Licensing · FCC Part 97

Getting Your Amateur Radio License

Amateur radio gives you the opportunity to communicate locally, across the country, and around the world while learning about radio, electronics, antennas, digital communications, and emergency preparedness.

Important Fee Distinction: A Volunteer Examiner testing organization may charge an examination-session fee (typically $0 to $15). That charge is established by the examining team and is entirely separate from the FCC's $35 application fee.

The Licensing Path at a Glance

In the United States, the FCC issues three sequential license classes to new operators. The basic cycle is study, test, pass, and advance:

Class 1 · Entry Level

Technician

Study → Element 2 → Pass → FCC $35 Fee → License Grant

35 questions (Element 2). Unlocks all amateur frequencies at 50 MHz and above (VHF/UHF repeaters, satellites, digital modes) plus limited HF segments.

Class 2 · HF Expansion

General

Study → Element 3 → Pass → CSCE Grant → Immediate /AG

35 questions (Element 3). Adds massive access to the global high-frequency (HF) bands for worldwide voice, CW, and digital DX. No FCC fee for routine upgrades.

Class 3 · Highest Tier

Amateur Extra

Study → Element 4 → Pass → CSCE Grant → Immediate /AE

50 questions (Element 4). Complete access to every amateur frequency segment and mode authorized by the FCC. No FCC fee for routine upgrades.

Who Does an Amateur Radio License Cover?

Understanding operator privileges, primary stations, and supervision rules under FCC Part 97.

An individual amateur-radio license covers only the person named on the FCC license grant. It does not automatically cover a spouse, children, other relatives, roommates, or everyone living at the same address.

Each person who wants to operate independently as a control operator must qualify for and receive their own amateur operator license.

License Structure
Operator & Station Grant

The FCC normally issues a combined operator/primary station license grant. The operator portion establishes class privileges; the station portion assigns your call sign. One person holds only one personal license grant at a time.

Equipment Independence
Not Bound to One Radio

The license is personal to you, not tied to a serial number or rig. You may operate any amateur gear—handheld, mobile, or home base station—as long as you remain within your license class privileges.

Guests & Family
Third-Party Participation

An unlicensed person may speak on your station as a third party only when a licensed control operator is present at the controls, continuously supervising. This does not grant them independent operating authority.

Guest Operators
Control Operator Rules

Another licensed ham may operate your station. When station licensee and control operator differ, both share legal responsibility. Operating privileges match the designated control operator's license class.

Organizations
Amateur Radio Clubs

Clubs with 4+ members may receive a club station license and call sign through a trustee. A club license does not grant personal operating privileges to members; individuals still need their own licenses.

Three Steps to Get Started

From zero to your first examination session.

  1. 1

    Register with the FCC (Obtain an FRN)

    Before taking any amateur examination, create an FCC Username account and obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN) through the FCC Commission Registration System (CORES). The FRN is the unique identifier used on your exam paperwork. Your account must include a valid mailing address and a reliable email address where the FCC can contact you.

  2. 2

    Prepare for the Technician Examination

    Technician is the entry point for new hams. Study materials cover FCC Part 97 rules, station identification, electrical & RF safety, basic electronics theory, antennas, feedlines, repeaters, common digital modes, and emergency communications. Morse code is not required for any U.S. amateur radio license.

  3. 3

    Schedule an Examination Session

    Amateur examinations are administered by accredited Volunteer Examiners (VEs) working through a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) such as the ARRL VEC or W5YI VEC. Sessions are offered both in person and online via remote video. Verify what identification, paperwork, and session fees the team requires before test day.

In-Depth: The Three License Classes

Requirements, examination elements, and authorized operating privileges.

License Class 1

Technician

Element 2 35 Questions 26 to Pass (74%)

What Technician Provides

Broad operating privileges across all amateur bands at 50 MHz and above. This includes local repeater communication, VHF/UHF simplex, packet radio, APRS, amateur satellites, digital voice (DMR, D-STAR, Fusion), and microwave experimentation.

Technicians also have access to portions of the HF spectrum: CW on 80m, 40m, and 15m, plus CW, RTTY/data, and SSB voice privileges on 10 meters (28.300–28.500 MHz) at up to 200 watts PEP.

What Happens After Passing

  1. The Volunteer Examiners document your passing score and the VEC submits your application to the FCC.
  2. The FCC generates a $35 application fee invoice.
  3. Pay the $35 fee directly via FCC CORES within the stated payment window.
  4. Wait for your new license grant and call sign to appear in the FCC ULS database.
  5. You may begin transmitting only after the FCC grants the license. Passing the exam does not authorize transmission until the official call sign is issued.
License Class 2

General

Element 3 35 Questions 26 to Pass (74%)

What General Provides

General includes all Technician privileges and adds operating authorization across massive portions of the HF bands (160m, 80m, 60m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, and 10m). This unlocks reliable worldwide voice (SSB), CW, and digital weak-signal communication (FT8, JS8Call, Winlink) at up to 1,500 watts PEP.

The General Upgrade Cycle & Costs

Your existing Technician license gives credit for Element 2, so you take only Element 3. There is no additional $35 FCC application fee for a routine operator-class upgrade. The examination provider may still charge an exam-session fee.

Temporary General Privileges (/AG)

An already-licensed Technician who passes Element 3 receives a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE). You may begin using General privileges immediately without waiting for the FCC database to update, provided you append /AG to your call sign when identifying on the air:

KM7HQX/AG

Once the FCC ULS database updates to General, the /AG indicator is dropped.

License Class 3

Amateur Extra

Element 4 50 Questions 37 to Pass (74%)

What Amateur Extra Provides

Amateur Extra is the highest U.S. amateur license tier. It includes all Technician and General privileges and provides access to every frequency segment and mode authorized by the FCC for amateur radio.

