Finding a session
Search hamstudy.org/sessions or the ARRL exam finder. Sessions run in person at clubs, libraries, hamfests and fire halls, and online by video — remote testing is now routine and is available almost every day.
Bring
- Your FRN
- Photo ID (for minors without ID: a birth certificate or a parent vouching, depending on the VE
- The exam fee, typically $15 — ask whether cash is required
- A calculator with the memory cleared; phones may not be used as calculators
team)
For remote sessions you also need a webcam, a second camera or mirror, and a clear desk. Read the team's instructions in advance; they are strict for good reason.
What happens
Three Volunteer Examiners administer and grade the test on the spot. You will know within minutes whether you passed. If you pass, you may immediately attempt the next class up — often for no additional fee.
The VE team files the results electronically with a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, usually the same day.
After you pass
You receive a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE). It is not a licence, and it does not let you transmit. See after you pass.
If you do not pass
You may retest immediately at the same session, usually for another fee, with a different set of questions. Plenty of people pass on the second attempt an hour later.