Subj : Classes And Exams (E)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Tue Dec 27 2022 03:09:46

(CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MESSAGE)

  License Exam Locations And Requirements:
  ========================================

  The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) website (www.arrl.org) has a
place to search for license exams in your area. Click on Exams, enter
the search criteria, and click on search. Once you find a test session
and location that meets your liking, click on Learn More, and then
either write, call, or email the contact person for more details.
 
  Concerning the license exam sessions, some will require pre-registration
(no walk-ins), others will allow walk-ins (there may be a time limit for
walk-ins to arrive), while others will permit both. Check with the VE
Team contact person for details. These can be at libraries, meeting
rooms, restaurants, etc. If an examinee has serious health issues in
traveling to an exam, the VE Team may do an "on demand session" at
their location...whether at their residence, or even in a hospital
room...in short, "VE Teams do make house calls". However, these need to
be requested as far in advance as possible...so that a VE Team can be
obtained.

NOTE: As noted above, with COVID-19, many sessions are going to remote
testing, drive-in/drive-thru testing, or low contact in person testing,
to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

  The number of examinees at a test session, or a time limit to enter the
exam session, may be LIMITED. Once that number is reached, or the time
limit for walk-ins is reached, no further examinees will be allowed to
enter the test session. If pre-registration is required, and there is a
limit on examinees at a particular session, you need to "get your name
in the hat", by contacting the VE Team in charge of the session as soon
as possible. Otherwise, you may be "locked out" from the test session.

  There may also be a limit for registration (i.e. 48 hours in advance)
for examinees to sign up...and if no one signs up, the session is canceled.
There's no point in getting a VE Team and a test site together, if no one
is going to show up.

  Also, with pre-arrangement, pre-payment may be required. However, if
on exam day, if you have a valid reason where you can not make the test
session as originally planned...due to a last minute emergency, conflict,
etc., you may be able to arrange a refund by contacting the VE Team in
charge, and providing an explanation. However, any refunds are at the
discretion of the VE Team. But, if you do not contact the VE Team Contact
person, and are basically "a no show", your pre-payment is non-refundable.
If you miss the test session, it'll be up to you to arrange a future test
session, if you're wanting to obtain a ham radio license, or an upgrade...
basically, starting the process over again.

  It's wise to contact the person overseeing the exam session for any
special information, or for any last minute changes or cancellations.
You can also go to:

www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session

  Enter the desired criteria (in one category), and click on search.

  Those at hamfests may have a large amount of people wanting to test...
so, allow yourself plenty of time at one of these sessions. If you go to
a hamfest for the license exam ONLY, you won't be required to pay a fee
to enter the hamfest. But, you will be required to pay the license exam
fee, applicable parking fees, highway tolls, etc.

  However, if you plan to explore the hamfest as well, you will also have
to pay the hamfest admission fee. If you pass the exam, you're likely to
want to look for a new ham radio transceiver...so, taking an exam at a
hamfest can be VERY beneficial to you.

  Again, with COVID-19, many hamfests are being canceled, or going to
"virtual", with no actual in person activities.

  In the United States, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) conducts
a National Exam Day Weekend the last weekend of April and September every
year. Check with local area ham radio clubs to see if they plan to do
license exam sessions in conjunction with these special weekends.

  As noted above, a MINIMUM of three (3) VE's are REQUIRED for ANY license
exam session. If less than that show up, the exam session can NOT take
place. If only a Technician Class exam will be given, the VEs must be at
least General Class licensees. If only Technician and General exams will
be given, the VEs must be at least Advanced Class licensees. But, if all
license exams (Technician, General, and Amateur Extra) are to be given,
the VEs MUST be Amateur Extra Class licensees.

(CONTINUED NEXT MESSAGE)
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

.