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Arlington Amateur Radio Club

Arlington County, Virginia USA

Radio Classes and Exams

Amateur Radio Classes

Ham Levels

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.

Amateur Radio License Exams

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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.

Special exam sessions are held from time to time, based on expressed interest.

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).

Exams are conducted by computer tablet provided to you for the test.

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

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.

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.

Exams are held at 12:00 PM, unless otherwise noted, at the following locations:

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

2026 amateur radio exam dates:

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

Commercial Radio Operator License Exams

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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 successful 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.