RARS Technician License Class

RARS is pleased to announce our next in-person class to prepare participants for the entry-level Technician class amateur radio license. The Technician class license is the gateway to the hobby as well as handy for emergency communications. You can even talk to astronauts on the International Space Station with one!

The class will run from 8:30 AM to 12:35 PM on three consecutive Saturdays in September – September 6, 13, and 20 – at the Red Cross chapter at 100 North Peartree Lane, Raleigh, NC.

There is no fee to take the class, but you will need the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, 5th Edition, available from the American Radio Relay League (you don't need to be a member to buy from the ARRL) and on Amazon. Be sure you get the 5th edition, which is for exams given from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2026.

The class size is limited, so please contact Denny Oestreich, the RARS Education Director, OestreichD@AOL.com, to reserve your seat. And as always, you do NOT need to be a member of RARS or the Red Cross to take our classes or attend our testing sessions.

Exams Conducted by the RARS VE Team

Amateur radio licenses in the United States are issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), but the examinations are administered by teams of licensed amateur radio operators who have been accredited as Volunteer Examiners (VEs) by a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). The RARS Volunteer Examiners are accredited through the Laurel VEC.

The RARS VE Team conducts exams on the fourth Tuesday of even–numbered months (February, April, June, August, October, and December) prior to the RARS Gathering at the Ridge Road Baptist Church, 2011 Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607. You do not need to be a RARS member to test with us.

• If The Gathering is canceled for any reason, such as a conflict with a holiday, there won't be an exam session, either.
• Pre-registration is strongly encouraged and may be done on this page. Make sure you are selecting the 6:00 PM–7:30 PM session on the date of The Gathering.
• Exams begin at 6:00 PM so exam applicants may attend the RARS Gathering after they complete their exams.
• If you have any questions, message the RARS VE Chair.

The RARS VE Team also conducts exams at the annual RARSfest and Cary Swapfest events. For hamfest exam sessions, see the appropriate hamfest webpage, flier, or other publicity information for information about the test session.

FCC Requirements

FRN

You must have a FCC Registration Number (FRN) before you can take any license examination. If you already have any FCC license (like a GMRS license), you already have a FRN; it's on your copy of your license. If you do not have a FRN, you must apply for one on-line, directly from the FCC. This page explains how to obtain a FRN. It's a little tedious, but it's not difficult. While you may apply for a FRN at the test session, it is highly advisable to obtain it in advance of the session, as the FCC website is often down for maintenance during non-business hours and on weekends, which is when we administer most of our exams.

Fees

License exams administered by Laurel VEC examiners, including RARS, are free. However, once you pass a test that results in the grant of a new license, you are required to pay a $35 fee to the U.S. Department of the Treasury before the license will be issued. Information on how to pay this fee will be given to successful applicants at the test session and will also be sent by email from the FCC to directly to the applicant. (Note that changes to an existing license, including upgrades and changes of address, do not result in a new license being granted, so no fee is charged.)

Other Required Information

In addition to a FRN and your name and address, you must provide your email address and daytime telephone number. All correspondence with the FCC, including issuing licenses and disseminating information on collection of fees, is done via email. Also, problems with processing your application can be expedited by contacting you by phone using the number you provide.

Other Exam Sessions Given in the Area

There are several other VE teams operating in the area, so exam opportunities are available throughout the year. To help locate exam sessions that are convenient for your location and schedule, HamStudy.org lists testing sessions given by VE's from all Volunteer Examiner Coordinators. You can also go to the ARRL's license exam search page to find licensing exams given by ARRL-accredited VE's.