Training & VEC

Information Page

Updated for 2016

The 2016 Exam Schedule

    All of our tests are walk in only !

ARRL Emergency Communications Certifications Exams are also available at our test sessions.

The ARRL VE Exam Fee for 2016 is $15.00
 (for one attempt at all three license elements).

 If a candidate fails an element at an exam session and wants to re-test for the same element,  an additional fee will be required.

Remember to bring a copy of your existing amateur radio license and a picture form of ID with you to a testing session. No copies can be made at the EMA Office.

Questions or additional information can be directed to the Stark County VE Rex Simmons, NX8G. Email to:   nx8g.01@gmail.com.

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NCVEC Announces Release of 2016 Amateur Extra Question Pool  

   (Mar 13, 2016) - -  The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) has released the third revision of the Amateur Extra class (Element 4) question pool that goes into effect on July 1. This revision supplants the Element 4 question pools released on January 8 and February 5 and includes two errata of corrections, modifications, and various editorial changes. The Element 4 question pool diagrams are in a separate document.

“We would like to remind the public that users of question pool documents are free to correct minor typographical or punctuation errors, including obvious minor omissions of same,” the NCVEC Question Pool Committee said in releasing this revision. “Such corrections must not cause a change in the meaning of a question or any of the proposed answers to the questions.”

The QPC notes that FCC Part 97 rule citations are not a part of the exam question itself, but are included for reference purposes, and that errors in or changes to Part 97 are not considered adequate reason to remove a question from the pool.

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    [UPDATED 2015-01-29 1939 UTC] Starting February 17, the FCC no longer will routinely issue paper license documents to Amateur Radio applicants and licensees. The Commission has maintained for some time now that the official Amateur Radio license authorization is the electronic record that exists in its Universal Licensing System (ULS), although the FCC has continued to print and mail hard copy licenses. In mid-December the FCC adopted final procedures to provide access to official electronic authorizations, as proposed in WT Docket 14-161 as part of its “process reform” initiatives.

Under the new procedures, licensees will access their current official authorization (“Active” status only) via the ULS License Manager. The FCC will continue to provide paper license documents to all licensees who notify the Commission that they prefer to receive one. Licensees also will be able to print out an official authorization — as well as an unofficial “reference copy” — from the ULS License Manager. READ MORE...

NCVEC Releases New General Class Question Pool

    (Dec 20, 2014) - -  ARLB022 New Element 3 (General Class) Question Pool Released. 

The Question Pool Committee of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) has released the 2015-2019 Element 3 (General Class) question pool. The new question pool becomes effective for all Element 3 examinations administered on or after July 1, 2015, and it remains valid until June 30, 2019. 

The question pool files are available in PDF, Microsoft Word (.doc), and ASCII text formats. Section G7A requires the use of one illustration, a schematic identified as G7-1. This drawing file is published separately.  Further information can be found on the web at, http://www.arrl.org/news/new-element-3-general-class-question-pool-released

(Dec 12, 2013) -- The ARRL VEC has announced that the NCVEC Question Pool Committee has released the new 2014-2018 Technician Class, Element 2, question pool to the public. This pool will take effect on July 1, 2014, and will remain valid until June 30, 2018.

 (Sept 3, 2014) - -  The FCC has adjusted very slightly downward — to $21.40 — its proposed Amateur Service vanity call sign regulatory fee for Fiscal Year 2014. In a June Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), the Commission said it was planning to hike the current $16.10 vanity fee to $21.60 for the 10-year license term. The FCC released a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (R&O) in the proceeding on August 29, in which it recalculated the fee to $21.40 for the 10-year license term. The $5.30 increase still represents the largest vanity fee hike in many years. The new $21.40 fee does not go into effect until 30 days after the R&O is published in The Federal Register. 

In the R&O, the FCC said it considered eliminating the regulatory fee for Amateur Radio vanity call sign applications but decided not to do so “at this time,” because it lacks “adequate support to determine whether the cost of recovery and burden on small entities outweighs the collected revenue; or whether eliminating the fee would adversely affect the licensing process.” The Commission said it would reevaluate this issue in the future to determine if it should eliminate other fee categories. T

 The FCC’s Office of Managing Director sets the actual fee vanity call sign fee, based on Wireless Telecommunications Bureau projections of new applications and renewals, taking into consideration existing Commission licensee databases, such as the Universal Licensing System (ULS) database.

The FCC reported there were 11,500 “payment units” in FY 2014. The Commission said the vanity program generated an estimated $230,230 in FY 2013 revenue, and it estimated that it would collect nearly $246,100 in FY 2014.

The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable when applying for a new vanity call sign or when renewing any vanity call sign designated as "HV" in the FCC's ULS database.

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New Practice License Exams

  (Dec 26, 2008) -- About a month ago, the MARC received an email from Hamilton Carter, KB0FNR who wanted to let us know that he has created a website blog containing a set of free online practice tests that will help prepare folks for their license exam.

Within the practice tests, online study resources are provided for many of the questions. The list of resources available for each question is constantly growing because users can add their own favorite links to the study materials. Users can also track their test scores over time and see which elements are giving them the most trouble. Practice tests are available for Technician, General and Extra Class. Each question provides instant results to let you know if you answered correctly.

If you would like to read a short review of this new service they are posted at the following site: http://kb6nu.com/new-online-test/. 

The practice tests website blog is located at: http://copaseticflow.blogspot.com. 

