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Be sure to check with sponsors before going to an examination session. There may be changes and/or errors in the dates or information given. Some examinations require filing an FCC or NCVEC Form 605 and advance registration at least 30 days before the exam date. Some VE teams permit walkins. Check with the sponsor.
Many hamfests and swapfests offer examinations.
A Hamfest entrance fee should not be charged if you come only to attend the
examination. To register in advance, you must get a copy of the current FCC Form
605, and fill it out completely and correctly. Get your form from the FCC as instructed below,
or from the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111. Please send
an SASE if you request a form from the League. FCC Field Offices seldom stock forms. You can
also get a form from
http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html
or
ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/Forms/Form605
A form by FAX is available at (202) 418-0177 (request Form 000605). The FCC Forms Distribution Center will accept orders at (800) 418-3676. Form 605 has a main form, plus a Schedule D with two parts (for Vanity and Physician's Certifications). Forms can also be obtained from the sponsoring group.
See QST, W1AW bulletins, or The ARRL Letter regarding any annual exam fee changes. ARRL/VEC no longer gives a free code test or Element 2. Test fees: The ARRL/VEC has set its 2005 test fee at $15.00. FCC requires applicants to show their original amateur license or CSCE to the VE team. You must also have a good copy of your license or CSCE. A copy of your license or CSCE must be attached to your FCC form 605 and most VE teams need a copy for their records. One good CSCE copy is sufficient. You are also be required to have a photo ID, or two other forms of ID. Contact the VE team for details.
Technician class licensees must show proof of testing before March 21, 1987, in order to upgrade to General with a code test only. Proof must be either in the form of a pre-3/21/87 license document or a "Letter of Verification of Technician License Held Prior to 1987" as requested in writing from the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. For those with internet access, a listing of exam sessions is available from: http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml
By checking this page, you can find registered VE sessions anywhere in the US and some overseas. You can search by country, state or zip code. The listing is not specific to any particular VEC. It is a master database. Thanks to Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, ARRL/VEC.
