The FCC released a Public Notice on March 23, 2022, stating that the amateur radio application fees,
including those associated with Form 605 application filings, are effective April 19, 2022. The Federal
Communications Commission's authority to impose and collect fees is mandated by Congress. See
additional details under FEES below.
Registration at the HamXposition is not required - just show up prepared for the exam, along with the items listed below!
What to Bring
1.MANDATORY BEFORE THE EXAM FCC Registration Number (FRN): Examinees are required by the FCC to submit their FRN with their 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 is 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 to receive FCC correspondence, including the official copy of your Amateur Radio license. 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. ARRL will reimburse the one-time FCC application fee for new license candidates younger than 18-years old for tests administered under the ARRL VEC program. Candidates younger than 18-years old pay a reduced exam session fee of $5 to the ARRL VEC VE team at the time of the exam. Visit the Youth Licensing Grant Program web page for more information and for the reimbursement instructions. Minor children (under the age of 18) may be accompanied in the room by an adult during the test. 5. Current licensed people should 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 required to show proof of the current license to the team. 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 the 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 $15 Fee ($5 for under 18) 9. Be aware that some information about you, including felony conviction status, will be made publicly available on the FCC website. Details about this can be found on the ARRL's licensee privacy page. All applicants must answer the Basic Qualification Question (felony conviction status question) on the 605 Form at the exam session. Applicants that answer "YES" for the question must follow the prescribed FCC procedures: FCC qualification question instructions. Forms: The form VEC 605 necessary for application is available on-site. Any existing original licenses or Certificates of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) and copies of each to accompany the current application must be brought with you. General: Non programmable calculators are allowed; cell phone calculators are NOT allowed. Scratch paper and writing utensils will be provided. The applicants are required to observe proper decorum, so as not to disturb other applicants.
FCC $35 Amateur Application Fees Effective April 19, 2022 The FCC released a Public Notice on March 23, 2022, stating that the amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, are effective April 19, 2022. The Federal Communications Commission's authority to impose and collect fees is mandated by Congress. The $35 application fee applies to new, renewal, and modification applications that request a new vanity call sign. The fee will be per application. Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, and modification and applications to upgrade an amateur radio licensee’s operator class, will be exempt from fees. New applicants will pay the $15 ($5 for under 18) exam session fee to the ARRL VE team as usual and pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC by using the CORES FRN Registration system. VEC and VE team licensing procedures will not change. When the FCC receives the examination information from the VEC, it will email a link with payment instructions to each qualifying candidate. The candidate will have 10 calendar days, from the date of the application file number being issued, to pay. After the fee is paid, and the FCC has processed an application, examinees will receive a second email from the FCC with a link to their official license or, in very rare instances, an explanation for why the application was dismissed or denied. The link will be valid for 30 days. Per usual procedures, examinees that pass multiple exams at one session, will have one application transmitted to the FCC reflecting the highest-level license class earned. Again, our procedures will not change. The new license candidates will have an extra step before the license is issued. VE teams can point candidates to our FCC Application Fee webpage. Our new ARRL VEC CSCEs also include information about the application fee and points candidates to the webpage. The FCC rule pertaining to CSCEs will not change. CSCE credit will continue to be valid for 365 days, starting from the date of issuance. Additionally, the FCC stated that the fee for applications processed and dismissed will not be refundable. This includes vanity requests where the applicant does not receive the requested call sign. However, returned applications that are missing information will not require an additional fee, if the missing information is submitted to the FCC within the proper amount of time.