Advisory To Amateur Radio License/Upgrade Applicants

  (Mar 8, 2007) -- ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) urges all Amateur Radio license and upgrade applicants to use their FCC Registration Number (FRN), if they have one, when completing Form 605, not their Social Security number. The FCC asks applicants to register via the FCC's COmmission REgistration System (CORES), to obtain an FRN, and it requires applicants to use their FRNs when filing Form 605. The FRN uniquely identifies an applicant in all transactions with the FCC and avoids the need to provide a Social Security number on the application form. ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, says that if her department submits license data to the FCC using a Social Security number when the applicant already has an FRN, the FCC rejects the data because an FRN already exists. Somma also reminds applicants and Volunteer Examiner teams to attach any Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) for element credit to upgrade applications. Using your FRN and attaching any needed CSCE to your Amateur Radio application in Form 605 will eliminate delays in obtaining your license or upgrade.

Amateur Radio Enters A New Era

  (Feb 23, 2007) -- A new Amateur Radio Service regime now is in place. The requirement to demonstrate Morse code proficiency to gain HF privileges officially disappeared from the FCC's Part 97 rules today at 12:01 AM Eastern Time. At the same time, some 200,000 Technician licensees without Morse code exam credit acquired HF privileges equivalent to those available to Novice licensees. The League is marking the occasion with a W1AW special event aimed at welcoming newcomers to the HF bands. The "W1AW HF Open House" has included exam sessions under both old and new rules. ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, points to the still-growing number of ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) test sessions now on the schedule across the US as evidence that the rule changes will provide a shot in the arm to Amateur Radio.
Full Story

Training & Class Information

                                
    The recruitment and training of new hams is vital to the continuation of the Amateur Radio Service. The Massillon Amateur Radio Club has always believed in the importance of providing an ongoing training program to assist those individuals who would like to become licensed amateur radio operators.

    Each year usually in February or March, the MARC sponsors training classes for the Technician class entry level license. This includes instruction in both Morse Code and theory. If there is sufficient interest we will also assist already licensed hams to upgrade to either General or Extra Class licenses. We usually use the ARRL study guide materials which are readily available at most Radio Shack stores. This is the "Now Your Talking" materials and it is a great way to begin your study. 

With the advent of the Volunteer Examination Coordinator Program sponsored by the American Radio Relay League, the MARC in conjunction with the Canton Amateur Radio Club sponsors VEC testing three times a year. Tests are given at the EOC office which is located in the basement of the Stark County Sheriff's office which is off State Route 62 East in Canton. The exact address is 4500 Atlantic Blvd. NE, Canton, Ohio 44705. Doors open at 8:00 AM for registration with testing beginning at 9:00 AM. 

What Should You Bring ?

    The VEC program has set the following rules in order to take an amateur test.

1.)   A check or money order payable to "ARRL/VEC" for the current ARRL test fee. The fee for 2016 will remain at  $ 15.00. 

2.)   Two forms of ID, one a picture ID and one other form of ID.

3.)   Any CSEC's from a previous test session. Bring the original and one photocopy.

4.)   Your Amateur Radio license, if licensed. Bring both the original and one photocopy.

The Volunteer Examiner Program

Are you ready to upgrade ? Do you know someone who is ready to take his or her Amateur Radio exam ? No problem. The ARRL has more than 30,000 volunteer examiners worldwide, ready to help. Let's take a look at how the ARRL VEC staff helps hams and prospective hams upgrade or earn a first FCC Amateur Radio License. Click here for the full story.

Click on the ARRL VEC Banner for complete information on the ARRL VEC Program.

Is It Time To Renew Your License ?

   (Oct 22, 2005) -- One of the items the club tracks is the expiration date of members licenses. The most recent dates are also posted on this website as a reminder to notify members when their license is nearing its expiration date. If you are a members of the ARRL, one of their many benefits free of charge is a license expiration and application processing service.

My license was set to expire on November 24th of this year. The last time I renewed my license was back in 1995 and it was done using the old venerable FCC Form 610. All I had to do was fill it out, sign and date it and send it in. A lot has changed since then and while the process is a bit more complicated in some respects, it's also much easier thanks to the ARRL.

It started with a letter I received back on May 6, 2005. The letter was the official expiration notification and application form to renew my license from the ARRL. The current rules state that you may file for your Amateur Radio license renewal by mail at 90 days or less before your license will expire or up to two years after expiration.

At the beginning of October I completed the ARRL form by providing my social security number, email address, signing and dating the application. I then simply returned it to ARRL headquarters using their provided return envelope. About two weeks later I received a letter from the FCC titled "Manual Registration of CORES". You must register with the FCC's Commission Registration System  (CORES) for any license transaction conducted. I was issued an FCC Registration Number (FRN), to be used for any inquiries and transactions with the FCC.

The letter indicated that I would receive another letter containing my password that would be needed to update/change my registration data in the FCC's CORES website. Sure enough, about a week later I received my letter containing a rather lengthy password. I haven't had the need as yet to use my FRN number to see my individual record. You can, of course search the FCC's callsign database and also bring up the record of any licensed amateur radio operator.

So what's the status of my license renewal ? About one week later I received yet another very formal looking envelope from the FCC. Inside was my renewed amateur radio license. I am glad to report that I am fully legal until November 24, 2015. I sincerely hope I'm still around and enjoying the hobby by then ! Total time from when I initially returned the completed ARRL form until I received my renewed license - about 5 weeks. Not to bad I thought considering the FCC is a government agency. I have to admit, thanks to the ARRL's application processing service, it was very easy. I would highly recommend it rather that doing it the old fashion way !

De Terry - N8ATZ

 This page was last updated on  05/30/16

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