Amateur Radio Resources, Study & FCC Steps

Use these links to learn, prepare for an amateur radio license, find a session, complete FCC steps, and connect with amateur-radio organizations. External sites own their schedules, instructions, availability, and fees; check them again before you act.

Learn and study

ARRL — The National Association for Amateur Radio (external)— advocacy, operating information, education, and amateur radio news.
ARRL: Getting licensed (external)— an official amateur-radio licensing introduction, including Technician, General, and Extra study paths.
HamStudy.org (external) — free study tools and practice exams for all three current U.S. license classes.
Ham Radio School (external) — Stu Turner’s study-guide and course site.
Stu Turner books on Amazon (external)— a source for current printed study material. Confirm the edition matches the question pool you plan to take.

Get your FCC Registration Number (FRN) before the exam

An FRN is your 10-digit identifier for FCC transactions. Obtain one before your test session so the Volunteer Examiners can submit your application. Use only the FCC systems for this step.

Create an FCC Username account (external) with an email address you can access.
Sign in to FCC CORES (external) and choose the option to register a new FRN.
Record the assigned FRN and bring it to the session. Keep your FCC account contact information current.

The FCC’s CORES registration help (external) provides its current instructions and support path.

Take an exam

For an active search, use HamStudy’s exam-session finder (external), which can search in-person and remote sessions.

The Utah Amateur Radio Club test information page (external) is another local reference for test-session information, what to bring, and online-exam options. Confirm all details with the specific session organizer.

Review the “Before you attend” section below and the session organizer’s instructions.

Before you attend

The following details apply to currently posted OARC-sponsored test sessions. Confirm the details for a particular session before making plans.

Walk-ins are not allowed — pre-registration is required.
Fill out an NCVEC Form 605 ahead of time. It is fillable, so type your information on a computer and print it rather than completing it by hand at the session.
Cost: $14.00, cash only.
Bring two forms of ID, one of which must be a picture ID.
For upgrades, bring your current license, a copy of it, and any CSCEs.
The test fee is charged once no matter how many elements you take at a session. Re-tests of a failed element at the same session require an additional fee.
Most calculators are allowed; calculator memories must be cleared before use.

Also review the ARRL exam-day checklist (external) and the instructions from your specific session organizer.

After your exam: FCC license and call sign

After a successful exam, the Volunteer Examiner team submits your result through its VEC. Follow any FCC instructions sent for your application, including any action or fee shown there. Do not transmit until the FCC has granted your license and it appears in the official record.

FCC ULS license search (external) — check the official public license record.
FCC ULS License Manager (external) — sign in with your FCC credentials to manage an Amateur Radio Service license.
FCC Amateur Radio Service information (external) — official service information and rules.

After that: explore a vanity call sign

Once you hold a granted license, you may be eligible to request an available vanity call sign. Research candidates with QRZ (external), then use FCC ULS License Manager for the actual application. QRZ is a useful reference, but the FCC is the authoritative source for availability, eligibility, and grant status.

Operating and equipment resources

QRZ call-sign lookup (external) — look up an amateur radio call sign.
Signal Stuff (external) — amateur radio antennas, accessories, and support for HamStudy.
Utah VHF Society (external) — Utah repeater, frequency-coordination, and VHF/UHF information.

Neighboring amateur radio clubs

Davis County Amateur Radio Club (external) — Davis County, Utah.
Utah Amateur Radio Club (external) — Salt Lake County, Utah.
Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club (external) — Northern Utah and southern Idaho.

Renew your license

You can renew an amateur radio license for free through the FCC Universal Licensing System License Manager (external).