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Volunteer Examiner Testing
History
Until the 1980’s a person who wished to test for an amateur radio license generally had to go to one of the FCC district offices. In an effort to reduce costs in the 1980’s the law was modified and the result was that FCC now interfaces with a number of entities called Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs). Those entities in turn certify individual ham radio operators to become Volunteer Examiners (VEs).
VEs are individuals with a General license or higher who additionally have a certificate from a VEC. A minimum of three VEs are required to conduct testing. Once a person passes a test administered by VEs the results are sent off to the VEC for entry into the FCC system. A copy of the result is given to the person who passed the test. That temporary certificate is valid for one year. Once the license is published on the FCC website the person may begin using their class of privileges.
For more information on the subject please go take a look at Brief History of the VEC Program, by the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club.
The Red River Valley Amateur Radio Club (RRVARC) publishes the information below as a convenience to those that may wish to take an exam, but the Club does not technically have any standing in the licensing process. Location, dates and times are 100% the purview of the VEs conducting the test. For more information or to advise the VEs that you plan to test and to confirm details of testing, please contact them via the email link below.
Prospective testing dates:
December 2, 2023
March 2, 2024
June 1, 2024
September 7, 2024
December 7, 2024
The VEs associated with the Red River Valley Amateur Radio Club (RRVARC) hold regularly scheduled testing on the 1st Saturday of every March, June, September and December. Testing is conducted at the Paris Police Department, Municipal Courtroom (2910 Clarksville Street, Paris, TX 75460), at 10:00am. As described above, the testing is conducted by Volunteer Examiners (VEs). These are our peers in the hobby, usually members of the RRVARC, licensed ham radio operators with the special VE qualification to conduct the exams. The group of VEs we are associated with work under the auspices of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) VEC.
For your licensing test you will need:
- $15 cash for each test to be taken or retaken. The FCC will contact you via email for their $35 fee upon receiving your positive test results for the a new or upgraded license.
- Your drivers license or other valid government photo ID.
- An FCC Registration Number (FRN). If you do not have an FRN please click this link and secure one.
- If you are testing to upgrade to General or Extra you will need to bring a printed copy of your current Amateur Radio license or be able to show proof of the license in the official FCC database. If you want to obtain a current copy of your official license, please click How to obtain an official copy of your FCC license for a step-by-step illustrated tutorial.
- A mask – Please bring one with you. The wearing of a mask requirement has waxed and waned. If you have it with you then you are covered either way and we do not have to continually update the website.
A good resource that you should also check would be the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) What to Bring to an Exam Session page.
If at all possible please email ve-testing@wb5rdd.org and let our affiliated VEs know you plan to test. They will follow up with you. For walk-ins, a VE will have a laptop and internet access to assist you.
Effective April 19, 2022, a $35 fee will apply to applications for a new Amateur Radio license, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call signs. (Source: ARRL)
We can always use the help of Volunteer Examiners. If you are a General or higher and interested in performing this important public service, please click this link for more information.
Prospective testing dates:
December 2, 2023
March 2, 2024
June 1, 2024
September 7, 2024
December 7, 2024
