Radio Classes and Exams

The Arlington Amateur Radio Club offers amateur radio licensing classes from time to time, based on expressed interest.

There are three levels of amateur radio licenses - Technician class, General class, and Amateur Extra class.

The classes are free but there is a nominal cost for the textbook.

Email exam@w4wvp.org for any questions about amateur radio classes.

The Arlington Amateur Radio Club offers in-person amateur radio exams for Technician class, General class, and Amateur Extra class on the first Sunday of each month at 12:00 PM, with occasional exceptions such as holidays.

Our Volunteer Examiner (VE) Team is affiliated with, and accredited by, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Volunteer Examiner Coordinator ARRL-VEC, the W5YI Volunteer Examiner Coordinator W5YI-VEC , and the Laurel Volunteer Examiner Coordinator Laurel-VEC.

The Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VEC) are authorized to administer amateur radio operator license exams on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission. (FCC).

We offer both tradional paper & pencil examinations and electronic examinations taken on a computer tablet provided to you for the test.

If you wish to take the traditional paper exam, you may walk-in and fill out the test paperwork prior to the exam.

If you wish to take the electronic exam, please pre-register for the exam by visiting our computer tablet test page.

The amateur radio exam fee is $15.00 - cash only - payable to the examiners.

The FCC license fee is $35.00, payable directly to the Federal Communication Commission, after you have passed your exam and prior to the issuance of your amateur radio license.

Pre-registration for the exam session is preferred, but walk-ins are allowed.

You may take more than one exam per test session.

After you have passed your initial exam, you may take the next higher level exam for the same exam fee.

If you do not pass your initial exam and wish to re-test, you will have to pay another exam fee.

You must have a FCC Registration Number (FRN) prior to taking any amateur radio exam - no FRN, no exam.

* All examinees - must bring a government issued photo ID.

* All examinees - must bring your FCC Registration Number (FRN).

* All examinees - must provide the FCC a valid postal address.

* All examinees - must provide the FCC a valid email address.

* Examinees sitting for an upgraded license - must bring an "Official Copy", printed from the FCC web site, of your current amateur radio license.

* Bring a pencil and a blue or black pen - use the pen for filling out the registration forms and use the pencil for answering the exam questions.

* You may use a plain, non-memory, calculator while taking the exam to assist with math equations.

Exams are held at 12:00 PM at the following location:

American Legion Post 130
400 N Oak St
Falls Church VA 22046

2024 exam dates:

Sunday January 7, 2024

Sunday February 4, 2024

Sunday March 10, 2024 ( 10 AM at VWS Winterfest hamfest - Oakton High School 2900 Sutton Road Vienna, VA 22181 )

Sunday April 7, 2024

Sunday May 5, 2024

Sunday June 2, 2024

Sunday June 23, 2024 ( 12 PM at Field Day site - 100 Boundary Channel Drive Arlington, VA 22202 )

Sunday July 7, 2024

Sunday August 11, 2024

Sunday September 8, 2024

Sunday October 6, 2024

Saturday October 19, 2024 ( 12 PM at Jamboree-on-the-Air site - Columbia Island Marina Washington, DC 20037 )

Sunday November 3, 2024

Sunday December 8, 2024

    
    
2025 amateur radio exam dates:

Sunday January 5, 2025

Sunday February 2, 2025

Sunday March 9, 2025  ( 10 AM at VWS Winterfest hamfest - Oakton High School 2900 Sutton Road Vienna, VA 22181 ) 

Sunday April 6, 2025

Sunday May 4, 2025

Sunday June 1, 2025

Sunday June 28, 2025 ( 12 PM at Field Day site - 100 Boundary Channel Drive Arlington, VA 22202 )

Sunday July 13, 2025

Sunday August 10, 2025

Sunday September 7, 2025

Sunday October 5, 2025

Saturday October 19, 2025 ( 12 PM at Jamboree-on-the-Air site - Columbia Island Marina Washington, DC 20037 )

Sunday November 2, 2025

Sunday December 7, 2025

Email exam@w4wvp.org for any questions about amateur radio exams.

The Arlington Amateur Radio Club offers exams for all levels of commercial radio operator licenses which are required to adjust, repair, and maintain aviation and marine radiotelephone transmitters.

The following in-person commercial radio operator license exams are offered on a quarterly basis and by request, with pre-registration required.

Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RR) (RL), Marine Radio Operator Permit (MP), General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG), GMDSS Radio Operator's License (DO) (RG), GMDSS Radio Maintainer's License (DM), GMDSS Radio Operator/Maintainer License (DB), Radiotelegraph Operator License (T), Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate (T1) (T2) (T3), and Ship Radar Endorsement.

Our Commercial Examiner (CE) Team is affiliated with, and accredited by, the National Radio Examiners (NRE) , one of the Commercial Operator License Examination Managers (COLEM).

The Commercial Operator License Examination Manager (COLEM) is authorized to administer commercial radio operator license exams on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The cost of the commercial radio exam is $50.00 for the first two exam elements and $25.00 for each additional exam element taken.

Upon succesful completion of the exam elements required for a commercial radio operator license, our exam team will issue one or more Proof of Passing Certificates (PPC) and the NRE COLEM will electronically file for a FCC commercial radio operator license on your behalf.

Email exam@w4wvp.org for any questions about commercial radio exams.

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