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In the United States, amateur radio licensing is governed by the Federal Communications Commission. Over the years, the system has evolved into three primary levels of license (with several legacy classes), based on demonstration of knowledge and telegraphy skill. An amateur radio license is a legal document or permit giving official permission to the license holder to operate an amateur radio station. ...
The FCCs official seal. ...
Volunteer Examiners
Since 1984, US candidates wishing to become amateur radio licensees have appeared before volunteer examiners, or "VEs" who themselves are amateur radio licensees. Prior to 1984, many Novice exams were administered by volunteers, but all other exams were taken at FCC offices. Some of the exam times were not always convenient to candidates, so a few exceptions were allowed in cases where candidates were physically unable to get to the Field Offices (see Conditional license, below). The FCC currently recognizes 14 Volunteer Examiner Coordinators, organizations that "coordinate the efforts of Volunteer Examiners (VEs) in preparing and administering amateur service operator license examinations." The abbreviation FCC can refer to: Face-centered cubic (usually fcc), a crystallographic structure Federal Communications Commission, a US government organization Farm Credit Corporation/Farm Credit Canada, a Canadian government organization Families with Children from China, an adoption support organization Florida Christian College, a college in central Florida Fresno City...
Current license classes American amateur radio licenses are issued and renewed without charge (though there may be a fee to take the exam, or for so-called Vanity Callsign). They currently remain valid for 10 years from the date of issuance. Vanity callsigns are used by many Amateur Radio operators (radio hams), especially in the United States. ...
- The entry-level license, known as Technician, is awarded after an applicant successfully completes a 35-question multiple choice written examination. The license grants operating privileges on all ham bands above 30 MHz. Previously, a Technician who passed a 5 word-per-minute Morse code was further granted limited privileges in portions of the 10-, 15-, 40-, and 80-meter amateur bands, and commonly known as a "Technican Plus" licensee. Beginning 23 February, all Technicians will gain these privileges (see "End of Morse Code Requirement", below).
- The next level, known as General, currently requires passage of the Technician test, as well as a 35-question multiple-choice General exam. General-class licensees are granted privileges on portions of all amateur bands.
- The top US license class is Amateur Extra. The Extra class license requires the same tests as General plus a third multiple-choice theory exam. This exam has 50 questions. Those with Amateur Extra licenses are granted the greatest privileges on all US amateur bands.
Multiple choice (MCQ) questions or items are a form of assessment item for which respondents are asked to select one or more of the choices from a list. ...
1922 Chart of the Morse Code Letters and Numerals Morse code is a method for transmitting information by using standardized sequences of variously spaced short and long elements for the characters and words in a message. ...
The 10 meter amateur radio band is the highest of the High Frequency or HF bands. ...
Shortwave bands are frequency allocations for use within the high frequency radio spectrum. ...
This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ...
This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ...
Legacy license classes Prior to 1964, there were six license classes. The earlier classes, General, Conditional and Advanced, were expanded with the addition of Novice, Technician and Extra. Each license class required two exams, Theory and Morse Code. - The General class originally conveyed full privileges on all ham bands, having passed a separate theory exam and 13 words-per-minute Morse Code test.
- The Conditional license class was a special case. Prior to 1984, the FCC administered all license exams except those for Novice class. Hams who were unable to travel to their nearest FCC Field Office could have the test proctored by two hams with General (or higher) licenses, who would send the completed exam to the FCC for grading. Successful examinees were given Conditional licenses, which brought the same privileges as the General class. The FCC retained the right to require Conditional licensees to come in to an FCC office for retesting. The current Volunteer Examiner program evolved from the Conditional exam procedure. When the Volunteer Examiner program was introduced, all Conditional licensees were grandfathered to General.
- The Advanced class, originally the "A" class of license, was earned through additional exams.
- The Novice class was the new entry-level license, and would remain so until April 15, 2000. It granted limited privileges -- Morse Code only, with limited transmitting power -- on just a few HF bands. To qualify for a Novice license, a candidate would have to pass a 5 word-per-minute Morse code test (send and receive) and a 25 (later 30) question multiple-choice test. The Novice Class license was valid for two years, as it was intended only as an entry level. Within those 2 years, the Novice was expected to move up to General (or Conditional). Eventually, the Novice evolved into a renewable license with the same 5-year validity as other classes. The "Novice Enhancement" of 1987 also granted Novices (and Technicians who had passed the Code) limited voice privileges on the 10-meter HF band. Novices were also granted voice privileges on the 222MHz and 1200MHz portions of the radio spectrum with limited power.
