Become a Ham

Becoming an amateur radio operator may seem like a daunting task, but it's really fairly straightforward. People from ages 5 on up have obtained their amateur radio licenses. All it takes is a little time, some willingness to study, and passing a 35-question test for the first license level of Technician.

Once or twice a year, the Warren Amateur Radio Society hosts technician-level training classes in Indianola. These classes are usually held for several weekends on Saturdays and Sundays and are taught by Warren Amateur Radio Society President Rich Rogers, AA0RR. At the conclusion of the classes, amateur radio testing is offered to allow participants to test for their first ham license. If you would be interested in the next available technician-level class, contact Rich Rogers at aa0rr@arrl.net.

Warren Amateur Radio Society President Rich Rogers, AA0RR, teaches a technician level licensing class recently at the Warren County Emergency Management Agency, Indianola, IA.

Self-Study

Of course, it is possible to study on your own for your amateur radio license. There are many resources available to help you with this process. Some resources are free and some are available for a fee. Resources listed below are offered as a service to prospective amateurs. Listing the resource does not imply official endorsement.

Free Resources

KB6NU's No Nonsense Technician Study Guide - A downloadable pdf version of KB6NU's study guide.

HamStudy.org - A free site with flashcards, practice tests, and more.

ARRL Exam Practice - After signing up for a free account, you can take practice tests online.

Paid Resources

ARRL Study Guides - These books are written for self-study.

Ham Test Online - This resource uses adaptive learning to bring back questions that you missed for repeated study.

Find a Testing Location

Follow this link to find a testing location in your area: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session

Click here to see what materials you need to take with you to your testing session: http://www.arrl.org/what-to-bring-to-an-exam-session

Volunteer Examiners, or VE's, are amateur radio operators at the general class or higher who have been accredited by a volunteer examiner coordinator (VEC). There are several VEC bodies; ARRL is one of them. When you pass your amateur radio test, the VE's at the session will complete the necessary paperwork and forward it to the FCC.

Check the FCC Universal Licensing System for your callsign. Generally it will appear within 10 to 14 days. Keep your Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) that you received from the VE's at the test session. It is good for 365 days and is your only record of having passed the examination, in case you would need documentation for some reason.

Choose Your First Radio

There are several resources here to help you out:

Find a Local Club

Follow this link to find ARRL-affiliated amateur radio clubs in your area: http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club

You Passed! Now You Might be Wondering...

This resource is great for new hams. It answers many basic questions in a Q&A format. http://www.hamuniverse.com/The_New_Ham_FAQ.pdf