Your first call sign is issued sequentially from the pool for your district. You may apply for a specific unused call sign — a vanity call — at any time, at no charge beyond the usual application fee.
What the format tells you
US call signs come in groups tied to license class:
| Group | Format | Available to |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1×2 (K5AB), 2×1 (AB5C), some 2×2 | Extra |
| B | 2×2 (KD5AB) | Advanced and Extra |
| C | 1×3 (N5ABC) | General and above |
| D | 2×3 (KD5ABC) | Any class |
The number is the call district of the address on the original license; it does not have to match where you live now, and you keep it if you move.
Applying
Apply through the FCC ULS with your CORES login. A call sign becomes available two years after its previous holder's license expires or is canceled. If more than one person applies for the same call on the same day, the FCC runs a lottery.
Practical advice
- Short calls are easier in contests and pileups; some letters are much easier to copy on CW or
- Avoid combinations that sound like other things in phonetics.
- A club station may hold its own call sign, including the call of a silent key, with a trustee.
through noise than others.