Ham Radio Technician Exam at Golden-Burke Scout Center
7125 Fall Creek Road North, Indianapolis, IN 46256 (Wilmeth Room)
MUST REGISTER WITH COUNCIL ONLINE HERE.
Licensing
Are you ready to take your exam? The WD9BSA Memorial Amateur Station has our very own VE team to serve the Scouts of the Crossroads of America Council. We are affiliated with the Laurel VEC and we have scheduled four exam sessions per year. Pre-Registration is required due to limited seating (12-15). Please use our convenient online form below. You’ll also find some additional information and FAQ’s below. We can also be contacted by email at our council address: wd9bsa@crossroadsbsa.org or our VE team leader Brian Murrey: kb9bvn@gmail.com.
Online Pre-registration form
Registration starts at 9 AM
Testing Begins at 10 AM
2015 Schedule
Saturday August 8th 2015
Test Location (not at Camp Belzer!)
Golden-Burke Scout Center
7125 Fall Creek Road North
Indianapolis, IN 46256
Wilmeth Room
Additional License Exam Information and FAQ
The WD9BSA VE Team conducts amateur radio license exams under the coordination of the Laurel Amateur radio Club Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) typically on the second Saturday of every third month. Registration takes place between 9:00 – 10:00 am and exams start at or shortly after 10:00am.
Always Pre-Register so you can be advised of any changes in the test schedule.
All amateur radio exams conducted by the VE Teams of the Laurel VEC are FREE.
The WD9BSA VE team does their testing at the Crossroads Of America Scout Office:
Golden-Burke Scout Center
7125 Fall Creek Road North
Indianapolis, IN 46256
What to Bring to the Exam Session
1. A positive attitude and some patience. The Volunteer Examiners administering the exams are dedicated volunteers. They will do their best to get you tested, your exam graded, inform you of the results, and if applicable, prepare and present to you a certificate stating that you have passed the exam elements indicated and have earned a license or an upgrade, if appropriate, as quickly as possible.
2. For a first-ever license or getting back into the hobby after your license has expired beyond the grace period.
a. Photo ID – No photo ID – NO EXAM
b. Provide your Social Security Number on license application form as this is an FCC-issued government license (actual Social Security Card not needed).
c. Element credits (If applicable). No original copy – NO EXAM
(1) Original and a copy of your expired pre-21 March 1987 Technician license – You get credit for the Element 3 exam (General written).
(2) Original and a copy of a letter from the FCC confirming you previously held a pre-21 March 1987 Technician licensefor which you will be given credit for the Element 3 exam.
(3) Original and a copy of an unexpired Certificate of Successful Completion of Exam (CSCE) indicated which credit(s) you’ve earned.
3. Upgrading your current, unexpired license.
a. Photo ID – No photo ID – NO EXAM
b. Your current original, unexpired license – No original license – NO EXAM
c. Element credits (If applicable, one or more of the following): No original document – NO EXAM
(1) Original and a copy of your expired pre-21 March 1987 Technician license – You get credit for the Element 3 exam (General written).
(2) Original and a copy of a letter from the FCC confirming you previously held a pre-21 March 1987 Technician license for which you will be given credit for the Element 3 exam.
(3) Original and a copy of an unexpired Certificate of Successful Completion of Exam (CSCE) indicated which credit(s) you’ve earned.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does it cost to take an amateur license exam?
All exam sessions conducted by Laurel VEC-sponsored VE Teams are FREE.
2. What materials should I use to prepare for the exam?
There are study materials available from several places. Our very informal survey indicates that the materials produced by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) are the most popular because they provide easily understandable explanations of the material plus they provide additional non-testable but very useful information. You can also use on-line practice exams to check your progress. There are several sites available but here are two good ones:
3. Why do I have to provide my social security number to get my ham license?
Because Congress passed a law to track down people who owe the government money. That law requires anyone applying for or renewing any federally issued license to provide their social security number. Once you apply for your initial amateur radio license using your SSN and you successfully qualify for an amateur license, you will be issued a FCC Registration Number (FRN) and it will appear on your license. In almost all future transactions with the FCC you will have to use your FRN in lieu of your SSN. You can acquire a FCC Registration Number (FRN) prior to taking your initial exam by registering with the FCC at https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do
4. Do I need to bring my own pencils, papers, etc?
No. Everything you will need such as pencils, scratch paper and calculators will be provided.
5. Can I use my own calculator?
Yes. We will provide a calculator for you to use. However, if you bring your own calculator and it is a programmable calculator it must be un-programmed. In other words, the memory must be cleared (Note: We usually put them in our microwave on high for 15-30 seconds to clear the memory. The memory gets cleared but unfortunately they don’t seem to work very well after that.)
6. What do I need to bring to the Exam session?
All the stuff listed above these questions as applicable or appropriate (e.g., Photo ID, License – if applicable, Element credit – if applicable).
7. How long will it take?
The exams will start at or shortly after 10:00am. Our typical exam session is completed (all exams administered, graded, applicants informed of their results, and all paperwork completed) by 11:30am. That of course depends on the number applicants and the number of exams administered. You could be done and out the door if you passed between 11:30am and 12:00pm.
Note: We’ve actually timed people taking their exams and have learned that on average an applicant takes 22-23 minutes to complete the Element 2 exam (aka Technician exam) or the Element 3 exam (aka General exam) and 42-44 minutes to complete the Element 4 exam (aka Amateur Extra or Extra exam). The level of preparation will determine how much time is taken to complete an exam. More Prep means shorter test time.
