The license at a glance
$35one-time FCC fee
35questions on the test
26right answers to pass
10years before renewal
No Morse code since 2007. Exam groups charge a small session fee, often $15 or less, and some are free.
Get licensed in four steps
- Get an FCC Registration NumberFree, on the FCC CORES website
- Study the Technician question poolEvery question is public; practice free at PassThePool.com
- Take the test at a local exam sessionFind one on ARRL.org; bring photo ID and your FRN
- Pay $35 and get your call signThe FCC emails a payment link; your call sign follows within days
One license per person
Unlike GMRS, every family member who talks on ham radio needs their own license. There's no age limit, and ARRL exam teams charge kids under 18 just $5 and repay their $35 FCC fee.
Using the radio
Say your call sign
Every 10 minutes and at the end of a conversation
Use a repeater
Set the offset and tone; a hilltop repeater carries you 20 miles or more
Join a weekly net
Check in to practice before you ever need it
Plain language only
No codes, no encryption, no business talk
How far it reaches
| Setup | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Handheld to handheld, in town | 1 to 3 miles |
| Handheld from a hilltop | 5 to 20 miles |
| Mobile radio with roof antenna | 10 to 30 miles |
| Through a repeater | 20 to 60 miles |
| HF radio (General license) | Hundreds to thousands of miles |
Typical estimates for 2-meter and 70-centimeter radios. Hills, trees and antennas change everything, so test from your own home.
Remember
GMRS keeps the family talking; ham radio connects you to the whole region when the phones go down.
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Answer key
- How many questions are on the Technician exam?35You need 26 right, about 74%, to pass.
- Does one ham license cover the whole family?No, each person needs their ownEvery family member who transmits needs their own license and call sign.
- How often must you give your call sign on ham radio?Every 10 minutes and at the end of a conversationHam uses a 10-minute rule; GMRS uses 15.
- What does a repeater do?Receives your signal and retransmits it from a high spotThat's how a small handheld reaches 20 miles or more.
- Do you need Morse code for a ham license?No, the FCC dropped it in 2007The Morse code requirement ended in 2007.