WELCOME TO THE MOST EFFICIENT AND TRUSTED EXAMINATION PROCESS
AVAILABLE FOR AMATEUR RADIO LICENSING!
Exam Fee
Kindly Submit Your $15 Exam Fee Using A Link Below
Unfortunately, Registrations Received Without Being Funded Are Cancelled 24 Hours Later
Federal Registration Number (FRN)
As you register for your exam at HamStudy.org, NEW applicants will apply for, and immediately receive an FCC FRN. This is a required on your application for your NEW license. Current license holders already have this FRN with their existing Call Sign.
An account at the FCC is needed. Below is a brief video with very specific, simple instructions on you will obtain your FRN. Feel free to register for your FRN in advance by clicking this FCC logo.
Exam Time
Expectations
Although your exam is NEVER timed, so how about we plan on about 20 minutes? We find that our well-prepared applicants typically complete in 7-14 minutes, plus a few more completing electronic documents. Occasionally, technology issues might extend your experience slightly. We are VERY patient as we navigate together, any obstacles (even technology!) in the way of your testing success!
Fun Fact: Most of our exam delays are related to making sure your desk is cleared of paper and additional items. Help us help you, by clearing you test enviroment as best you can in advance! Thanks a ton!
Expect An Email Invitation
In fact, maybe just a text message! We often are ahead of schedule, and you may be invited to test a bit earlier than expected. You're never obligated to join though until your clearly indicated exam time.
Some test related emails occasionally land in Spam/Junk mail folders. Check there for possible misdirected email, ok?
Still no email? Just head to WM7X.net/zoom, and click on "Join Exam Session".
Recording Consent/Room Scan
When joining your meeting you're asked to consent with recording laws. Please remove any sensitive material from your test area that you do not wish to be recorded. A 360 degree scan of your room is needed along with a view of your work surface/desktop you are testing at. You agree to the recording, storage and distribution of video, images and audio from the meeting. Where does it go? Nowhere, unless we stumble upon someone less than honest in their exam, and then it heads straight to the FCC! 🙂
Fun Fact: We have sadly found applicants who attempt to game the system by being less than honest in their exams. In fact, about 5-9 persons yearly. We exercise our due diligence in keeping our hobby as robust as possible by doing what we can to keep those with a "fluid conscience" from entering the airwaves! Some have even had their CURRENT license cancelled, from cheating on an upgrade examination! We take this seriously, and we encourage you too as well.
Sorry, No Physical Calculators
You're welcome to open a calculator app on your computer, that's free from stored memory, or formulas. No calculator app? We will happily direct you to an online version to use during your exam!
Wearable Technology
Communicating with your exam team is easily done with your headset or earbuds, however we will ask you to remove any Headsets / Earbuds / Headphones / Smart Watches, just prior to starting your exam.
NCVEC 605 Application
Once registered, your information is populated into a NCVEC Form 605. Your exam team will guide you on applying your electronic signature to this document. Your name must match between your FRN or existing Call Sign, and the 605.
This is the application that we will submit on your behalf to the FCC. New license applicant? Once the FCC receives your 605 application, you receive an email from the Commission with instructions on how to pay your $35 application fee.
One Monitor Or Screen
Please remove, turn around, or cover additional screens or monitors that are within your field of view. A simple sweatshirt or bath towel works great for covering screens. During your exam, please concentrate on only your exam, trying not to allow your vision or gaze to drift away from your own testing screen for too long.
Fun Fact: A very handy place to test uninterrupted is actually your bathroom, really! A smaller area, with minimal electronic distractions that works nicely for your exam environment. Plus, you can brush and floss before your test!
Test Alone and Unassisted
*Applicants under the age of 18 may have a parent or legal guardian present during the exam.*
Please carve out ample time away from others to complete your exam. Once your exam begins, kindly remain on camera.
Your exam team understands that dogs bark, doorbells ring and young kids ask for snacks. Cats even walk across work areas that THEY are letting you use for your test! Life happens, and we are most understandable! Just ensure that your exam is free from any suspicion from exchange of information, and that you are clearly testing unassisted.
Remove any books, magazines, notes, posters, or test material from your view and reach.
Can I take more than One Exam?
Heck ya, absolutely! Your exam fee covers all the exam elements you can pass. Should you fall short on an element, an additional exam fee is needed to continue though.
In fact, we have had many applicants pass all 3 exams, one after the other, all for the single exam fee. So, if you would like to challenge the next exam element, simply ask your test team.
