The Athens Radio Club’s FCC amateur radio licensing exams are held every other month. We are authorized by the FCC to administer examinations up to the highest license level, Amateur Extra.

When: The first Tuesdays of even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October, & December).6:00 p.m. sharp. As a courtesy to others, please arrive early.

Where: Athens-Clarke County Police Department East Precinct classroom

3035 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 30605 (MAP)

The next test session at Fire Station #2 will be December 3, 2024

Starting February 4th, 2025 testing will be at our New meeting location

Athens-Clarke County Police Department East Precinct classroom

at 3035 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 30605 - at 6:00 p.m.

Please bring the following: 

• Photo ID

• $15.00 cash/check for the ARRL processing fee. "THERE IS A NEW FCC REQUIRED FEE OF $35 FOR A HAM RADIO LICENSE. This new fee will be effective on 4/19/2022. The ARRL test processing fee remains at $15. So, please bring $15 for the test processing fee (cash or check made out to ARC/VE) when you come to test for your license. You will be assigned a file number when the FCC receives your paperwork from ARRL. You will then “activate” your file and have 10 days to pay the $35 for your license. This fee will be paid directly to the FCC. The license will be forfeited if the fee is not paid. The Athens Radio Club will not collect the $35 license fee. Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, and modification applications to upgrade an amateur radio licensee’s operator class, will be exempt from fees.

  If an applicant is under 18, the ARRL'S “Youth Licensing Grant Program” will cover a one-time $35 application fee for each qualified candidate who passes one or more amateur radio exams taken on the same day at a single examination session. Tests would have to be administered by a Volunteer Examiner (VE) team working under the auspices of the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). Qualified candidates also would pay a reduced exam session fee of $5 to the ARRL VEC. See <https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-board-establishes-program-to-cover-initial-fcc-license-fee-for-young-applicants> for more information.

• #2 pencils and a pen

• Calculator

• A copy of your current license, if taking the General or Extra exam.

• Your FCC Registration Number (FRN), obtained by going to https://apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do. Your application cannot be processed without one. You must also have a valid email address.

• If you have a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) form, bring that.

• To access the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS) page, go to https://fcc.gov/wireless/universal-licensing-system

BE PREPARED! To help ensure you pass your exam(s), consider using one of these proven preparation resources:

• FREE Online Ham YouTube Videos

• ARRL License Manuals

• FREE Practice Exams

• https://www.arrlstx.org/index.php/online-ham-classes.html

Regarding Testing Procedures: We practice social distancing, masks are encouraged, but not required.

A Volunteer Examiner (VE) will distribute your application (form 609), an exam answer sheet, check your photo ID, and collect your testing fee of $15.00. Once you have completed your 609 and answer sheet, you will be given the exam. DO NOT WRITE ON THE EXAM.

The VE will collect your answer document and exam when you are finished.

Your exam will be graded.

When you pass the Tech exam you will have the option of taking the General exam at no additional cost; if you pass the General, you may also take the Amateur Extra exam at no added cost.

TO LEARN ABOUT THE 3 LEVELS OF AMATEUR RADIO LICENSES, VISIT THIS WEBSITE.

Once your exam(s) have been graded, you and the VE will complete a certificate of successful completion of an exam (CSCE). DO NOT leave without completing this certificate and be certain that the VE team has the ARRL copy of the certificate. You won’t receive your license if the ARRL doesn’t receive your copy.

This isn't as complicated as it seems, but in light of the pandemic, knowing the testing procedures saves time and limits exposure between candidates and VE members.

Please email James if you have questions or comments.

Feel free to help us provide this testing service by making a donation.

Find other testing locations here. 

Many other Amateur Radio Clubs offer classes to help learn the material needed to pass the written exam required for the Technician class license. They also have groups of Volunteer Examiners (VEs) that administer the FCC exams on a regular basis and at special events. Many hamfests (gatherings of Amateur Radio enthusiasts that usually include buying and selling of used equipment and even vendors of new equipment) offer examination sessions for all classes of Amateur Radio licensing.