Licensing Exams
In order to become an amateur radio operator in the United States, you must first pass one or more multiple-choice exams to obtain a license from the FCC. These exams cover basic theory of electronics and radio, as well as FCC rules, and are administered by groups of volunteer examiners around the country, including a group here at Carnegie Mellon. We offer exams for Technician, General, and Extra class licenses. You can take any or all of the exams for a single fee. Knowledge of Morse code is no longer required to obtain an amateur radio license in the U.S.
Next Exam Session
Wednesday, March 22 at 7:00pm
Carnegie Mellon University
Wean Hall - Room 6403
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Or search for non-CMU sessions...
- Legal photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport
- $15 cash, or a check made out to ARRL VEC
- Your FCC Registration Number (FRN)
- Your existing FCC license or CSCE, if you are upgrading
- Pen or pencil
- Calculator, if you need one (preferably non-programmable, or we will have to erase its memory)
- Documentation of any disabilities you feel we should accommodate, signed by a doctor (advance notice of special needs is appreciated)
Please note that your FCC Registration Number is required by the FCC, and you will not be granted a license if you do not provide one on the application form. If you are not previously licensed, you must request a FRN from the FCC before the exam date. This can be done by visiting the FCC ULS Online System and choosing the "Register" button in the "New Users" section. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding these policies.
Study Materials
The ARRL Store offers many study guides in print and audio format.
Additionally, the actual questions that you will see on the exam are published for anyone to review (granted, there are hundreds of possible questions and only a few dozen will be randomly selected for your exam, so you probably shouldn't try to memorize all the answers).
Many web sites offer practice tests, including QRZ and AA9PW.
Here are some other resources that you might find helpful:
- KB6NU No Nonsense Study Guides
- Hamstudy
COVID-19 Protocols
Please read CMU's visitor protocol immediately prior to the exam date for the most up-to-date information on CMU's COVID-19 policies.