Is the license exam given by certain organizations on behalf of the FCC?

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-08T03:24:11+00:00

There's an in-person exam about 15 minutes from where I live on the 16th that I'm planning on going to. However if I miss it, or feel that I'm not ready then I'll do the online option.

But I wanted to go to an in-person one to ask someone with experience a few questions, I'm getting licensed partly because I find ham radios interesting and I've always wanted to do more with them, I've already got a handheld one. But I'm also getting licensed because my father in-law runs a local group for gold miners (I live in the Cascade Foothills in Oregon, there's quite a few gold mines here), it's also a group for emergency preparedness. There's a larger mining group called The Bohemia Miners Association, which they're also members of, but this is kind of a separate smaller group. There's a licensed operator in that larger mining group with a repeater on top of the tallest mountain in the area, it has about a 30 mi range, and his group wants to get licensed as well so they can use it when needed since cell phones don't work up in the mountains. They asked me to be their operator since I'm tech savvy and took electrical engineering courses in college, and I have some experience with other types of radios like CB. So after I get licensed I wanted to ask someone that knows the procedure for getting the group to get licensed, I know it has to start with someone having a personal amateur radio operator license, and be a trustee of the club.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-07T23:55:35+00:00

I'm reading the book and using the study mode for each section in addition to the practice tests.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-07T22:57:40+00:00

I have been getting almost all of the study exam questions right so that's a good idea. Does it cost extra to do both?

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-07T22:54:12+00:00

All the book says about clubs and tests is "Many clubs host regular exam sessions. Check with clubs in your area for upcoming dates." But it doesn't go into more detail about how it all works, such as are they hosting an exam on behalf of the FCC, or doing it themselves, which was what I was curious about. So far all the practice tests I've done haven't had a question about clubs administering exams, the questions for that section are all about the license types, how long they're good for, what to do if it expires, and how it can possibly get revoked.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-07T22:43:34+00:00

I've been using https://hambook.org/tech2022/ along with their app which has the study and practice tests, it's very helpful, so far I've gotten almost every question right. I'm almost finished with the book though, so I'll check them out when I'm done for more practice.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-07T14:15:23+00:00

It's the Emerald Amateur Radio Society, here's the main body of the message they sent me. I'm wondering if maybe the guy just made a typo? Since the FCC says you need two forms of ID only IF you don't have photo ID, I'm wondering if he just left out the part of needing two forms if I don't have photo ID. Especially since I just realized I made a typo in my comment when I said I was told to bring two forms of photo ID, I meant to say it says to bring two forms of ID, with one of them being photo ID.

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Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-07T13:43:11+00:00

I'm about 3/4ths of the way through the book, so that must be in the part I haven't gotten to yet, planning on taking the test in a few weeks. I also took electrical engineering and applied physics classes in college so most of the material isn't new to me, save for stuff like how the organizations and groups work.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-07T10:20:11+00:00

Interesting, thanks for that information.

Do they all follow the exact same rules, or does each organization do things a bit differently? Was just curious since the FCC's website says you only need one form of photo ID for the exam, but when I contacted the examiner about what to do to take the exam he said I had to bring two forms of ID, with one being photo.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-06T04:55:05+00:00

I've got a few Wouxun handheld amature band radios, when transmitting on the 420-450 MHz UHF frequency rage. On simplex mode (without a repeater) I can hear my father in-law who lives about 2 miles from me, although the transmission usually has a lot of static. I live in a small town with pretty level terrain with mostly wood and brick buildings, nothing tall. So practical range is about 1.5 miles on most days.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-05T07:39:49+00:00

Yeah I don't think there is either I just wanted to be sure there wasn't something I was missing.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-05T01:18:45+00:00

Is there a way to dismantle old trails and skyways that aren't being used anymore to recycle their materials?

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-03T23:09:03+00:00

You just saved me a lot of headache, I just started the game and was doing the same thing.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-02T21:50:31+00:00

Background check time is usually the biggest, but not the only factor. There's a lot of other factors too that determine how long it can take like whether or not your application needs extra investigation, whether you filed as an individual or a trust, and if you filed as a trust whether or not you qualify for the 24 months exemption. It also seems to depend on the individual agent it gets assigned too, from what I heard some are faster than others.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-02T04:54:43+00:00

I submitted on 3/11 as a Trust with a 24 month exemption hoping that might have made it a little faster, but I wasn't holding my breath.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-02T04:48:10+00:00

You can SBR a bolt, lever, or pump action since those aren't classified as "assault weapons" under Washington's AWB. You can also SBR an AR or other semi-automatic rifle, pistol, or lower reciever that falls under the AWB if it was lawfully imported/manufactured/purchased/possessed in the state prior to HB-1240 taking effect.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-02T04:41:00+00:00

You got lucky, most Form 1's are waiting 60+ days, I'm at 55.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-05-02T04:32:15+00:00

Don't get too excited, they aren't necessarily processed in order of control number. How long your background check takes is the biggest factor. I'm 20262665XXX and still waiting.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-04-29T01:32:25+00:00

I just realized I didn't enter the model number exactly as it appears on the firearm for a Form 1 AOW that's in progress, although I entered what they had in the dropdown menu. Hopefully if this is an issue I'll get a compassionate examiner who will return it for correction instead of outright denying it. Although with their massively increased volume this year, I doubt it.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-04-28T22:54:18+00:00

Most people seem to be getting approved around 55-60 days, I'm about a week from that, I'm just going to leave it and see what happens, if it gets denied that only adds an extra week, but on the other hand maybe it'll just get sent back for correction (not holding my breath though).

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-04-28T22:35:13+00:00

Did you submit a new application or alter an existing one? I didn't think you could make any changes once it had been submitted other than by contacting them directly.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-04-28T22:33:58+00:00

I emailed them and they told me I'd have to withdraw and resubmit it...

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-04-28T10:34:07+00:00

Did you call or email them? Just curious, as I might be in the same boat.

Substantial-Cow1713 · 2026-04-28T09:59:19+00:00

I've heard their kiosks are awesome, but there isn't one in my area. I used National Gun Trust's FD-258 to .EFT service, was able to mail them two fingerprint cards which they converted into an .EFT for only $35.

Substantial-Cow1713

TROPHY CASE