Getting Licensed for Amateur Radio
Getting your Amateur Radio license is easier now than it has ever been. It costs around $50 total to get your license. The FCC application fee is $35, and you will usually spend another $15 to take the exam. The actual amount the examiner(s) charge you depends on the examiner, and how you take the exam (in person, or online). In person is generally cheaper, but online is generally faster (you don’t have to wait as long for a testing session). You can study for all of the 3 levels of license (Technician, General, Amateur Extra) using the internet or an app on your phone for free. My personal recommendation is to use Hamstudy.org, which is free online, or available on your smartphone for a small fee. I highly recommend the the hamstudy.org app on your smartphone since you will be more likely to study more since most people always have their phone with them, and I love the app on the iPhone. For a detailed guide on how to study, see my article FCC Amateur Radio Exam Study Guide for tips and tricks to help you learn the material, and pass the FCC Amateur Radio Exams for the Technician, General, or Amateur Extra exams.
The FCC Question Pools
The FCC uses a definitive question pool for each exam. You can download a copy from the ARRL’s website for each of the three question pools with all of the possible questions they can ask you, the exact multiple-choice answers you will have on the test to choose from, and the correct answer is identified for each question. You just have to memorize the questions and answers so you can pass the test. That being said, it is MUCH better if you actually understand what you are learning so you know WHY the answer is correct and can apply that knowledge later when you start operating.
To better understand the material you are learning there are many resources at your disposal. You can use an app on your smartphone, watch videos explaining everything on YouTube, get in touch with your local Amateur Radio Club (YCARS.org if you are in the York County area of South Carolina), or do individual study using books from the ARRL (American Radio Relay League), most of which can be found at your local library. But most importantly, study and pass the test so you can start getting on the air. You will learn a LOT once you actually start using your new privileges and can apply what you have studied.
As of 2024, the Technician test is currently made up of 412 possible questions. Only 35 questions will be on the test. You need to get 26 questions correct to pass (74%). There are 10 sub elements that are divided by the subject matter covered in each element, and you will be asked approximately 10% of the possible questions for each pool.
The current breakdown is as follows:
| SubElement | Subject Matter | Question Pool | On Test |
| T1 | Commission’s Rules | 67 | 6 |
| T2 | Operating Procedures | 36 | 3 |
| T3 | Radio Wave Propagation | 34 | 3 |
| T4 | Amateur Radio Practices | 24 | 2 |
| T5 | Electrical Principles | 52 | 4 |
| T6 | Electronic And Electrical Components | 47 | 4 |
| T7 | Practical Circuits | 44 | 4 |
| T8 | Signals And Emissions | 48 | 4 |
| T9 | Antennas And Feed Lines | 24 | 2 |
| T10 | Safety | 36 | 3 |
Sub-element T1 (Technician section 1) covers the Commission’s Rules. You will get more questions from this sub-element than any other section. This is a relatively easy element, so make sure you are answering close to 100% of the questions correctly before you leave this section. I would make the same suggestion for the Operating Procedures, Amateur Radio Practices, and Safety sections as well. Not only are they relatively easy subjects, they are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. These are the things you will use, in one way or another, almost every day as an operator. If you get all of the answers correct from just these 4 sections on your exam, you will have more than half (14 out of 26, or 54%) of the points you need to pass the test.
Some of the pages on this site are currently a work in progress. These pages are not hidden in case some of the information on them is useful as a starting point to someone. Keep checking back for more information as I have time to update and author more pages.