Subj : Classes And Exams (K)
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Tue Dec 27 2022 03:10:42

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  Per Part 97.519, of the FCC Rules:

(d) The FCC may:
 
(1) Administer any examination element itself;
 
(2) Readminister any examination element previously administered by 
VEs, either itself or under the supervision of a VEC or VEs designated 
by the FCC; or 
 
(3) Cancel the operator/primary station license of any licensee who
fails to appear for readministration of an examination when directed 
by the FCC, or who does not successfully complete any required element
that is readministered. In an instance of such cancellation, the person
will be granted an operator/primary station license consistent with
completed examination elements that have not been invalidated by not
appearing for, or by failing, the examination upon readministration.

  Note that unlike a VE Test Session, if you fail the readministration
of an exam before the FCC, you will NOT be allowed to take another test
that same day.

  After The License Exam
  ======================

  When you're done with the exam, return the test booklet, and the answer
sheet to the VE Team. They will grade it IMMEDIATELY (or as soon as is
possible), and tell you whether you have passed or failed the test...
although they can NOT tell you what to study the next time, if you failed;
nor they can they tell you which questions you missed. Once your test
booklet and answer sheet have been turned into the VE Team, you may NOT
have them back.

  As noted above, THERE IS NO DISGRACE IN FAILING an exam. If the VE Team
has the time and resources, and you're willing to pay an additional test
fee, they will let you retest, but with a different set of questions. Not
every ham radio operator has passed their license exam on the first try...
and some have taken nearly a dozen tries or more to pass an exam element.

  If you pass the exam, and you do not yet have a callsign or a license;
depending on processing time, your new callsign and/or license class
should be available on the Internet at the QRZ Ham Radio website at
www.qrz.com in about 10 to 14 days...but sometimes, it may take a
bit longer...or it may be a bit sooner. However, during a Government
Shutdown, it will be delayed until the governement (and FCC) reopen...and
there likely will be a huge backlog of data to be processed...so, your
patience in this regard is appreciated.

  Some VE Teams will scan in all the exam session documents, and put them
into a PDF file, and upload them to a private URL (hidden from the public),
to the VEC. If sent in on a weekend, it'll be processed the first business
day (usually a Monday, unless that day's a holiday). By the end of that
day, or by late the next day, the callsign/license will be in the FCC
database.

  Once the callsign is there, you can begin operating. Look for the link
entitled "FCC Reports"...and look for your name (last name first).
Archived entries are available, in case you can't access the Internet for
a period of time after you pass the test.

  The FCC no longer mails out a "paper copy" of ones amateur radio license.
Instead, about 1 to 2 weeks after the exam session, the licensee will be
notified via email that their license is available via the FCC ULS...and
they are provided logon credentials (usually the FRN and a temporary
password, which should be changed after initial logon). As noted, as of
April 19, 2022...examinees have to pay a $35 fee for a new, renewed, or
upgraded ham radio license, or a callsign change (sequential or vanity),
whether for individual or a club.

  Once logged on, they can print an "Official Copy" of their license,
plus a "Reference Copy" to take to a future license exam session, should
they decide to upgrade their license. The FCC no longer mails out paper
copies of the licenses.

  Once the copy of your new license is in hand, you may DESTROY the old
license, and the applicable CSCE for the new one, unless you'd like to
keep the CSCE as a novelty. Be sure to SIGN the new license before you
make a copy of it, and/or laminate it; as the license is NOT valid without
your signature.

  If you have not seen your callsign or upgrade in the FCC ULS 2 weeks
after you took the test, you should call either the exam session liaison,
or the VEC. In the case of an ARRL/VEC test session, they can be reached
from 7am to 4pm U.S. Central Time, Monday through Friday (except holidays),
at (860) 594-0300 -- this is a long distance call. However, the FCC is NOT
available during a Government Shutdown.

  Be sure to keep your U.S. Mailing Address CURRENT...as your license may
be SUSPENDED/REVOKED by the FCC, if mail they send to you is returned as
undeliverable.

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