CVARS    K7PG   The Chehalis Valley  Amateur Radio Society A  501(c)(3) Non-profit

We have started testing for amateur radio licenses within Corvid-19 guidelines.
If you are interested in testing for the Technician, General and/or Extra Class license, Email Jim Pace, k7cex@comcast.net, with:
  a) your email address, and
  b) which license test(s) you would like to take.

Check out ARRL's "What is Ham Radio" website for Amateur Radio information.
See N7CFO's website for scheduled classes and testing sessions in Western Washington.

The license question pools can be found at:

• Technician (7/2018-6/2022)   (7/2022-6/2026) 
• General Class (7/2019-6/2023) 
• Extra Class (7/2020-6/2024) 

Helpful instruction and study guides can be found at:

• ARRL's Shared Resources for Instruction and Study Guides 
• Olympia Amateur Radio Society's Exam Site Main Page ;
       Second Pageincludes links to question pools and study guides.
• KB6NU's "No-Nonsense" Technician, General and Extra Class Study Guides 

Morse code is not required for any USA Amateur Radio license, but can be fun to learn. A Microsoft^® Windows^® program that helps to learn morse code can be found at: www.justlearnmorsecode.com A website that offers morse code practice is at: lcwo.net Another site at: aa9pw.com/morsecode also has practice for Technician, General and Extra license exams. There are apps for smart phones/tablets/etc. Check out your device's app store for details.

Request a Mentor/Elmer

Elmers (or mentors) provide personal guidance and assistance to would-be hams or newly licensed hams. A ham is a Federal Communications Commission licensed amateur radio operator. Email Don Lockridge, the CVARS Elmer coordinator, and he will have someone contact you.

Technician Amateur Radio License Classes

Watch this page for scheduled classes.

Amateur Radio Technician, General and Extra License Testing

1.  MANDATORY BEFORE THE EXAM 
   Federal Registration Number (FRN): Examinees are required by the FCC to submit your FRN with your license application form. New license applicants must create an FCC user account and register their Social Security Number (SSN) in the FCC Commission Registration System (CORES) before attending exam sessions. Registrants will be assigned an FRN which will be used in all license transactions with the FCC. For instructions on how to register your SSN and receive an FRN from the FCC, visit the CORES Registration page and the FCC's Registration instructions page.
   • Per FCC rules, a valid email address is also mandatory on the application form to receive FCC correspondence, including the official copy of your Amateur Radio license.
2. One legal photo ID (identification):
   • State Driver’s License
   • Government issued Passport
   • Military or Law Enforcement Officer Photo ID card
   • Student School Photo ID card
   • State Photo ID card
3. If no photo ID is available, two forms of identification:
   • Non-photo State ID card (some states still have them)
   • Birth certificate (must have the appropriate seal)
   • Social security card
   • Employer's wage statement or Minor's work permit
   • School ID card
   • School or Public Library card
   • Utility bill, bank statement or other business correspondence that specifically names the person; or a postmarked envelope addressed to the person at his or her current mailing address as it appears on the Form 605.
4. Students/minors without a photo ID need to bring only one of the above items if a legal guardian presents their photo ID; otherwise two non-photo IDs are required.
   • Minor children (under the age of 18) may be accompanied in the room by an adult during the test.
5. If applicable, bring a printed copy of your Amateur Radio license or be able to show proof of the license in the official FCC database. Acceptable copies or printouts of licenses are available from the following sources: the official license or reference license printed from the FCC website or license data printed from the ARRL website or QRZ website. The original(s) and photocopy(s) of any Certificates of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) you may hold from previous exam sessions. If your license has already been issued by the FCC, the CSCE showing license credit is not needed. The candidate is require to show proof of the current license to the team but the team is no longer required to submit the proof to the VEC. Expired license proof must be submitted to the team and to the VEC for processing to FCC. These photocopies will not be returned.
   
   • Instructions on how to obtain an official FCC license copy are on ARRL's  Obtain License Copy web page.
6. Two  #2 pencils  with erasers and a  pen  for in person sessions.
7. A calculator with the memory erased and formulas cleared is allowed. You may not bring any written notes or calculations into the exam session. Slide rules and logarithmic tables are acceptable, as long as they're free of notes and formulas. Cell phone must be silenced or turned off during the exam session and the phones' calculator function may not be used. In addition, iPhones, iPads, Androids, smartphones, Blackberry devices and all similar electronic devices with a calculator capability, may NOT be used.
8. Bring a check, a money order or cash to cover the exam session fee(s). Check the ARRL VEC’s current exam fees .
   • The ARRL VEC Exam Fee for 2022 is $15.00 (for one attempt at all three license elements). If a candidate fails an element at an exam session and wants to re-test for the same element, an additional fee will be required.
9. Be aware that some information about you will be made publicly available on the FCC's website: (FCC Licensee Privacy) including a felony conviction status. All applicants must answer the Basic Qualification Question (felony conviction status question) on the 605 Form at the exam session.
   • Applicants that answer "YES" for the question must follow these FCC procedures: FCC qualification question instructions 

  Updated 04/21/2022   │     Email webmaster    │