Nervous about the exam? Almost everyone is, and almost everyone is surprised by how low-key it turns out to be. Here's exactly what to expect — and how to book your seat.
Booking your exam
Two options, both easy:
- In person. Volunteer examiner (VE) teams hold sessions at libraries, clubs, hamfests, and community rooms. Find one near you with the ARRL's session finder or through HamStudy's session list.
- Online. You can take the exact same test from home over a video call, proctored by VEs through services like ExamTools. You'll need a webcam, a quiet room you can show is empty of notes, and a photo ID. For a lot of people this is the easiest route.
What to bring
- A photo ID (or two forms of ID if you don't have a photo one).
- Your FRN from the FCC — register for it free beforehand so it's ready.
- The fees: about $15 for the VE session, plus the $35 FCC application fee.
- A simple calculator is allowed; its memory just has to be cleared. You won't need much beyond basic arithmetic.
The test itself
It's 35 multiple-choice questions, four answers each, taken straight from the public pool you studied. You need 26 right to pass — a 74% bar that lets you miss nine. There's no tight clock; most people finish comfortably in 20–30 minutes. The proctors are volunteers and fellow hams who want you to pass.
When you pass
You'll sign a CSCE (Certificate of Successful Completion) on the spot. The VEs file your paperwork, you pay the FCC's $35 fee, and within a few days your call sign appears in the FCC's ULS database. The instant it shows up there, you're cleared to get on the air.
Didn't pass? You can often retake it the same day for another session fee. Either way, no one walks away worse off. When you're ready to study, our free tool and the book have your back.
The honest answer: a $25 Baofeng and your local repeater frequency. But if you want to know what experienced hams actually reach for at every price point — from first handheld to first HF rig — our gear guide has it without the fluff.
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