- The Technician license was awarded to Novices who passed the General theory test (Element 3), but who had not passed the 13WPM Code element. Technicians were granted all General-class privileges above 50MHz, and kept their Novice privileges on HF.
- The Amateur Extra class was reached by passing both Element 4B (theory) and a speedy 20WPM Morse code element.
Incentive Licensing, 1964 In 1964, the FCC and the American Radio Relay League developed a program known as "Incentive Licensing," which rearranged the HF spectrum privileges. The General/Conditional and Advanced portion of the HF bands was reduced, and the leftover spectrum was given to Extras and some returned to the Advanced class. This was an "incentive" for existing licensees to improve their technical skills. The ARRL Logo. ...
It was believed that these special portions of the radio spectrum would provide an "incentive" for hams to increase their knowledge and skills, creating a larger pool of experts to lead the Space Age. The opposite happened, however, as new ham radio applications fell drastically. They have never recovered to the 1963 rate. The Space Shuttle takes off on a manned mission to space. ...
Novice Enhancement and "No-Code" Technicians In the late 1980s, the greatest number of licensees were in the Technician class. In 1987, a separate Technician theory element was introduced, as a precursor to the creation of what came to be known (unofficially) as the No-Code Technician. Now it was possible to become a ham without having to learn the Morse code, and have all privileges above 50MHz, but none below. Image File history File links Circle-question-red. ...
- The Technician Plus was a ham who had passed the theory (either the Technician or the General) and the 5WPM code element. This class became more attractive as a result of the "Novice Enhancements" of 1987, which increased Novice (and therefore Technician Plus) privileges on HF. For the first time, Novices and Technicians were able to operate in voice modes on HF, though still in limited areas and limited power. It was hoped that this would prompt more hams to move up to General, once they had a chance to sample HF without a Morse key. It did have some effect.
In 2000, a "restructuring" took place, with the greatest change being the standardization of 5 words-per-minute as the sole Morse code requirement for both the General and Extra Class licenses.
This had several effects. First, it eliminated the Advanced Class as an upgrade option, as it was separated from the Extra class only by the former 20WPM code requirement and the second half of the Element 4 theory exam. Second, it ended new entry into the Novice and Technician Plus classes because these were already close to the current Technician requirements.
The third effect was that pre-1987 Technician/Technician Plus operators were now qualified to become General-class hams, having already passed both the Theory and Code exams now required for the higher class. All that was necessary was to apply for the General license.
The restructuring also led many pre-1987 Technicians to study for and pass the Element 4 theory examination, becoming Extra-class operators, now that the 20WPM code barrier had been dropped to the 5WPM which they had already passed.
Clarification regarding historical accounting of "no-code tech" license The detailed historical accounting of the no-code class of licensees is helpful in understanding the concern of the morse-tested operators, mindful of the consideration that a flood of new "codeless technician" lincensees might disrupt the orderly operation of VHF/UHF bands, or worse, the new technicians might eventually be allowed access to the HF bands.
Typically, for mainly this reason alone, newcomers to the amateur radio hobby are often shunned on the air by older, more experienced operators.
Traditionally, in the past, older operators showed new operators the ropes, Elmering the newcomer into the art of becoming a fine operator.
End of Morse Code Requirement, 2007 On 24 January 2007, the FCC announced that the Morse code testing requirement will be eliminated as of 23 February 2007. Passing "the Code" was previously required to obtain a General or Extra Class Amateur Radio license. The abbreviation FCC can refer to: Face-centered cubic (usually fcc), a crystallographic structure Federal Communications Commission, a US government organization Farm Credit Corporation/Farm Credit Canada, a Canadian government organization Families with Children from China, an adoption support organization Florida Christian College, a college in central Florida Fresno City...
1922 Chart of the Morse Code Letters and Numerals Morse code is a method for transmitting information by using standardized sequences of variously spaced short and long elements for the characters and words in a message. ...
The number of Amateurs in the US is expected to increase as a result of the elimination of the Morse Code requirements, and Volunteer Examiners have reported an upsurge in those interested in becoming ham radio operators or moving up to the General or Amateur Extra classes.
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