MARC  WB3JOE/R  W3NWA  Southeastern PA

FCC Amateur Radio License

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) licenses an individual to operate in the Amateur Radio Service.  The written examination, which no longer requires a demonstration of telegraphy with Morse Code, is administered by Volunteer Examiners (VE) who are licensed Amateur Radio operators and specially training to provide this service.

MARC provides VE Test Sessions quarterly on the first Saturday of the months of February, May and November at 0900 and hosted by the Lower Providence Township Building, 100 Parklane Drive, Eagleville, PA GPS: N 40.16309  W 75.40844. For further information contact Brian AA3BK.

At the traffic light at Ridge Pike and Eagleville Road, go north on Parklane Drive (away from the Eagleville Tavern) and follow the long driveway to the Township Building. There is parking available in front of and behind the township building.  Use the front door entrance by the flag pole, and turn left once inside the building, as shown on the maps below.

MARC also provides a VE Test Session at the annual  Hamfest.

More information on Amateur Radio licensure and study materials are available from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). MARC also has an Elmer Program for the newly licensed Amateur Radio operator
 

 

 

 

FCC Testing Changes

First-Time Exam Applicants Must Obtain FCC Registration Number before Taking Exam

Beginning May 20, 2021, all amateur examination applicants will be required to provide an FCC Registration Number (FRN) to the Volunteer Examiners (VEs) before taking an amateur exam. This is necessary due to changes the FCC has made to its licensing system. Amateur candidates who already have an FCC license, whether for amateur radio or in another service, already have an FRN and can use the same number. All prospective new FCC licensees, however, will be equired to obtain an FRN before the examination and provide that number to the volunteer examiners on the Form 605 license application. An FCC instructional video provides step-by-step instructions on how to obtain an FRN through the FCC's COmmission REgistration System (CORES).

The video is available at, https://www.fcc.gov/rofrn .

The FRN is required for all new applicants to take an amateur exam and is used afterward by the applicant to download the license document from the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS), upgrade the license, apply for a vanity call sign, and to submit administrative updates (such as address and email changes) and renewal applications. In addition, after June 29, 2021 all applications will be required to contain an email address for FCC correspondence. Applicants will receive an email direct from the FCC with a link to the official electronic copy of their license whenever a license is issued or changed. ARRL VEC suggests that those without access to email to use the email address of a family member or friend. Licensees will be able to log in to the ULS using their FRN and password to download the latest version of their license at any time. The FCC no longer provides paper license documents.

MARC Test Session Location Maps

Lower Providence Township Building, 100 Parklane Drive, Eagleville, PA GPS: N 40.16309  W 75.40844

As shown in the aerial picture below, parking is available in the lots directly behind and in front of the Lower Providence Township Building (arrow).                                             

MARC VE Test Session Rules

YOU MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE FOR THE VE TEST SESSION.  For more information or to register, please contact Brian AA3BK. If you do not register in advance for the VE Test Session, you may find no one there to test you.

Applicants should arrive no later than 9:15 AM.

Applicants must have obtained the FCC FRN beforehand (see above) and have a usable email address.

Applicants MUST PRESENT EITHER A PHOTO ID OR TWO OTHER FORMS OF POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION.  The test fee is $15, preferably by a CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO ARRL/VEC.  Those wishing to pay cash may do so but please bring EXACT CHANGE.

Applicants already holding an amateur license must BRING THE ORIGINAL OF THAT LICENSE PLUS A PHOTOCOPY OF IT.

Applicants holding a Certificate of Successful Completion (CSCE) for any examination element must BRING THE ORIGINAL CSCE PLUS A PHOTOCOPY OF IT. 

Applicants wishing to upgrade a Technician License held before 1987 must BRING THE ORIGINAL PLUS A PHOTOCOPY OF THE DOCUMENT VERIFYING THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL LICENSE.

Applicants wishing to reinstate a license expired by more than two years must BRING THE ORIGINAL AND A COPY OF EXPIRED LICENSE PROOF. Acceptable forms of proof can be found on the ARRL Exam Element Credit web page at http://www.arrl.org/exam-element-credit.

Please be aware of the following Mid-Atlantic Amateur Radio Club policies concerning VE Test Session:

     1 - We stop issuing exams at 11 AM.  After that you will not be permitted to begin a new test.

     2 - If you fail an element, we do not at this VE Test Session allow a retake of that element using another test version.

However, if you are prepared to take the test for the next higher element, you may take that test.  Passing a higher element without passing the lower one does not entitle you to the license associated with that higher element.

Elmer Program

MARC has an Elmer program.  As most of you know, “Elmer" is a nickname or term used to describe someone that can answer lots of your Amateur Radio related questions when you are starting out in 'Ham Radio'.  We have a number of members who are new to Amateur Radio and some members who are back in the hobby after a long absence – being an Elmer would be very helpful to these folks and other new 'hams' who will join our club in the future.  

 

We have a lot of very experienced hams in MARC who could bring a lot of value to an Elmer program. MARC has a list of club members who would be willing to be Elmers. If you would like to take advantage of being mentored send your requests to Dennis K3DS.

 

Here is a link that has some good information about Elmers and Amateur Radio in general:

 

http://www.hamuniverse.com/elmer.html