NHARC W3EXW

License Testing

VE exam sessions on the second Saturday of every month.

The club holds Volunteer Examiner (VE) test sessions on the second Saturday of each month. Testing begins at noon. These sessions are open to anyone seeking a new amateur radio license or upgrading an existing one, by reservation only.

Where

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices — The Preferred Realty (Hampton) 4100 William Flinn Highway (Route 8), Allison Park, PA 15101

Fees

  • $15 exam session fee, paid in cash to the VE team at the session.
  • $35 FCC application fee for a new license, paid directly to the FCC after you pass (not collected at the session). Upgrades have no FCC fee.
  • If you’re under 18, ask the VE team about a special ARRL offer when you reserve.

Reserve your seat

Reservations are required, and we do not accept walk-ins. Please email ve@nharc.org (Bob Worek, AG3U) at least 24 hours in advance (by midday Friday). The examiners drive in for each session, so if no one has reserved by then, they may not be available.

What to bring

  • Two forms of identification, at least one of them a photo ID (driver’s license, passport or state ID). The second can be a birth certificate, Social Security card, student ID, library card, or a utility bill, bank statement or postmarked envelope showing your current address.
  • Your FCC-issued FRN (Federal Registration Number). This is required: the FCC no longer accepts Social Security numbers, and we can’t start your exam without an FRN. Register for one on the FCC CORES website ahead of time. On your application, use the exact name (including any middle name or initial) and the same email address that your FRN is registered under.
  • If upgrading: the original and a photocopy of your current license and any CSCEs. The photocopy is sent in with your paperwork, and without one your upgrade can be delayed. There’s no copier on site, so make it before you come.
  • A pen for the forms (pen photocopies more clearly) and a pencil for the answer sheet.
  • A calculator if you want one, with no formulas stored in it. Be ready to show the examiners that it has none. Phones, tablets and other smart devices can’t be used as calculators during the exam.
  • $15 in cash for the exam session fee.

Minors and special needs

  • Candidates under 18 who don’t have a photo ID need to bring only one of the IDs listed above if a parent or legal guardian presents their own photo ID. Otherwise, bring two non-photo IDs.
  • If you need any accommodation during the exam, mention it when you reserve your seat so the VE team can be prepared.

On test day

  • Arrive a few minutes early. Paperwork and instructions come first, and the session starts promptly at noon.
  • Silence phones, radios and other devices until everyone has finished testing.
  • Only candidates and examiners are allowed in the testing room, so anyone who comes with you will need to wait outside it.
  • Scratch paper is provided. Please don’t write in the test booklet.
  • When you finish, the examiners grade your test on the spot. Others may still be testing, so please wait quietly.
  • If you pass, wait for your CSCE (Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination) before you leave. It’s your proof that you passed.

After you pass

The VE team sends your paperwork in for processing. Allow up to 10 days for your new or upgraded license to show up in the FCC’s license database.

  • First license: the FCC emails you a link to pay the $35 application fee, and your license is issued once that’s paid. You can’t transmit until your call sign appears in the FCC database.
  • Upgrade: there’s no fee, and you can use your new privileges right away by adding /AG (General) or /AE (Extra) after your call sign until the upgrade shows up in the database.

The FCC no longer mails paper licenses; you can download and print your official copy from the FCC website.