From books, to Youtube videos, to online classes, there is a lot of information out there. So how do you make sense of it all and finally get your license? It’s easier than you think. Follow these 3 steps to finally get your license and get started in ham radio.
There are three classes of licenses that are offered by the FCC (The Federal Communications Commission, the branch of government that controls ham radio licenses). You have to pass a test for each level, and you have to start at Technician and advance upward.
Level 1: Technician License Access to VHF / UHF, great for starting with handheld radios. Level 2: General License Open up access to many HF bands, which means nationwide and worldwide communication. Level 3: Amateur Extra License The highest amateur class offered by the FCC.If you’re new to ham radio, then you have to pass the Technician License first. You can take the General License test the same day without any extra fee, if you’re feeling confident. It really depends on how to plan to use amateur radio. To find out which level of license will best suit your needs, check out our post on the Technician License vs. the General License.
Technician License Course 
Take a free 5-minute lesson to take the first step to getting licensed.
Now that you have decided which license is best for you, you need to start preparing for the test.
The entry level Technician License Exam requires around 10 hours of study for most people. The Technician and General License exams each have 35 questions, and the Amateur Extra has 50. In order to pass the each test, you must get at least a 74%. For Technician and General, this means you must get 26 questions right out of the 35 questions. When it comes to ham radio, you could say that “C’s are for degrees” (see our detailed guide on how many questions are on the ham radio license exams).
As far as study materials, there are free options as well as more premium paid options. Considering that study materials will greatly enhance your experience and actually teach you a lot about ham radio, most people decide to invest at least a small amount into study materials. Overall, we estimate that the Technician License will cost you $85 when you take into account the cost of study materials, the FCC license fee and the cost of actually taking the exam (see license cost article for full breakdown). Let’s take a look at some of the study options to get ready for the exam.
It’s now possible to learn everything you need in an online class from your phone, tablet, or computer. You also get nice bonuses like videos and exams that track where you’re having trouble. Since access to our online class never expires, you can also go back and reference the material at any time. Not sure if an online class is right for you? Try a free lesson and see if you can pass the sample questions directly from the real FCC test.
