Every US amateur licence starts the same way: you sit an exam supervised by volunteers, not by the government. That surprises many newcomers, and so does how varied the sessions are. Some run in a club room on a Saturday morning, and others happen over video from your own desk. This walkthrough explains how volunteer examiner sessions work, what to bring, and how to find and register for one.
What a VE Session Actually Is
In the United States, amateur radio exams are given by volunteer examiners, usually called VEs. They are licensed amateurs who have been accredited to administer exams. A session is simply a scheduled time and place, in person or online, where a team of VEs gives exams to anyone who has registered and meets the requirements. The FCC issues the licence itself, but the testing is handled by this volunteer system.
Who Is Behind the Session
VEs work under a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, or VEC. Several organisations act as VECs, and each one accredits examiners, sets its own session procedures within FCC rules and processes the paperwork afterwards. A session is normally run by a local club or a group of examiners connected to one of these coordinators. An exam needs a team of at least three accredited VEs. That is why sessions are scheduled in advance instead of happening on demand.
Know Which Exam You Are Sitting
US licences are earned by passing written exam elements. Technician is the entry-level class, General is the next step, and Amateur Extra is the top class. Technician and General each use a 35-question exam, and Extra uses 50 questions. The passing mark is 74 percent, which works out to 26 correct answers on a 35-question exam and 37 on the 50-question one. Questions are drawn from public question pools that are refreshed on a multi-year cycle, so study the pool currently in effect. For a side-by-side look at what each class allows, see US Ham Licence Classes: Technician, General and Extra Compared.
Prepare Before You Register
Do not book a session on the strength of hope alone. Because the question pools are public, you can practise with the same kind of questions you will see on the day. Working through the licence exam practice questions until you are passing comfortably is a sensible readiness test. If you prefer a guided route, the American crash course is built around the Technician and General exams. Aim to understand the reasoning behind answers, especially on safety and regulations, instead of memorising letters.
Where to Find a Nearby Session
There are a few dependable places to look:
- VEC session listings. Several coordinators publish searchable lists of upcoming sessions by location and date.
- Local clubs. Many clubs host regular exams, often monthly or a few times a year. You can locate one through the find a club page.
- Hamfests and conventions. These often include an exam session, though they may be one-day opportunities with limited seats.
- Online session listings. Some coordinators run remote sessions that you can join from home.
Sessions are not available in every town every week, so be ready to be flexible about the date or to travel a little.
How Registration Works
Registration rules are set by each session, so read the announcement carefully. Some sessions are walk-in, some ask for a quick email or form, and some require pre-registration because seats or supervising VEs are limited. Others need you to book a time slot. Contact the person named on the listing, tell them which exam element you plan to take, and ask about payment methods, start time and anything unusual about the venue. Registering early also means you hear about last-minute changes.
Taking the Exam Online
Remote sessions let you take the exam from home, supervised over video by VEs. Requirements differ between coordinators, but you can generally expect to need a computer with a working camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, a quiet private room and your photo ID. The VEs may ask you to show your workspace on camera before you start. Read the session's technical instructions ahead of time and test your equipment. Online is convenient, but it does not mean easier, since the same question pools and passing mark apply.
What to Bring: ID, FRN and Fees
Check your session's list, but plan on the following:
- Photo identification. A government-issued photo ID that is current and readable.
- An FCC Registration Number (FRN). This is free and you obtain it through the FCC's online registration system before the session. Doing it in advance avoids delays on the day.
- An email address. Your application details and licence notification are handled electronically.
- The session fee. The coordinator or session sets it to cover costs, and it is usually modest. Amounts and payment methods vary, so ask in advance whether they take cash, cheque or cards. Also check current FCC requirements when you register, since fee rules can change.
- Pencils, a pen and a basic calculator. Clear the calculator's memory, and expect to leave notes and phones out of reach.
- For upgrades: a copy of your current licence and any certificate showing exam credit you have earned.
What Happens on Exam Day
Arrive a little early. The VEs will verify your identity, check your paperwork and explain the rules. Exams may be on paper or on a computer, depending on the session. The VEs grade the exam while you wait, and you usually learn your result before you leave. If you do not pass, ask the team about their retake policy, because some sessions allow another attempt with a new fee while others do not. If you pass, the VEs submit your paperwork through their coordinator, and the FCC grants the licence afterwards.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Showing up without an FRN, or with an ID that is expired or unreadable.
- Assuming every session is walk-in when the listing asks for pre-registration.
- Studying an outdated question pool.
- Forgetting to ask about payment methods and being caught without the right one.
- Bringing a calculator with stored programs or notes on it.
- Skipping the tech check for an online session.
- Transmitting before the licence appears in the FCC database. A new licensee must wait until it does.
After You Pass
Passing the exam is not the same as being licensed. The FCC needs to process the application and grant the licence before a new operator can transmit. Once it appears, remember that you are responsible for following FCC rules and for safe operating practice, including RF exposure. If you have general questions about the process, the ham radio FAQ answers many of them in plain language. If you are planning to test in Canada instead, the rules and the examiners are different, so read How to Find an ISED Accredited Examiner Near You.
Wrap-Up
A VE session is a friendly, well-organised process once you know the pieces: pick your exam element, study the current pool, find a session, register, and bring ID, your FRN and the fee. Whether you sit the exam in a club room or from your desk, the volunteers on the other side want you to succeed. Do the preparation, confirm the details in advance, and walk in ready.
How HamRadioList can help
Once you know which exam element you are aiming for, work through the free question sets on HamRadioList's licence exam practice page until the answers feel natural. If you want a structured route, try the American crash course, then keep your first contacts organised in the free online logbook once your licence is granted.
- License exam practice - practice questions for the US and Canadian amateur exams.
- American crash course - a fast path to the US Technician and General exams.
- Find a club - locate a local amateur radio club.
- Ham radio FAQ - plain answers to the questions new operators ask most.
- Free online ham radio logbook - log every contact, import and export ADIF, sync with QRZ.com and keep your awards organised.
New here, or getting back on the air? Create your free HamRadioList account to log contacts, check band conditions and practise for your exam, or browse more guides from the blog. HamRadioList is built by amateur radio operators in Nova Scotia for operators everywhere.