How To Become a Radio Amateur
Technician Class: This license is granted after passing a 35-question test on basic regulations, operating practices, and electronic theory. No Morse code is required. With Technician Class you can operate on all frequencies above 50 MHz.
Technicians who pass a 5 word per minute (WPM) Morse code exam may also operate with limited power on certain HF frequencies. These frequencies are the 80, 40, and 15 meter bands using CW and 10 meters using CW, voice, and digital modes. There are further frequency restrictions within these bands.
General Class: Technicians upgrade to General Class by passing a 35-question examination on regulations, operating practices, and electronics theory with a focus on HF. In addition passing a 5 WPM Morse code test is required. General Class operators may use high power transmitters and have access to the 160, 30, 17, 12, and 10 meter bands and access to major parts of the 80, 40, 20, and 15 meter bands.
Extra Class: An upgrade to Extra Class is accomplished by passing a 50-question examination on regulations, specialized operating practices, advanced electronics theory, and radio equipment design. While this may seem a challenge it results in the privilege of operating on all authorized Amateur Radio frequencies.
For additional detail on Amateur Radio licensing in the U.S. check out the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) web site and search for Licensing.
To locate exams in your area click here http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml.