Extra licensees receive exclusive access to prime lower-band segments on 80m, 40m, 20m, and 15m—vital for breaking pileups in international DX contests and operating in uncrowded CW and digital segments. Extra licensees are also eligible to serve as Volunteer Examiners for all license classes and may apply for shorter 1x2 or 2x1 vanity call signs.

The Upgrade Cycle & Costs

Holding a General license gives credit for Elements 2 and 3; you take only Element 4. There is no additional $35 FCC application fee for a routine operator-class upgrade.

Temporary Extra Privileges (/AE)

An already-licensed General who passes Element 4 receives a CSCE and may begin using Amateur Extra privileges immediately by appending /AE to their call sign during station identification:

KM7HQX/AE

Once the FCC ULS database updates to Amateur Extra, the /AE indicator is dropped.

Exam Strategy
Can You Take More Than One Examination at the Same Session?

Yes! If you pass Element 2, most VE teams will allow you to take Element 3 (General) at the same session at no extra charge, and Element 4 if you pass Element 3. An applicant who passes all three elements before receiving an initial license pays only the single $35 FCC fee and receives Amateur Extra as their first license grant. You keep the same call sign through upgrades unless you deliberately apply for a vanity call sign.

Understanding the Costs

Direct breakdown of Volunteer Examiner session fees vs. FCC regulatory application fees.

Stage or Service Examination Provider (VE) FCC Application Fee
Initial Technician license May charge an exam-session fee (typically $0–$15) $35 application fee
General upgrade May charge an exam-session fee No routine upgrade fee ($0)
Amateur Extra upgrade May charge an exam-session fee No routine upgrade fee ($0)
License renewal (every 10 years) Not normally an exam matter $35 application fee
New vanity call-sign request Not normally an exam matter $35 application fee

Note: Exam session fees are set by the testing organization (e.g., ARRL VEC, Laurel VEC which charges $0, or W5YI VEC). FCC application fees are paid directly to the FCC via CORES.

License Term and Renewal

FCC Part 97 licensing validity, grace periods, and operator responsibilities.

Ten-Year Term & Grace Period

An amateur radio license grant is valid for a 10-year term. Licensees may apply for renewal within 90 days before expiration.

If a license expires, the FCC provides a two-year filing grace period during which you may renew without retaking the examinations. However, an expired license confers zero operating authority. You cannot transmit while expired. If the two-year grace period lapses, you lose the license and call sign.

Address & Email Maintenance

Under 47 CFR §97.23, every licensee is legally required to maintain a current mailing address and valid email address in the FCC ULS system. Failure to respond to FCC mail or email inquiries can result in license suspension or revocation.

FCC ULS License Manager

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from prospective operators and upgrading amateurs.

Is there a minimum age?

No. The FCC does not establish a minimum age for an amateur operator license. Applicants of any age may be licensed, provided they can pass the required examination elements and comply with FCC requirements.

Is Morse code required?

No. The FCC eliminated all Morse code testing requirements in 2007. The current examination structure consists entirely of multiple-choice written question elements for Technician, General, and Amateur Extra.

Do I receive three separate licenses as I upgrade?

No. You hold one combined operator/primary station license grant. Passing General or Amateur Extra modifies the operator class shown on that existing license; it does not issue a second or third license.

Does my license cover my family?

No. An individual amateur license belongs exclusively to the person named on the grant. Any family member who wants to operate independently must pass the exam and obtain their own license.

Can an unlicensed person talk on my radio?

They may participate as a third party only under the direct, continuous supervision of a qualified licensed control operator present at the controls. They may not operate the station independently, and strict rules govern international third-party communications.

Does the license cover a particular radio or station?

No. An amateur radio license is personal to the operator, not tied to a serial number or specific rig. You may operate any amateur gear as long as you observe your license class frequencies, modes, and power limits.

Do I pay the FCC $35 after every examination?

No. The FCC $35 fee applies only to new initial licenses, renewals, and vanity call sign requests. Routine operator-class upgrades (Technician to General, or General to Extra) carry no FCC fee ($0). The Volunteer Examiner team may charge its own nominal exam session fee.

Must I wait for the FCC database to update before using an upgrade?

Not if you already hold an amateur license. An already-licensed operator who passes an upgrade and receives a CSCE may immediately use the new privileges by appending /AG (for General) or /AE (for Amateur Extra) to their call sign during station identification.

What happens if I do not pass an exam element?

You may study and retest. Depending on the Volunteer Examiner team, you may be permitted to retake the exam during the same session (often for a second session fee), or you can schedule a future session.

Official Rules and Supporting Sources

Primary regulatory citations from Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

47 CFR §97.5 Station license required 47 CFR §97.7 Licensed control operator required 47 CFR §97.9 Operator grant & temporary upgrade authority 47 CFR §97.17 Application for new license grant 47 CFR §97.23 Mailing and email address requirements 47 CFR §97.25 License term (10 years) 47 CFR §97.119 Call-sign indicators (/AG, /AE) 47 CFR §97.103 Station licensee responsibilities 47 CFR §97.105 Control operator duties & privileges 47 CFR §97.115 Third-party communications 47 CFR §97.301 Authorized frequency bands 47 CFR §97.501 Required examination elements 47 CFR §97.503 Question counts & passing scores 47 CFR §97.505 Examination element credit 47 CFR §97.509 Volunteer Examiner qualifications 47 CFR §1.1102 Wireless application-fee schedule FCC 20-184 (Para 43) Exemption from fees for minor upgrades ARRL VEC Fee Guide Application fee workflow & FAQ
Reviewed against the FCC rules and fee guidance available in September 2026. Frequency privileges and administrative procedures can change, so operators should verify the current FCC rules before relying on a specific frequency, mode, power level, fee, or filing procedure.
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