Seymour Ham Radio Testing Info
The current FCC rules specify distinct "elements" of amateur radio licensing exams. By passing successive exams, or taking advantage of more arcane "grandfather" rules, you earn Certificates of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) which document that you have credit for the various elements.
Element 1 used to be the 5 words per minute CW (Morse code) listening exam. As of February 23, 2007 it is no longer required for any class amateur license.
Element 2, the Technician exam, consists of 35 questions about the basics of amateur radio operation, safety, FCC rules, etc. You need to answer 26 questions correctly to pass. Element 2 credit by itself gives the licensee certain privileges on amateur VHF (and higher) bands, plus limited privileges on some HF bands.
Element 3, the General exam, also consists of 35 questions, of which 26 have to be answered correctly. It gives additional privileges on HF bands compared with the Technician class.
Element 4, the Extra exam, consists of 50 questions, some a bit more theoretical than on the other exams, and 37 of them must be answered correctly to pass. Extra licensees gain access to additional spectrum on the HF bands compared to General class amateurs.
There is nothing in the FCC rules that says in which order these exams must be taken. Theoretically one could start with Element 4, then 3 and then 2. But this is highly unusual, and won't get you on the air until you've passed them all... The norm is to take Element 2 (and get on the air!), then 3, then 4.
Two things to keep in mind. First, exams taken "out of order" give you credit
for that particular element only for a year. So if you take Element 3 but wait
with Element 2 too long, your Element 3 credit will be wasted.
Second, you can keep taking exams at a session for the single $15 fee as long as
you keep passing. In fact, the Volunteer Examiners will likely encourage you to
take Element 3 if you passed your Technician test, even if you didn't plan to go
further. It won't cost you anything, other than some extra time spent with us.
Most examiners will also let you immediately retake the exam you failed; however, this counts as a new "exam session" and will require another payment of $15.
You will need to bring a "acceptable" form of photo ID( drivers license, Passport, etc.). If you do not have a photo id you must bring two other forms of ID, birth certificate, social security card, ect. You must satisfy the VE's that your identity is positively established.
You will need $15 for the exam session fee. It can be paid by cash, money order, personal checks . We are unable to accept credit cards.
If you are a holder of a current license and want to upgrade, you must bring your original license and also a copy of that license to be presented to VE Team.
If you are a holder of a license and want to upgrade under the "grandfather" rules, please familiarize yourself with the FCC regulations in Part 97, Section 505 concerning this (see link below), and bring appropriate documentation.
The document which must be filed with the the testing organization before your license can be issued is called "NCVEC Form 605". Please write clearly.
The form requires you to provide your Social Security Number or the "FRN". If you'd rather not give out the SSN, go to the FCC FRN registration page and get the FRN number ahead of the testing session.
If you already have an FRN (check the FCC page!) then you must use it on form 605 instead of your SSN, or else the application may be rejected.
For a written exam (elements 2, 3, 4) you will be given a question booklet and a sheet for recording answers. You can use scratch paper provided by the VE's if you need it, and a basic calculator with its memory erased. The VE's will tell you, at their discretion, what is allowed and what isn't. Take as much time as you want (within reason) to answer all questions.
If you do not have a current license, and you pass an exam (or exams) which gives you operating privileges, you have to wait until the FCC issues a license and their online callsign database reflects that. You may then start operating within the privileges you earned immediately, without waiting for the paper license which will arrive in the mail some time later. We try to process all paperwork as soon as possible. The new licensees usually show up in the FCC database within a week or so of the testing session.
Those who earn an upgrade to their existing license can start using the higher privileges immediately while the paperwork is being processed, but then they must identify with a special temporary suffix added to their callsign, such as "stroke-AG" if you have just upgraded to the General class. See the FCC rules for details.
Upcoming Seymour Test Sessions
We hold test sections on the 2nd Saturday in,
January, March, May, July, September, November
|
Date |
Location |
Registration Time |
Test Time |
Managing VE |
| March 13, 2010 | Library | 11:30 AM | 12:00 PM | KC9JOY, Nick Klinger |
| May 8, 2010 | Library | 11:30 AM | 12:00 PM | KC9JOY, Nick Klinger |
| July 10, 2010 | Library | 11:30 AM | 12:00 PM | KC9JOY, Nick Klinger |
| September 11, 2010 | Library | 11:30 AM | 12:00 PM | KC9JOY, Nick Klinger |
| November 13, 2010 | Library | 11:30 AM | 12:00 PM | KC9JOY, Nick Klinger |
Notes: 1: Locations can change due to library not allowing reservations more that 2 month away. Please check back for updates if they do airy. 2: Tests with "*" next to them will not offer retests.
To view all upcoming test sessions from other VE's go to the ARRL web site or click here.
Test Location Addresses:
Jackson County Public Library
303 West 2nd Street
Seymour, Indiana 47274
1-812-522-3412
Local VE's
If you are interested and want more information please contact one or more of us below for help.
Norm Richards, N9EVM
Extra Class Amateur
ARRL VE
Nick Klinger, KC9JOY
Extra Class Amateur
ARRL/ VEC - VE Liaison
ARRL VE
Sharla Somers, KC9CLH
Extra Class Amateur
ARRL VE
Picture To Come
Rusty Richards, WB9FIU
Extra Class Amateur
ARRL VE
Don Marcum Jr., WD9DWN
Extra Class Amateur
ARRL VE
Greg Taylor, WE9M
Extra Class Amateur
ARRL VE
Picture to come
Kat Jarvis, KC9JEH
Extra Class Amateur
ARRL VE
Jim Seddon, N8PEJ
General Class Amateur
ARRL VE
Herschel Zahnd II, N9KPA
Extra Class Amateur
ARRL VE
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