UTC --:--:--Local --:--
License levels
What it takes to earn each U.S. amateur radio license: the exam, what you need first, and what opens up on the air.
No Morse code required
The FCC dropped the Morse code test in 2007. Every license level today is earned with multiple-choice written exams only. You're welcome to learn code for fun, and many hams do, but you'll never be tested on it.
Technician
The entry-level license, and the one most new hams start with. No prior license is needed.
The exam
Element 2
- Questions
- 35 multiple choice
- To pass
- 26 correct (74%)
- Question pool
- 2026–2030, in use until June 30, 2030
Covers FCC rules, operating practices, radio basics, electrical safety and simple electronics.
What you need first
Nothing
- Prior license
- None
- Age limit
- None
- Morse code
- Not required
Get a free FCC Registration Number (FRN) before exam day. Your VE team will need it.
What you get
VHF, UHF and a taste of HF
All amateur bands above 50 MHz, including local repeaters, 6 m, 2 m, 70 cm and satellites. On HF: voice, data and FT8 on part of 10 m, plus Morse code on parts of 80, 40, 15 and 10 m.
How to prepare
A few weeks of study
Most people pass after two to four weeks of practice tests. Study the free question pool at NCVEC, or use HamStudy.org or an ARRL license manual for the 2026–2030 pool.
General
The big step up. General opens most of the HF bands, so you can talk around the world.
The exam
Element 3
- Questions
- 35 multiple choice
- To pass
- 26 correct (74%)
- Question pool
- 2023–2027, in use until June 30, 2027
Goes deeper into HF operating, propagation, antennas, station setup and electronics.
What you need first
Technician
- Prior license
- Technician, or pass Element 2 the same day
- Morse code
- Not required
You can take the Technician and General exams back to back in a single session.
What you get
Most of HF
Privileges on parts of all the HF bands from 160 m to 10 m, worldwide voice, data and FT8 contacts, and up to 1,500 watts on most bands. Your Technician privileges carry over.
How to prepare
Plan for more study
Expect more math and theory than Technician. Practice tests help here too. Many clubs run General classes, and time on the air as a Technician makes the material click.
Amateur Extra
The top license. Extra gives you every privilege the amateur service offers.
The exam
Element 4
- Questions
- 50 multiple choice
- To pass
- 37 correct (74%)
- Question pool
- 2024–2028, in use until June 30, 2028
The toughest exam: advanced electronics, circuits, modulation, propagation and detailed rules.
What you need first
General
- Prior license
- General, or pass Elements 2 and 3 the same day
- Morse code
- Not required
Some people pass all three exams in one sitting, but most upgrade over time.
What you get
Every amateur privilege
Full access to all amateur bands and modes, including the Extra-only segments at the bottom of 80, 40, 20 and 15 m, where much of the rare DX hangs out.
Why go for it
More than bandwidth
You can serve as a volunteer examiner for every exam level, and you can apply for the shortest "1×2" and "2×1" vanity call signs.
Costs & paperwork
The same steps apply at every level.
Before exam day
Get your FRN
Register for a free FCC Registration Number (FRN) on the FCC CORES site. Bring it, plus a photo ID, to your session.
The costs
$35 FCC fee
- New license
- $35 FCC application fee
- Upgrades
- Free
- Exam session
- Set by each VE team; some are free
The FCC emails a payment link after your exam. Your license is issued once the fee is paid.
After you pass
On the air fast
New licensees can transmit once their call sign shows up in the FCC database, often within days. Upgraders can use new privileges right away, adding /AG or /AE to their call sign until the upgrade appears.
How long it lasts
10 years
Licenses are valid for ten years and can be renewed. Passing an exam also earns a CSCE certificate that gives credit for that element for 365 days.
