U.S. ham radio has three license classes, and each one opens up more of the radio spectrum. The good news: you don't choose between them — you climb them, and you start at the bottom no matter what. Here's what each unlocks and how to think about the path.
Technician — where everyone starts
The entry license. It gives you full privileges on the VHF and UHF bands — the 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands where local repeaters, handhelds, emergency nets, and satellites live. You also get a real taste of HF: voice on part of the 10-meter band when it's open, plus Morse code on slices of 80, 40, and 15 meters. The exam is 35 questions; pass 26. Most people are ready in a few weeks.
General — the big jump
This is the upgrade most hams reach for, because it unlocks worldwide HF voice across most of the high-frequency bands — the long-distance, talk-to-another-continent operating that HF is famous for. The exam is another 35 questions (pass 26), with more electronics and HF operating rules. If talking around the world appeals to you, General is the goal.
Amateur Extra — the full set
Extra grants every U.S. amateur privilege, including exclusive sub-bands at the bottom of the HF bands that are prime real estate for chasing distant stations. The exam is bigger — 50 questions, pass 37 — and leans into theory and a bit more math. It's the deep end, and a point of pride for many operators.
So which, and when?
Everyone starts with Technician — there's no skipping it, and it's the fastest way to actually get on the air. From there, a very common and smart path is to earn Technician now and aim for General within a few months, once you've caught the bug and want HF. Extra can come whenever you're ready for the challenge.
Our Technician guide gets you over the first line in plain English; General and Extra guides follow in the same style. Start where everyone does — and get on the air.