Ken Chan

Getting an Amateur Radio License in USA

I recently got my amateur radio license in the USA. I thought I would just pen down my thoughts and the process I went through, since I don't find many detailed posts about this (I've tried searching).

ChatGPT Image Mar 30, 2025, 06_00_02 PM

Why Get a Ham Radio License?

You might want to receive and transmit radio signals on the amateur radio spectrum. This is particularly helpful if you are looking to launch a satellite space station that sends telemetry data. It also offers a personal challenge if you enjoy learning new skills.

Pre-Requisites

You will need an individual FCC Registration Number (FRN). This is required to ensure that your amateur radio license is registered to you personally.

Steps Before Signing Up for the Amateur Ham Radio License Exam

  1. Visit FCC's CORES and create an account with your email.
  2. After creating your account, register for an FRN as an individual. It is crucial not to register as a corporation because amateur ham radio licences must be attached to an individual.
  3. Study for the test. You must choose between three exam classes: Technician, General, or General+Extra. I did the Technician class, because it allows me to transmit UHF signals.

Signing Up for the Test

  1. You can find exam sessions at hamstudy.org. If you want to do a remote exam, many providers offer remote sessions via Zoom. I personally took my exam with WM7X, they are super nice and helpful!
  2. If you choose WM7X, they may request payment through PayPal, CashApp, or Zelle. You will also schedule your test time with them.
  3. At the assigned time, simply attend your session. Make sure your surroundings are tidy, with no notes or phone within reach. They will ask you to use your camera to show the area, and you may need to cover a monitor with a towel. You should also close all other applications except your browser and Zoom.
  4. The exam itself will be held on examtools.org. You will receive 35 questions, and you must score at least 26 out of 35 to pass.
  5. After passing, you will go through some formalities to receive your callsign. Once that is complete, you are officially an amateur ham radio licensee.

Study Tips

  1. I pursued the Technician class license. You can find a document containing the entire question pool. What I did was create a project in ChatGPT with these instructions:

    "I am studying for the Technician class exam for amateur ham radio. I will ask questions from the Technician question pool attached. The answers are stated next to the question heading 'T1A01 © [97.1]'. The answer for this is C."

  2. I started by learning each sub-element. I would say: "Teach me about sub-element 1", then ask ChatGPT to quiz me. I would tell it:

    - Give me all the questions along with the choices, without the answers. I will attempt to answer these questions.

- Give me the answer sheet in this format (without the answers, this is for me to copy and paste):

1. 
2. 
3. 
...

- After I have answered, walk me through every question and answer, pointing out if I got it wrong.

  3. I would keep revising until I could consistently score 90% for each sub-element. This involves rote memorisation, but it still requires a basic understanding so that you can handle questions you might not remember well.

These are the essential steps for preparing for the ham radio exam, from getting your FRN to studying effectively and signing up for the test. With a bit of dedication, you can soon explore the amateur radio spectrum~