Re: How long does it take?
By: James Goble to all on Fri Jan 30 2026 07:34:04
How long does it typically take to get this license? To become a ham radio that is.
Everybody's different, but a lot of it depends on how you prepare for the ex You can take the all-to-easy way out and memorize the answers, but you won't really learn much, or you can actually study for the exam and really learn w your covering; there's plenty of sources for that.
You don't want to one of those hams who, after getting on the air, ask loads questions that you should've already learned. Hams have little patience for such people.
James,I definitely want to learn something versus memorizing it. Thank you.
How long does it typically take to get this license? To become
a ham radio op that is.
It depends how much time you want to take to study the material.
You can't just walk in off the street without some preparation. You
will be tested on rules, regulations, frequencies, propagation, RF
safety, and electronic theory (including Ohm's Law).
In the United States and its territories, the National Council Of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) generate a Question Pool,
in the public domain, of a set of questions devised by licensed ham
radio operators of these classes:
General -- for the Technician exam
Advanced -- for the Technician or General exam
Amateur Extra -- for the Technician, General, or Amateur Extra exam.
The Question Pools change every 4 years, depending on changes with
rules, technology, etc. There are also schematic diagrams, where you
have to identify certain components. The pools have to contain at
least 10 times the number of questions on an exam.
The Technician and General exam have 35 questions, and the Amateur
Extra exam has 50 questions. So at minimum, if you decide to go for
all 3 in one sitting (it can be done, but it's not easy), you have
a minimum of 1200 questions (multiple choice) to know...and the total
could be over 1700 questions.
I personally recommend HamTestOnline (hamradiolicenseexam.com).
While a fee based course (6 month subscription), they offer a money
back guarantee if you fail the exam. Back in 2007, in studying 2
hours a day for 2 weeks (you will burn out if you do any more than
that), I went from Technician to General in 14 days, and from General
to Amateur Extra 13 days later.
They cover not only the questions, but the concepts...so you are
learning something, and not just memorizing answers. When you get to
80 percent studying, start taking practice tests. When you start
scoring 85 percent or better on a regular basis, you are ready to
take the exam, and will likely pass.
Yet, as noted above, if after adequate study and practice tests,
you still fail the exam, send them proof of the failure, and they
will cancel your subscription, and refund your money.
With "internet radio" (for those like myself with medical/health
issues, or for those with antenna prohibitions), you can still talk
to hams around the world with just a Technician Class license.
Daryl Stout, N5VLZ, Volunteer Examiner Team Leader
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock Ham Radio Club
... Do you, Ham, take Radio, to be your lawfully wedded spouse??
Do you get a cutback from these guys? If not, I think you
should mention the free alternative, hamstudy.org.
No, but I preferred the concept of learning something, and not
just memorizing answers.
I definitely want to learn something versus memorizing it.
Thank you.
That's great, but you saying that doesn't make hamstudy.org
only for memorization. It explains all the questions and
answers. Being so dismissive, I kinda doubt you've ever looked
at it.
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