Amateur Radio License Testing, (all classes)

In person Ham Radio Exam Instructions

Taking your exam in person with MARC: There a few things that need to be done and for you to understand, but our goal is to get you in and get you tested with the minimum of stress and fuss. Please make sure that you read and understand everything on this page prior to your exam session.

Registration Checklist Exam Session Selection:

Select and register for a specific exam session. You will receive an email confirmation of the date and time of your registered session. Please put this in your calendar and/or set a reminder so you don’t miss the session. You do not need to print out your PIN, we will have that.

Exam Fee Payment: The MARC VE team will pay for one exam per license level for MARC members (We will not pay for re-tests, so be ready to pass your exam) if you are an active member of MARC going for your next level of license, there is no fee. If you are already licensed but not yet a MARC member and are interested in joining, you may join before your exam. If you don’t have a license yet, but wish to take advantage of this offer, then contact the exam coordinator after registering, contact details will be forwarded to you when you have registered for the exam. If you are not an active member of the MARC Club, you must pay the $14 exam fee in advance in cash at the time of testing. Taking more than one exam in one session: If you want to take more than one exam. please let us know when you register, so we can schedule the additional time that will be required.

Federal Registration Number (FRN): If you currently have, or have had, a ham license or any other FCC license, then use your existing FRN. If you do not have an FRN number, you will be able to register for one when you register for the exam. You can also do it yourself by visiting the FCC’s Registration page and clicking “Register for an FRN.” Your FRN must be submitted on the exam FCC application (605). If you plan to take the General or Amateur Extra exam, your name on the registration must exactly match the name on your FCC license.

Expired license: If you previously had an amateur license that has expired, please email us with the information when you register, so that we can set up the exam system appropriately for you. Holders of old (before ’87) tech licenses, as well as higher licenses get exam credit for their higher license class. Please call to discuss your specific situation.

**Preparation for Exams **

Practice for your exam: It is your responsibility to be fully prepared since you will be taking the time of 3 or more Volunteer Examiners (VEs). We are happy to devote the time to you, but we want you to be prepared and we want to see you pass. Use an online practice site to practice all topics and to take randomly selected practice exams. Be sure you are consistently scoring above 85% on the test before you schedule an exam. HamStudy.org is a free site with all the exams. We recommend using the Study mode until you’ve seen the entire question pool for the exam(s) you wish to take. It has an inexpensive companion phone app you can use on the go if you prefer that. Using the Study Mode will prepare you to pass your exam better than simply using books.

You may take more than one exam per session. After you pass one exam, if you have studied for and are prepared to pass the next level exam, you may take it; however, please let us know when you register if you plan to take more than one exam so that we can plan for the time appropriately. If you do not pass an exam and want to re-test for the same element you may do so if the VEs feel that you were close enough that you have a reasonable chance of passing with another attempt, however you will have to pay another $14 fee.

The conduct of your exam session is subject to the following conditions:

You must complete the test without any interruptions that would raise suspicion about the integrity of the testing environment. You agree to keep attention on your tablet screen at all times. Your eyes may not wander to other parts of the room and you may not leave your chair during the exam session. A calculator app will be available on the tablet for calculations you may need. You will be furnished scratch paper and a pencil to write down formulas etc., It must be clear at the start of the exam, You must be aware that if the VE team suspects that there is a possibility of cheating, the exam may be terminated and the exam fee forfeited, and you could be barred from taking exams in the future.