Become A Ham

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Become a Ham
Getting your amateur radio license is easier than you think — three license classes, multiple-choice exams, and no Morse code requirement. DFMA members are ready to help you every step of the way.
3
License classes

35 / 35 / 50
Questions — Tech / General / Extra

74%
Passing score — all classes

$0
DFMA first year — new hams free

The three license classes
Technician
Start here
Your entry point into amateur radio. Technician gives you full VHF/UHF privileges — repeaters, local nets, APRS, satellites, and more. Most Triangle hams start on 2 meters and never look back.

35-question exam drawn from a published question pool. You can take Technician and General the same day at a single session. Study time: a few evenings to a few weeks depending on your background.

General
Upgrade for HF
General adds HF privileges — worldwide contacts on most of the shortwave bands. This is where ham radio opens up dramatically. Many hams upgrade within their first year.

35-question exam. Take it the same day as your Technician exam and walk out with General privileges in a single session. No FCC fee for upgrades — only new licenses and renewals incur the $35.

Amateur Extra
Full privileges
Extra class gives you access to all amateur frequencies and sub-bands, including the most coveted DX segments on HF. The exam is harder but the material makes you a better operator.

50-question exam. You can sit for all three exams the same day if you’re ready — 120 questions total and you walk out an Extra. No FCC fee for upgrades.

Study for your exam
Recommended free resources
Best overall study tool
HamStudy.org
Flashcard-based study with spaced repetition, full practice exams, and performance tracking. Works great on mobile. DFMA’s top recommendation — it knows when you’re ready.

Practice exams
HamExam.org
Generates realistic practice exams from the official question pool. Good for timed run-throughs in the final days before your test session.

Official question pools
ARRL Question Pools
Download the complete pool as a PDF. Every question on your exam comes from this published list — nothing is hidden.

Current pool dates
Class Questions Pool valid through
Technician 35 Jun 30, 2026 ⚠ changing Jul 1
General 35 Jun 30, 2027
Extra 50 Jun 30, 2028
Heads up — Technician pool changes July 1, 2026. If you’re studying now, make sure your materials match the pool you’ll be tested on. HamStudy updates automatically on the changeover date.
ARRL study books
The ARRL publishes official license manuals for all three classes — thorough and well-illustrated. Available at the ARRL Store or Amazon. Not required — many people pass with HamStudy alone — but useful if you want to understand the material rather than just memorize it.

Take the exam
In-person sessions near Durham
DFMA and OCRA jointly run VE sessions at the Efland Baha’i Center in Efland, NC. Walk-in testing for all license classes — Technician, General, and Extra. Bring a valid photo ID and your FCC Registration Number (FRN).

Fees: $15 exam session fee paid to the VE team on the day. If you pass a new license (not an upgrade), the FCC will email you a separate $35 application fee link — you have 10 days to pay it online before the license is issued.

Find an exam session →

First-timers: you need an FRN before you can sit for the exam. See the section below — it takes about 5 minutes.

Online testing
Prefer to test from home? Several VEC organizations now offer remote proctored exams via video call. Good option if your schedule makes it hard to get to an in-person session.
Remote proctored
HamStudy Remote Sessions
Laurel VEC sessions via HamStudy — no exam session fee. The FCC’s $35 application fee still applies if this is your first license or a renewal. Upgrading from Technician to General or Extra? No FCC fee for upgrades. Runs on most computers with a webcam.

Before you test — get your FRN
The FCC requires a Registration Number (FRN) before you can receive an amateur license. You’ll need it at the exam session. It’s free and takes about 5 minutes to set up through the FCC’s CORES system.
  1. 1
    Go to FCC CORES and click Register.
  2. 2
    Fill in your name, address, and contact info. Use your legal name exactly as it should appear on your license. A valid email address is mandatory — the FCC uses it to send your license and the $35 payment link.
  3. 3
    Submit — your FRN is assigned immediately. Write it down or save the confirmation email. Bring it to your exam session.
Your CORES address is separate from your license address. After you pass, update your address directly in ULS — changes in CORES do not automatically carry over to your license.
After you pass
The VEC submits your exam results to the FCC. You’ll receive an email from the FCC with a link to pay the $35 application fee — pay within 10 days or your application will be dismissed. After payment the FCC issues your license, usually within 24–48 hours.

You can transmit as soon as your call sign appears in the FCC ULS database — you do not need to wait for a paper copy.

Look yourself up at QRZ.com or the FCC ULS to confirm. Set a calendar reminder for 90 days before your 10-year expiration date so renewal doesn’t sneak up on you.

Need to renew later? See our How to Renew Your FCC License guide.

New hams — free!
Your first year with the DFMA is on us. Come to a meeting, get on the repeater, and introduce yourself on the Thursday net. We were all new once. Sign up here →

Questions? Email us or show up to any DFMA meeting — we’re happy to point you in the right direction. No license required to attend.

Contact Us →
Upcoming Meetings →

Durham's Ham Radio Club