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Testing & Licensing

Getting/Upgrading Your License

Licensing

WFD015

ECARC provides Volunteer Examiners to administer license examinations in the Amateur Radio Service. Our testing session are conducted on third Tuesday of each month except December.  The location changes depending on what is available.  Testing sessions will be posted on the club calendar. Contact Micah Conrad at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for additional info.

To get or upgrade a license, you will need the following:

  1. You must have a valid email address.
  2. You will need to get a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) FCC Registration Number Number (FRN). The FRN is a 10-digit number that is assigned to a business or individual registering with the FCC. This unique FRN is used to identify the registrant's business dealings with the FCC. Use the following link to get your FRN Number.

FCC Registration - Login

  1. Study for your test. You can watch the website for the next scheduled club class and/or study online. We recommend HamStudy.org. The club testing is integrated with HamStudy:
  2. Register for testing session. Link below. All sessions are now scheduled through the Hamstudy site.  Look for the Ellis County TX sessions.
    The VEC we use is W5YI-VEC. If you want to test online (remote) we suggest  the SSRC group from the Hamstudy list.  They are good and have lots of sessions.  (This site is also a good study site as well.  You can do tests to see if you are ready for the real thing.) Below is the link for the Club test sessions. Test sessions are usually scheduled a month in advance but could also be on short notice:

    https://ham.study/sessions/K5MEC
    When regestering for a session, be sure to copy down your 4 digit registration number and bring it with you to the session.

    Other sessions can be viewed at:

    https://ham.study/sessions/
  3. Show up and pass the test.

Needed items for the test:

  1. Your number from the registration in hamstudy.
  2. Hard copy of ID (DL, CHL etc.)
  3. $14 cash for each attempt. If you pass you can attempt the next level test for free. Fees vary if you take the test at non-club testing sessions.
  4. Good attitude.

We have been doing sessions paperless on furnished  laptop or tablet so if you have difficulty using these please let me know and I can arrange paper options.

  1. Pay the FCC Link below.

Once we submit the application to the FCC, the FCC will give it a File #, and then the applicant will receive an email from the FCC with full instructions to pay the $35 fee.  NOTE: They do not need to wait for an email from the FCC to make a payment.    They can login into CORES and check for an application that needs to be paid.   If the applicant does not pay the required fee within 10 (calendar) days, the application will be dismissed and they will not receive a license.  This will only apply to New (unlicensed) licensees, Renewals, and new Vanity callsign requests.  Upgrades, Address change, and Name change applications will NOT be assessed the new fee.  FCC Pay Fees

 https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/paymentFrnLogin.do

The FCC will send you an email with your call sign.

Congratulations!  Now go key the mic and get talking. 😀

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