Amateur Radio: Technician & General
The three FCC license classes, what the exams look like, and how to pass Technician and General.
Self-paced · 0/0 required steps
Why get licensed
Amateur (ham) radio runs on its own FCC frequencies, and a licensed ham is a deeper, more capable operator. When regional networks go down, hams bridge between ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service), RACES, and AUXCOMM, and they can pass traffic across systems no single agency owns. More licensed operators means a deeper bench to staff nets, support the state, and help newer members qualify. The on-air discipline you build as a ham transfers straight into all-hazards emergency communications.
The three license classes
The FCC issues three amateur classes, each unlocking more privileges. There's no Morse code requirement anymore.
- Technician — the entry license. Full privileges on VHF/UHF (the local/regional repeater, FM, and digital world) plus limited HF. This is where almost everyone starts.
- General — opens substantial HF privileges for long-distance work across many bands. Requires passing Technician first.
- Amateur Extra — all amateur privileges; the top tier.
What the exams look like
Exams are multiple-choice, drawn from public question pools, and given by Volunteer Examiners (VEs). Technician and General are 35 questions each; you pass with 26 correct (74%). Extra is 50 questions, passing at 37. If you pass Technician, you may attempt General the same day. Heads-up on timing: question pools rotate every four years. The Technician pool changes on July 1, 2026 (the 2026–2030 pool), so study from the pool that matches your exam date. General runs 2023–2027 and Extra 2024–2028.
How to actually pass it
The single most effective method is repeated practice exams from the real question pool — run them until your scores sit comfortably above passing. Open the Ham License tab for the path and the tools: HamStudy.org is the free go-to (practice exams, flash cards, and a per-subelement competency tracker), Ham Radio Prep is a paid short-video fast track if you prefer watching to drilling, and the Ham Radio Crash Course videos on YouTube are a free reference. Logistics: you'll need a valid US mailing address, photo ID, and an FCC Registration Number (FRN). VE sessions usually charge about $15, and the FCC adds a $35 application fee for a new license.
Plugging your license into the mission
Once licensed, get on the air and into the structure: check into local nets, register with your state's ARES/RACES, and look at AUXCOMM so you can support your state emergency management agency and official deployments. And bring others along — a ham who mentors the next class of Technicians multiplies the community's capability faster than any single radio ever could.