NOTE: Our experience shows that if you have not studied for the next test, success rates are extremely poor. So keep studying, and prepare for the elements you would like to tackle next!
Photo
Identification
"License and Registration Please?"
How about some ID? Your Government Issued Photo ID will work nicely, so be ready to display it to your exam team. Some webcams have difficulty focusing, so we might even ask you email or text a picture of it to your team. We never retain your ID, and it's discarded once verified.
Alternatively, a Birth Certificate, Accredited School ID, Passport etc, can also be used to verify your identity to your exam team. Non-standard ID? Please ask ahead of time if it qualifies!
Youth? Under 13 Years Old?
This is our highlight! Youth entering the hobby! The Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) though, requires parents or guardians of applicants UNDER the age of 13, to complete a COPPA form. Please have your parent or legal guardian download and complete this form as part of the registration process at HamStudy.org Please email this completed from to coppa@examtools.org as well as stephen@wm7x.net
Scratch Paper?
Sure!
Your exam team allows a single piece of scratch paper. Your paper is verified to be clear prior to your exam. If it is used, your team will briefly peek at it at end of exam. Alternatively, also allowed is the use a cleared on-screen notepad.
Device Preparations
Video and Audio must function on the device you are testing on. Occasionally, a second device is needed if technology issues arise.
Mac user? To accommodate screen sharing, you will need to allow Zoom to record your screen in your Privacy & Security Settings. Don't worry, we will talk you through this, easy peasy.
Solid internet is required, plugged in ethernet preferred. If using wireless, ensure good signal strength to your router.
Charge 'em up, or make sure they're plugged in ok?
If your device or Zoom fails during an exam, it's not the end of the world! It happens to us too, really! We simply get you back into the meeting, load up a brand new test, and you are off and running once again!
Install
Zoom
It is recommended that you navigate to Zoom.us and install the desktop client. Trust us, your exam experience is much better with Zoom installed. Navigate to https://Zoom.us and under the 'Resources' tab, please click on "Download the Zoom App"and install Zoom Workplace. There is no need to setup an account, simply download the program.
Want to test Zoom out? Reach out to me so you and I can test it together, well ahead of your exam time.
Actively Running
Applications
To ensure exam integrity, we ask you to close non-essential applications. These are not limited to Mail, Messaging, Alerts, Teams, Teamviewer, Discord, Steam, VNC, Remote Desktops, etc.
Your team will examine briefly with you, your device for the presence of these running apps. Kindly follow their short instructional queries as they help you prepare your computer.
We are expecting only Zoom, a Web Browser and a Calculator being active.
Special Needs/Requests
What considerations you might you need to be successful in your exam? Our team is well aware of the special needs some have, and we are happy to offer reasonable accommodations for you to complete your exam. We have provisions for sight impaired applicants as well!
Please reach out ahead of your exam to communicate with us.
Simple Clear Instructions
It's a simple website! Yup, if you have browsed a website before, you're in a familiar enviroment! We respect your time, and will help you through this quickly. Your team has administered many thousands of exams and offers you everything you need to know about your test. Following their easy instructions on navigating your exam will make this a breeze!
Occasionally, we're even Technical Support Agents, assisting you in preparing your computer to test! Our motivation is that you receive the simplest experience you can have with our team. We are honored that you have chosen us to be part of your Amateur Radio journey!
Exam Score Fell A
Tad Short?
No worries, really! Learning is a journey, not an ending! This is still time to celebrate, just look at the amount of answers you answered correctly!
Simply decide if you would like to re-test immediately, submiting an additional exam fee payment to take another swing at it! Remember, focus on your success and build upon it. If you decide to study more and return to another session, we would be happy to administer your next attempt too.
Never give up, and don't be discouraged! Brush up on your studies and knock it outta the park next time, ok?
It's Time To Celebrate!
Exam scores are immediately displayed! Falling short, and wishing to retest will require an additional exam fee. After passing, you will be guided on the completion of documents and gather your electronic signature. Sign using your mouse, stylus or touchpad!
You are promptly emailed your Completion of Successful Completion of Exam (CSCE). Retain this document as proof of having passed your exam. Your exam team then handles all of your paperwork, submitting application docs to the FCC on your behalf.
Great job! Now time to relax and enjoy the moment, we are absolutely proud of you, and you should be yourself. Now start satudying for the next exam element!
Can't wait to hear you on the air!
© 2024 Stephen C Hutchings All Rights Reserved.