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Valley Amateur Radio Association

Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

Amateur Radio Exams

Amateur Radio Operators must successfully complete an examination to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. There are three levels of licensing, Technician, General and Extra, each with higher privileges. The ARRL information page offers more information.

MARA and VARA provide in-person sessions quarterly . Check out Hamstudy.org for the next exam session at the Fire Department Hose Company #4, 2654 Port Republic Rd, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, USA

We use the Exam Tools website and applicants are provided Chromebook tablets to take the exam.

Exams are the

  • You will need an FRN. If you don’t have one already, you will need to obtain one HERE.
  • Please bring a picture ID and $ 15.00 cash for the exam.
  • We provide pencils, pens, scratch paper, and a calculator.
  • All classes of exams offered: Technician, General, Amateur Extra.
  • You can take more than one exam per session.
  • If you are not 13 years of age or older you may not register for any exam session through HamStudy.org or ExamTools.org until your parent or guardian has filled out our COPPA Parental Consent Form and emailed it to coppa@examtools.org. Please send a courtesy copy to seifemi@verizon.net

Once you pass the exam, the FCC charges a $35 fee to issue a new license. Upgrades will not be charged. You will have 10 days after you pass the test to log onto FCC Universal Licensing System and pay the fee. 

Click on the link to register for the next exam session: HamStudy.org: Exam

Resources

ARRL Licensing Info

ARRL Exam Practice

Must-have books for studying for the Technician Class. Click on the image.

Ham Radio Prep – use coupon code VARA at checkout for 20% off all license courses and bundles. This coupon never expires and can be used unlimited amounts of times.

Hamstudy.org is also a great resource that is free.They have a great app that can be used to study.