Amateur Radio License Exams

The Western Illinois ARC has been sponsoring a VE Testing Team since the FCC first turned the examination responsibilities over to the Amateur Community in the 1980’s. Our team operates under authorization by the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator.

The WIARC Team offers examination sessions a minimum of four times a year, in February, May, August and November. Examination dates are published at the beginning of each calendar year. Additional test sessions may be scheduled as required, often in coordination with the clubs’ annual introductory licensing classes or when other club activities make it desirable.

At this time it is planned that test sessions will be held at the Bethel Assembly of God Church at 12th and Jefferson, Quincy. However, a change in location for any session is always possible due to unforeseen circumstances. Please recheck this page often for the latest information.

Test session dates for 2024

February 10th at 1:00 pm (reg by Feb 8th 8pm*)

May 4th at 1:00 pm (reg by May 2nd 8pm*)

August 10th at 1:00pm (reg by Aug 8th 8pm*)

November 9th at 1:00 pm (reg by Nov 7ht 8pm)

For additional information, or to register for a scheduled test session, call Dave Scranton, W9WE, our team liaison at 210-325-7923.

*Registration is required to guarantee a seat at the session. Walk-in candidates will always be accepted at each session on a space available basis, however, reservations are strongly advised.

Standard policy is that if there are no pre-registered candidates by 8 PM of the Thursday preceding the test date, the session will be cancelled without further notification.

All examiners are volunteers and donate their time and talents to provide the testing service. It is a small courtesy to them for you to register your intention to attend a given session. To do otherwise would require the examiners to go to the testing site and wait to see if any one shows up. If no one walks in to take an exam, then their time has been wasted.

What to bring to an exam

1. MANDATORY BEFORE THE EXAM
FCC Registration Number (FRN): Examinees are required by the FCC to submit your FRN with your license application form.
New license applicants must create an FCC user account and register their Social Security Number (SSN) in the FCC Commission Registration System (CORES) before attending exam sessions.

Registrants will be assigned an FRN which will be used in all license transactions with the FCC. For instructions on how to register your SSN and receive an FRN from the FCC, visit the CORES Registration page and the FCC’s Registration instructions page.
Per FCC rules, a valid email address is also mandatory on the
application form.

2. One legal photo ID (identification):
a. State Driver’s License
b. Government issued Passport
c. Military or Law Enforcement Officer Photo ID card
d. Student School Photo ID card
e. State Photo ID card

3. If no photo ID is available, two forms of identification:
a. Non-photo State ID card (some states still have them)
b. Birth certificate (must have the appropriate seal)
c. Social security card
d. Employer’s wage statement or Minor’s work permit
e. School ID card
f. School or Public Library card
g. Utility bill, bank statement or other business correspondence that specifically names the person; or a postmarked envelope addressed to the person at his or her current mailing address as it appears on the Form 605.

4. Students/minors without a photo ID need to bring only one of the above items if a legal guardian presents their photo ID; otherwise two non-photo IDs are required. Minor children (under the age of 18) may be accompanied in the room by an adult during the test.

5. If applicable, bring a printed copy of your Amateur Radio license or be able to show proof of the license in the official FCC database.
Acceptable copies or printouts of licenses are available from the
following sources: the official license or reference license printed
from the FCC website or license data printed from the ARRL website or QRZ website. The original(s) and photocopy(s) of any Certificates of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) you may hold from previous exam sessions. If your license has already been issued by the FCC, the CSCE showing license credit is not needed. The candidate is require to show proof of the current license to the team but the team is no longer required to submit the proof to the VEC.
Expired license proof must be submitted to the team and to the VEC for processing to FCC. These photocopies will not be returned.
Instructions on how to obtain an official FCC license copy are on
our Obtain License Copy web page.

6. Two number two pencils with erasers and a pen for in-person sessions.

7. A calculator with the memory erased and formulas cleared is allowed.

• You may not bring any written notes or calculations into the exam session.
• Slide rules and logarithmic tables are acceptable, as long as they’re free of notes and formulas.
• Cell phone must be silenced or turned off during the exam session and the phones’ calculator function may not be used.
• In addition, iPhones, iPads, Androids, smartphones, Blackberry devices and all similar electronic devices with a calculator capability, may NOT be used.

8. Bring a check, a money order or cash to cover the exam session fee(s). The ARRL VEC Exam Fee for 2022 is $15.00

9. Be aware that some information about you will be made publicly available on the FCC’s website. FCC Licensee Privacy

Amateur Radio Licensing Classes

WIARC periodically runs licensing classes for initial license and upgrades. We do not have any classes scheduled at the moment. Please check back.