What changed
Getting an FCC FRN — edited Aug 29, 2026 by Unknown editor
This is the first recorded version, so every line is shown as added. Note: Imported from content/wiki
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Every applicant must have an **FCC Registration Number (FRN)** before taking an exam. Volunteer
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Examiners will not process your paperwork without one, and the FCC will not issue a call sign.
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## How to get one
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1. Go to the FCC CORES system at [fcc.gov](https://www.fcc.gov/) and choose to register.
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2. Create a username (an email address) and password.
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3. Register as an **individual**, not a business.
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4. Provide your Social Security number, which the FCC requires for identification, along with your
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legal name and mailing address.
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5. The FRN — a ten-digit number — is issued immediately. Write it down and bring it to the exam.
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## For applicants without an SSN
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Foreign nationals and others without a Social Security number can request an FCC-issued
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identification number using CORES' alternative registration path. Start this well before your exam
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date; it is not instant.
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## For minors
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A parent may register on behalf of a child, but the FRN and license belong to the child. Use the
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child's own legal name.
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## Keep the login
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Your CORES username and password are how you later pay the application fee, change your address,
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renew your license and apply for a vanity call sign. Losing them is the single most common
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administrative headache in the hobby.
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## Keep your address current
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The FCC requires a working mailing address on file. Mail returned as undeliverable is grounds for
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license revocation, and your address is public in the license database.