8. What will the test session be like?
The sessions will vary at each location due to the teams involved and the facilities where the test is conducted. However, our session will generally be conducted as follows:
a. Phase 1 – Registration – Upon your arrival you must register or complete the registration process if you pre-registered.
(1) You will be given a folder with a number in the upper right corner – this is your Control Number (try to remember that number). Inside the folder are two forms you need to complete and a survey. When you have completed the forms (You will complete only part one of each form) return to the registrar.
(2) You will be asked to provide a photo ID.
(3) If you are taking an exam to upgrade an existing license, you must show the original version of your current, unexpired license and to provide
a copy.
(4) If you have any other applicable documentation (e.g., current, unexpired Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE), FCC letter indicating grandfathered credit(s), etc) you must show the original version of that documentation and provide a copy of each.
b. Phase 2 – Pre-exam instructions – You will be given some pre-exam instructions regarding the use of calculators, procedures for asking questions, rules for taking the exam, bathroom breaks during the exam, etc.
c. Phase 3 – The exam – The Technician and General exams are 35 multiple question exams and you must correctly answer 26 questions in order to pass (74.2%). The Amateur Extra exam is 50 multiple choice questions and passing is 37 correct (74%).
(1) You will be given a test booklet that is ” color coded” – the color of the folder indicates the class of the exam (Blue = Technician, Red = General and Purple = Amateur Extra). On the front of the exam booklet in the upper right corner is the exam version number (e.g., T-2010-04C, G-2011-09A, E-2012-01B, etc) which tells us which answer key to use to grade your exam. That information is also on the first page of the exam booklet. Please DO NOT WRITE IN THE EXAM BOOKLET!
(2) You will be given an answer sheet on which to mark your answers. On the answer sheet you need to print and sign your name. You must indicate which exam element you are taking (e.g., Element 2 = Technician, Element 3 = General and Element 4 = Amateur Extra), the exam version (e.g., TRR-602C, GRR-704F, ERR-201K, etc) and your control number (e.g., 01, 03, 07, etc).
(3) Once you have completed the admin portion of the answer sheet you may open your exam booklet and immediately begin the exam.
(4) When you are done, raise your hand and a VE will pick up your exam materials and your answer sheet will be graded. Please quietly return to the general seating area.
d. Phase 4 – Grading – Once you’ve completed your exam, it will be graded and you will be informed of the results.
e. Phase 5 – Certificate – If you pass you will receive a Certificate of Successful Completion of Exam (CSCE) indicating which element(s) you’ve passed and if appropriate, which license class you’ve earned.
Note: The VE team will strive to score your test, inform you of the results, and process your paperwork as quickly as possible. The size of the test session and the number of VEs on-hand will be factors in how quickly this gets done. Please be patient. If there are any problems, please speak to the VE Team Leader who will try to resolve the problems and answer any questions.
9. What happens if I fail the exam?
Per FCC rules and VEC instructions, we are not required to re-test you if you fail. However, we will look at your test results. If you missed passing the Technician or General exams by 1-2 questions or if you missed passing the Amateur Extra exam by 3-4 questions and if the VEs think you have a chance of passing, we may administer another exam.
Fact: A very high percentage of applicants who fail their exam on their first attempt and re-take it, usually do worse on the second attempt. Only a small percentage of applicants pass their exam on the second attempt.
10. Do I have to pass a Morse code test to get my ham license?
No. There is no longer a requirement for Morse code testing.
11. How soon after I pass my exam can I start operating?
If you have earned your initial license no matter which class of license, you have to wait until the FCC grants you a license and it is displayed in their data base.
If you are upgrading an existing license you may use your new privileges when you are given your Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) at the end of the exam session. Of course, when you use your new privileges you are required to append your call sign with one of the following designators:
KT – Upgraded to Technician – using phone you would say your call sign (e.g., WN4FUI) as “Whiskey November Four Foxtrot Uniform India temporary (or interim) Kilo Tango”. On CW or digital you would send: WN4FUI/KT
AG – Upgraded to General – using phone you would say your call sign (e.g., WN4FUI) as “Whiskey November Four Foxtrot Uniform India temporary (or interim) Alpha Golf”. On CW or digital you would send: WN4FUI/AG
AE – Upgraded to Amateur Extra – using phone you would say your call sign (e.g., WN4FUI) as “Whiskey November Four Foxtrot Uniform India temporary (or interim) Alpha Echo”. On CW or digital you would send: WN4FUI/AE
Basic license information
The Amateur Radio Service is a licensed service of the FCC administered under Part 97 CFR. There is an incentive licensing structure consisting of three classes: Technician, General, and Extra. While one can earn all three in one test sitting, most will concentrate on earning one at a time. Technician Class is the starting point for getting your feet wet and learning about the basics of amateur radio. Many will go on to earn the General Class in order to receive additional operating privileges on the high frequency bands. Those who have a keen interest in understanding the deep physical nature of electronics and wish to have the maximum operating privileges will go on to earn the Extra class. The good news is you can have a lot of fun with only a Technician Class license!
The test consist of only 35 multiple choice questions. A score of 75% earns you a license. Your best chance of passing test on your first sitting is to study training materials and take practice exams until you can consistently get an 80% score. There are many sources of printed study manuals available. Most will include a listing all the possible questions and their correct answers. Some will go on to explaining how to correctly get the answer and the reasoning behind it. It’s also very helpful to have an experienced mentor that can assist in studying the material. The mentor can also help advise you as to proper operating techniques and practices when you’re ready to get on the air with your new license.
The following are some of the print resources available.
- Ham Radio License Manual published by the ARRL
- 2010-2014 Technician Class published by Gordon West Radio School
The following are websites where you can take practice tests.