About

Years ago you actually had to go to an FCC regional office to take a test (this has changed see below). There used to be five classes of amateur radio licenses; Novice, Technician, General, Advanced and Amateur Extra. All the tests had to be taken in order. Plus you had to learn Morse Code to get a license.


To get a Novice license you had to take a test plus be able to copy Morse code at 5 words per minute. The Technician license only required another test. The General license required another test plus be able to copy Morse code at 13 words per minute. The Advanced license only required another test. The Extra class license required another test plus be able to copy Morse code at 20 words per minute. The only short cut allowed was on the Morse code tests. If you could pass the 13 WPM test you didn’t have to take the 5 WPM test. Or if you could pass the 20 WPM test then you didn’t have to take the 5 WPM or 13 WPM tests.
I really admire and personally have a deep respect for the ones who got their license back then for they are the True Amateur Radio Operators.
You no longer have to go to an FCC regional office to take an amateur radio test. We now use the Volunteer Examiner (VE) system. A minimum of three certified volunteer examiners can give you any of the tests you want to take. Test sessions are given all the time just about everywhere in the country. You can check the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) website for some testing sessions. You can check with local Amateur Radio clubs to see when they are having test sessions. Most Hamfests (amateur radio flea markets) have test sessions. Search the web, a lot of ham radio sites list when they are having test sessions. Just ask around it should not be difficult to all to find a place to take the tests.