| DFWLIST.ORG | Dallas - Fort Worth Texas Area Amateur Radio VE
Testing and FCC Commercial Operator License Testing Information |
|---|---|
| DFW Session List | Amateur License | Commercial License | F A Q s |
| Amateur Radio Questions | |
|---|---|
| Q: | I had a Novice license that is long since expired. But, it looks like my 5 wpm morse code qualification is still valid. Is that correct? |
| A: | As of 2/23/07 - Morse Code Test or Credit No Longer Required |
| Q: | I'd like to take both the Technician Class and General Class exams at the same time, is there any problem with me taking both tests the same morning? |
| A: | No problem at all, you can take element 2, 3, and 4 at the same setting for the single fee. If you fail an element, you can even try again if the VEs allow retests, but there will be a second fee. |
| Q: | Looks like the upcoming session is at a different location, is there a map, and what time is the test? |
| A: | Visit my webpage at http://www.dfwlist.org It has links to Google Maps for many session locations as well as test session times. Since I help at DARC, IARC and PARK sessions, I know the information is current for these sessions. |
| Q: | If I pass my exam for a new ham license, how much is the FCC fee. |
| A: | The exam fee you paid covers your application processing too. The FCC does
not charge an application fee for new or renewed ham licenses. But the FCC
does charge a fee for "vanity callsign" applications and renewals Some VECs may offer license renewal for a fee as a convenience, or reminder that your license is about to expire. You can always renew on www.fcc.gov yourself for no charge. |
| Q: | I passed my exam a week ago but have not found my license on the FCC license search. Why is it late? |
| A: | The FCC has a 10 working day goal to grant licenses. This is a GOAL,
they can actually take up to the full 365 days the CSCE is valid. Count your lucky stars if you took your exam Saturday and your license is in the FCC database Monday. Your VE team, VEC, and FCC did a lot of paperwork correctly in a short period of time. Do be patient when it doesn't work that well. |
| Q: | What else delays applications? |
| A: | Errors in your application require correction before continuing. Federal holidays and vacation schedules, especially first two weeks of July, add to processing. FCC computer problems can shut down all processing indefinitly. |
| Q: | I lost my CSCE, how can I get a replacement? |
| A: | Are you sure you need it? Under the new rules, there are three licenses and three exams, so as you pass an exam, you move to the next class. Most get their new license in a week or so, and that license represents the credits you passed. In only two cases would you need a CSCE. You are upgrading at a session in the week or so before your new license arrived, or somehow you passed elements out-of-order. The only other credit document would be a pre 3/21/1987 tech license for element 3. Contact the VE team where you received the CSCE, they can make a copy of their copy of your CSCE. |
| Q: | I have held a Technician Class license since 04/11/80 and was wondering what I need to do to upgrade to the General Class license. |
| A: | You might be ka5xxx, but online, I can only find a
tech issued 5/28/91 expired 5/28/01 and current license issued 7/3/01 expires
7/3/11. You will need a copy of any of your tech licenses issued before
3/21/87. To upgrade you need: 1. photocopy of pre 87 tech license, 2. photocopy of your current license, 3. $14 test session fee, and 4. photo id Go to any ve test session for a "pre87 tech element 3 credit " upgrade to general class. Same time & fee you can take the extra exam, correctly answer 37 of the 50 questions to upgrade to extra. The question pools are on the ARRL webpage. If you don't have a copy of your pre-87 license, find one of the following: A photocopy of a callbook page showing your listing, callsign, license class, and date of the callbook (any between 1980 - 1986). Or send a letter to the FCC requesting proof of licensing of technician class before 3/21/87. Or buy a copy of callbook page from QCWA or ARRL. |
| Q: | I have the 5 minute code credit and the General test passed, it was my understanding that I just need to provide pre-1987 evidence of a tech licence to a VE. |
| A: | Morse code and code credit is no longer
required for ANY ham license. A ve test session requires 3 ves to be present to do the paperwork. You can find dates and times on my webpage at dfwlist.org. There are many test sessions each month in the Dallas Ft Worth area. |
| Q: | Thanks again for your time today administering the test.(Saturday) |
| A: |
Thanks, appreciate your comment and will share it with our ve team. Your application was entered in the W5YI-VEC computer at 14:07 today and should be filed with the FCC computer Monday. License grants usually show up Monday afternoon or evening. You can do a license search by name (last, first) at:
http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp and start operating as soon as your license and callsign is granted. Serving as a ve is our way of contributing to a great hobby, hope you enjoy the many facets of ham radio. |
| Commercial Radio Questions | |
| Q: | Accept this email as a call-in-advance for the NRE test session, I plan to take commercial elements 1, 3, and 8. |
| A: | Email is a great way to let us know you wish to take the commercial license exams. And no risk I'll loose the used envelope I wrote your name and phone number on when you called ;-) |
| Q: | I want to take element 1 for a 5-year MROP license. |
| A: | If you anticipate needing other commercial licenses, keep in mind that for the same $35 fee, you may ALSO take the element 3, OR element 7 exam. Element 1 and 3 will qualify you for a lifetime GROL license. Element 1 and 7 will qualify you for a 5-year GMDSS/O license. |
| Q: | I called several numbers on dfwlist to take my GROL exam tomorrow, but they said they do not do GROL testing. |
| A: |
The DFWlist.org [Session List] is a list of area test sessions offered by accredited
Volunteer Examiner teams for Amateur Radio (ham) licenses, such as the technician,
general, and extra class. The FCC established Commercial Operator License Examination Managers to administer exams for FCC Commercial Licenses. The COLE Manager program was based on the sucessful Amateur VE progam, but the two programs are and must be independent. Each of the nine Cole Managers set their own fees and schedules, and it can be difficult comparing testing opportunities. DFWlist.org [Commercial Radio] provides general information on commercial licensing. NRE allows our team to offer COLE exams after, or independent of our ham VE exams. Many hams work in the communications field, with COLE we can offer convenient testing for any FCC issued operator license. I tinted the [Commercial Radio] page to help differential it from Amateur Radio information. |