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Valley Amateur Radio Association

Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

Amateur Radio Exams

Amateur Radio Operators must successfully complete a required examination to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission.

The local VARA and MARA clubs sponsor FCC exams which are administered on the second Saturday of the last month of each quarter as published in the ARRL Local Area Exam Schedule. Examinations are given at the Hose Company #4 Fire Station, 2654 Port Republic Rd, Rockingham, VA..  That is the fire station across from the hospital. Exams begin at 9:00 am with registration and are always graded and finished well before noon. The cost is $15.00 per session.  You can take multiple examination elements for one payment of $15.00 on any scheduled exam date.

You are REQUIRED to register in the FCC CORES system and receive an FCC Registration Number (FRN) before exam day. Candidates could go directly to the FCC CORES User Account and Registration page: https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do

Candidates need to bring a photo ID (issued by a government entity) showing your current address.  If you do not have a photo ID showing your current address, bring a photo ID and some piece of official mail (a bill for example) showing your current address.

Minors (under 18 years of age) without a photo ID need to bring a school ID, library card, report card or a guardian with a photo ID is also acceptable.

FCC rules governing eligibility must be met. You may bring a calculator, but you must erase the memory; smartphones, laptops, Ipads, and computer devices are not allowed. Candidates must also bring any certificate of successful completion of previous exam elements passed, for which they wish to claim credit. 

We provide #2 pencils, pens, and scratch paper.  

For more information and pre-registration, contact Milan Seifert email: seifemi@verizon.net / N0EUV

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.