Get Started in Ham Radio
Getting a ham radio license in the United States is easier than most people expect. You study, pass a multiple-choice exam, and the FCC issues you a callsign. Here is the whole path, in plain English.
The short version
- Study for the entry-level Technician exam. Plenty of free material exists.
- Get an FRN: a free FCC Registration Number, which you need before the exam.
- Take the exam in person or online with a team of volunteer examiners.
- Pay the FCC's application fee after you pass, and receive your callsign.
- Get on the air and say hello. Come to a net or a meeting.
You don't need a license to listen, and you don't need to own a radio to start studying.
The three license classes
There are three levels. Most people start with Technician and upgrade later if they want more. Each exam is a written, multiple-choice test, and you pass with 74 percent or better.
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Technician
Entry level · 35 questions
Local and regional communication on the VHF and UHF bands, which is where handheld radios and repeaters live, plus limited access to a few shortwave (HF) bands. This is where nearly everyone begins.
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General
Step up · 35 questions
Much broader shortwave (HF) privileges, which is the part of the hobby that reaches other states and countries.
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Amateur Extra
Top class · 50 questions
All privileges on all amateur bands. It has the hardest exam, and it's a big accomplishment even for longtime hams.
There is no Morse code requirement for any class. Licenses last ten years and can be renewed. You can take more than one exam in a single session if you pass the first.
How exams work
- Who runs them. Exams are given by teams of Volunteer Examiners (VEs): licensed hams accredited through a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) such as the ARRL. The people grading your test are volunteers, usually friendly and encouraging.
- The questions are public. Every exam is drawn from a published pool of questions and answers, so studying the pool is fair game. Pools are refreshed every few years.
- Get an FRN first. New applicants must have an FCC Registration Number before the exam. You register for free through the FCC's CORES system; ARRL explains the requirement. If you already hold an FCC license of any kind, you already have one.
- What to bring. Typically a photo ID, your FRN, the exam fee, a pen or pencil, and a simple calculator. Check the session listing for anything specific. Upgrading hams also bring their existing license or exam credit.
- Two fees. The VE team charges a small session fee. ARRL VEC sessions have charged $15; check each listing. After you pass, the FCC charges its own application fee ($35 when it began in April 2022). The FCC emails you a payment link, and ARRL's announcement has the details. Fee amounts can change, so confirm them before you go.
- After you pass. The FCC processes your application and assigns a callsign. You can generally begin transmitting once your callsign appears in the FCC's license database (called ULS).
Find an exam session near Middletown
- ARRL's exam finder lets you search by ZIP code within 25, 50, 100, or 250 miles, or by state. It also lists online exams you can take from home.
- HamStudy.org also lists exam sessions, alongside its study tools.
- Exam sessions I know about locally appear on the Events page (look for the Exam session tag).
[TODO: add any recurring local exam sessions or clubs that run them, once confirmed.]
Study resources
- Practice exams (free). HamStudy.org and HamExam.org let you take practice tests drawn from the real question pools.
- Books. ARRL publishes The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual and a Tech Q&A guide, and Gordon West's Technician Class License Prep is another popular choice.
- Classes. ARRL has a “Find a Class” search, and local clubs often run beginner courses.
Match your materials to the current question pool. The 2026–2030 Technician pool took effect on July 1, 2026, and study guides based on the older pool no longer match the exam (details from ARRL). Check the pool dates before buying anything for General or Extra, too.
What does it cost, and what equipment do I need?
Cost to get licensed
- Studying: free with online practice tests, or the price of a book if you prefer paper.
- Exam session fee: about $15 at many sessions.
- FCC application fee: $35, paid after you pass.
Roughly $50 to get licensed, plus any study materials. Both fees are subject to change.
Equipment
- Before the exam: nothing. You can study and even listen to ham radio without owning a radio.
- Your first radio: most people start with a handheld radio (an HT, for handheld transceiver) for local repeaters and nets. Budget models cost roughly $30 and up, with better ones running a few hundred dollars.
- Before you buy: ask around. Local hams are often glad to help you pick one, and some will let you try theirs.
- Later: a better antenna, a mobile radio for the car, or a shortwave (HF) setup after you upgrade.
Prices are ballpark figures that change often. [TODO: confirm and adjust these ranges.]
Glossary
- Callsign
- Your unique on-air identifier, issued by the FCC, like KE8OIR.
- FRN
- FCC Registration Number. A free ID you get from the FCC before your first exam.
- HF
- High Frequency, or shortwave (3–30 MHz). Signals can travel around the world.
- HT
- Handheld transceiver. A walkie-talkie style ham radio.
- Net
- A scheduled on-air meetup run by a host called net control.
- QSL
- A confirmation of a two-way radio contact.
- QSO
- A two-way radio conversation.
- Repeater
- A relay station that rebroadcasts your signal to extend its range.
- ULS
- The FCC's Universal Licensing System, the public license database.
- UHF / VHF
- Ultra and Very High Frequency (300–3,000 MHz and 30–300 MHz). The bands handhelds use for local talk.
- VE / VEC
- Volunteer Examiner, and the Volunteer Examiner Coordinator that accredits them.