Getting Licensed!

The San Angelo Amateur Radio Club is happy to help answer any questions you have about getting licensed for amateur radio, just email us at ve.team@w5qx.org with your questions. We can walk you through the process.

Can I take a class to help me prepare for the test?

Yes! Many people find that they learn better from a classroom environment than by independent study. SAARC holds test preparation classes from time to time and at no cost to participants. These classes will be announced on our website under the “Licensing Prep Class” category of our “Club News / Announcements” page.

Please keep in mind that our test preparation classes are not a substitute for studying for the exams before attending a class. They are intended to supplement independent study, help cover some of the more esoteric material, and offer an opportunity to ask questions. Specific recommended materials to purchase and study will be outlined in posts announcing license prep classes.

Can I study on my own?

Absolutely! Passing the Technician (entry level) license test via independent study is very doable! If you can do basic math (e.g. 12 volts/6 ohms = 2 amps) and can learn various operating rules (e.g. station identification is required at the end of conversations and every 10 minutes during a conversation), you’ll pass the Technician license test in no time if you put in the time and effort to learn it! Many of those who hold licenses today studied on their own and passed the test on their first attempt. Some great resources to use are hamstudy.org and hambook.org.

Where & when can I take a license test?

In San Angelo, test sessions for all classes of amateur radio licensing are administered 4 times per year by the local Volunteer Examiner (VE) team. If you have questions regarding a testing session, please reach out to our local VE team leader, Chad Goodman, at +1 (325) 326-0172 or by email at ccg711@gmail.com.

Before taking the test, please register at https://hamstudy.org, as we have started integrating their exam tools into our testing process. Before attending any exam session (in-person or remote, regardless of who is conducting it or with which organization it is affiliated), you will need to get a FRN through the FCC. A FRN is a unique number that the FCC will use to identify you for all future licensing business. If you have been issued any type of FCC license since the 1990s (including GMRS), you likely already have a FRN.

For the official published list of dates and times and locations, visit the ARRL’s exam session search tool at: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session and enter your zip code. There is also a schedule posted to hamstudy.org that can be found here.

Do I need to learn Morse Code?

No. The FCC has removed the Morse Code requirements for all amateur license classes. Morse Code is still a popular mode on some frequencies, so do not feel discouraged from learning it if you want to, but it is no longer required.