ALL exam candidates MUST have an FRN and MUST include an email on their application.

The FCC has recently instituted a $35 application fee, this will be explained below

I am a VE (Volunteer Examiner) and Field Examiner registered with the ARRL/VEC (American Radio Relay League/Volunteer Examiner Coordinator) and work with Civil Defense Communications Auxiliary (CDCA) VE Group in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

CDCA hosts a monthly walk-in session for all Amateur Radio Service licenses and the EC-001 Intro to EmComm Final Assessment in Klamath Falls, OR. See the Schedule below.

VECs post scheduled exam sessions on their website so if you can’t make it to one of my sessions you may find one at a more convenient location, date or time. You will find sessions on the ARRL/VEC and W5YI websites.

If for any reason you are having trouble finding a session that will work with your schedule, a special group testing session can be set up. For a special session, we need at least 5 people scheduled to take exams. To coordinate a special session or ask any questions about the licensing process, please contact me.

Exam Schedule

ARRL-VEC License exams $15
EC-001 Intro to EmComm Exams $0
Sessions are 3rd Tuesday evenings from 17:00-18:30
Klamath Community College
7390 S 6th St, Klamath Falls, OR 97603
Building 7, Conference Center

2019: 12 Technician, 3 General
2020: 20 Technician, 4 General, 1 Extra
2021: 29 Technician, 23 General, 8 Extra
2022: (1 Technician, 1 General, 0 Extra so far)
JAN 18 – 1 General
FEB 15 – 1 Technician
MAR 15 – 1 Extra
APR 19 – 1 Technician
MAY 17 –
JUN 21 –
JUL 19 –
AUG 16 –
SEP 20 –
OCT 18 –
NOV 15 –
DEC 20 –

Test Dates & Location Updated 3 May 2023

For FCC License Exams

• ALL candidates MUST have an FRN, and a postal address, and a valid email address
• ALL candidates MUST present photo ID (and a copy of their amateur radio license if applying for an upgrade)
• These requirements are set by the FCC

Electronic Application Submission
With electronic submission you will see your new license or upgrade in the FCC database within a couple business days, often the day after the exam session, rather than a week to 10 days. Since our exams are on Tuesdays you should have your new callsign or upgrade posted to the FCC database by the end of business Wednesday, Friday at the latest, allowing new hams to operate that same week!

FRN (FCC Registration Number)
You need to do this BEFORE the exam session. Registration for an FRN is free and you will be issued the FRN on the spot. You will need the FRN to communicate with the FCC once you have taken and passed your exam.

Postal and Email Address Required
The FCC now requires a valid email address on all applications. If you don’t keep your email address updated along with your postal mailing address, you may have your license suspended or revoked if mail/email is returned undeliverable. Updating your contact information is free and can be done online in minutes.

Exam & Application Fees
The VECs (Volunteer Examiner Coordinators) charge a test session fee to cover the cost of exam materials and administrative expenses of $15. The local examiner group does not retain any of this fee. This fee has nothing to do with the FCC.

As of April 19 2023 the FCC will begin charging a $35 application fee. This fee will be applied to the following:

• New License Applications
• Vanity Callsign Applications

This fee will NOT be applied to administrative changes i.e. updating postal address or updating email address.

The Process

• When you arrive at the exam session…
• You will be asked to fill in your your name, contact information, and FRN on the license application form 605 and on the exam answer sheet.
• Once completed, you will present the forms, your ID, and $15 exam fee to the session coordinator.
• You will be given back the answer sheet and an exam booklet. Please do not write in the exam booklet.
• When you are done with the exam, return the answer sheet and exam booklet to the coordinator.
• After the exam has been graded
  • Pass – you will be given an opportunity to take the next license class exam at no additional charge, or you may collect your CSCE (proof of passing the exam) and leave the session
  • Fail – you may retake the test during the session. You will need to pay the $15 exam fee for each attempt until passing.
• You will NOT pay the FCC application fee at the exam session.
• Once your passing exam and license application have been acknowledged by the FCC, (this should be 1-3 days after the application is submitted by the VEC) the FCC will post a link on the ULS and send you an email notification letting you know that the fee is due.
  • You will need to log in to pay the fee online.
  • You will have 30 days to pay the fee or the application will be rejected.
  • If your application is rejected, contact the exam coordinator for the session you attended for help in filing a new application.

This is a new process, there are bound to be a few glitches here and there. In most cases small glitches can be fixed without to much headache. Take your time in completing the forms completely and keep your CSCE at least until you have your callsign.

Feel free to ask questions at any time in the process, during the exam session or after. I am always happy to answer question and help resolve problems with license applications.

Note: An Amateur Radio license is required to transmit on amateur frequencies. No license is required to listen! I highly recommend getting an inexpensive radio and start listening in on your local repeaters so you can hit the ground running when your new callsign is posted.

If you have any questions on the licensing process, send me an email at jon@kk6gxg.com and I will do my best to answer it quickly.

For EC-001 Exams

To take the EC-001 Final Assessment you need to have completed the EC-001 Introduction to Emergency Communications course and have an instructor recommendation to take the exam. You also need to provide proof of having taken the ICS-100 and IS-700 FEMA online classes.

I offer this class in an online format and will provide a suitable letter stating completion and a recommendation for examination. If you have taken this course from another approved Field Instructor you will need to present the same information from that instructor in advance of the testing session. This information will need to be verified before the exam paperwork can be submitted for your certificate. If you have any questions, please contact me in advance.

As always I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Send questions to jon@kk6gxg.com and I will do my best to answer it quickly.

Last Updated 3 May 2023