you know an amateur radio operator in your area, you might ask if he or she knows of local license classes. Many radio clubs provide classes. In some areas, community colleges and other schools may provide license study classes. Knowing a local ham radio operator may also prove helpful when you are setting up your first Amateur station and you need advice and assistance regarding antennas, radio equipment, RF and electrical safety considerations, including local rules on the installation of antennas.
Self-Study: You can study on your own using available study guides and/or video taped instruction. Audio cassette tapes and computer programs are available to help you learn the Morse code if you choose to do so for your first license. There are pretty much two approaches to preparing for the tests: (1) learn the material; or (2) try to memorize all the test questions and answers. I strongly recommend option (1): learn the basic theory. What you need to know is not complicated and will be helpful in getting maximum enjoyment out of Amateur Radio. There are many study guides available - both Kim and I recommend the "Now You're Talking! All You Need to Get Your First Ham Radio License", published by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). You can order this book online (about $19.00) by visiting their web site at http://www.arrl.org/; and it will be shipped direct to you. Video tape study programs are also available (for about $99.00), however we have no experience with these tapes and cannot offer a recommendation.
Be a Know-It-All: We know of people with backgrounds in electronics that already know most of the theory. With two to four hours of review and an understanding of the FCC rules and regulations that apply to Amateur Radio, they successfully passed their written exam on their first try. Maybe you qualify as a "know it all"?3. Optional - Learning the Morse Code
You do not need to learn the Morse code to earn the "no code" Technician class license. About 25% of all licensed Amateurs in the U.S. have the "no code" license - this is the most popular license class for new licensees. If you wish to learn the Morse code, you should start with the 5 word per minute (WPM) tests. Many people can learn 5 WPM Morse code by studying for 15 minutes, once each night over a 2 to 3 week period. You need only pass the 5 WPM speed for the Novice or "code" Technician license. By passing this exam you will have access to voice communications on the Amateur 10 meter band, which provides you with access to worldwide communications. Higher class licenses have exams at 13 WPM and 20 WPM. Don't worry about those now! Most people find they tend to plateau at about 10 WPM and going faster is tough, without serious practice.
4. Where To Take Your Exam
Once you are prepared to take the examination(s), you'll want to find out where to take the test. Tests are administered by Volunteer Examiners. A nominal fee is charged to cover the costs of the testing. There are several ways to locate a test session. If you know a local ham, ask him or her about local testing opportunities. You can also try the online exam location database, provided by the ARRL, to look up local exam sessions affiliated with the ARRL.
Where to take Ham Radio License Examinations Ready to take your first exam? Or maybe upgrade to a higher class license? Amateur Radio exams are given throughout the U.S. and its territories all year long. The American Radio Relay League (the national organization of Amateur radio operators in the U.S.) operates an Online Exam Location reference available by clicking the link. You can also locate local ham radio clubs.
Don't be nervous or anxious about your test session. If for some reason you don't succeed on the first try, you are welcome to retake the tests in the future any number of times until you finally succeed. Keep at it!
Assuming you've passed, your license application is forwarded to the volunteer examination coordinator, and from there to the Federal Communications Commission. Your license will generally arrive in the mail in about 2 to 4 weeks and will contain your FCC issued callsign. (If you don't like the callsign, you can select your own, within limitations, by applying for a "vanity callsign" through the FCC's vanity license program.)
5. Setting Up A Station - Buying Your First Radio
I'll assume that you have just passed the Technician class "no code" license and are looking for a first radio. Most Amateurs purchase a handheld VHF or UHF (or a combined "dual-band" VHF+UHF) radio. You can use your handheld radio while walking, while driving or from your home. You can optionally connect it to an external mobile antenna or an external antenna at your home for extended range. A mere handheld, running low power, is sufficient to gain access to most local repeaters so this is plenty to get you started. Single band handheld radios cost between about $100 and $300. Dual-band radios cost about $400 and up.
If you plan to advance beyond the Technician stage, and money is no object, you might consider purchasing a radio like the ICOM IC-706 which provides VHF coverage on the 2 meter and 6 meter bands, plus is a complete HF (below 30 MHz) transceiver.
Another option to consider is a "mobile" radio. Mobile VHF/UHF radios and handhelds have pretty much the same feaures - except that the mobile radio probably supports 25 to 50 watts output while handheld radios typically operate in the 100 milliwatt to 5 watt output range. Mobile radios have larger speakers and a more powerful audio amplifier for better quality audio - this is especially nice to have in a noisy car environment. Most mobile radios are also designed for easier use while driving – that means bigger controls and buttons to easily set commonly used features.
6. Building Your Own Radio
Building your own radio is also an option. You can build inexpensive kits, especially for use on HF frequencies, but there are also kits available for the VHF and UHF bands. For most people, kits are a better choice than trying to "roll your own" from scratch. The nature of how electronic parts are sold makes it more cost effective to buy a pre-packaged kit containing all the parts than to try and buy all the parts you might need, individually. Kits are especially popular for "QRP" or low power radio operation. While 100 watt (or more) radios are popular for HF operation, you can have a lot of fun with a radio operating at the 1 to 10 watt level, and make contacts out to thousands of miles. Many inexpensive, low power HF radio kits are available.
7. Antennas
If using a handheld radio, you may be able to conduct all of your communications using just the short flexible antenna that comes with the radio. A mag mount or other mobile antenna is essential if using a high power mobile radio. For best operation while using a handheld radio in a car, a simple "magnetic mount" or "mag mount" antenna is highly recommended. A reasonable external antenna for your vehicle can boost your signal by a factor of 5 to 10 over the capabilities of the short flexible antenna on your radio.
For home installation, you may optionally choose to use an external vertical antenna or a "Yagi" beam antenna. Both types of external antennas substantially increase the direct range of a low power handheld radio. In general, improving your antenna usually makes more sense than adding power. For one thing, a better antenna enables your radio not only to transmit further but to better hear weak signals.
8. Getting on the Air
With your ham radio "ticket" in hand, your radio purchased or built, and your first antenna installed, its time to make your first contact. For many this is a time of intense excitement and/or anxiety! If you are nervous or unsure of yourself, don't hesitate to ask for help. By all means, let your first contact know that he or she is your first contact on ham radio. Two or three times I've answered a "CQ" (a station requesting a contact) and been rewarded by being a new ham's first contact. Most hams are happy to help and to give you advice.
9. Moving Forwards
Ham Radio provides a near limitless opportunity to explore, to study, to tinker, to serve the public, and to learn. As your knowledge increases, you can pursue higher class licenses that provide you with access to additional radio frequencies. You can pursue new technologies like digital communications, fast scan television, satellite communications, wireless Internet access, low power communications, and even search the sky for extra-terrestrial intelligence (why not?). You can participate in public service or disaster communications. Visit your local ham radio club (most are friendly social events), join your local ARES/RACES public service communications team, sign up to participate in training opportunities and volunteer to help out at events using amateur radio communications. There is a world of exploration and opportunities in amateur radio. Have fun!