Amateur Radio Technician Class (Element 2) Exam

À propos de l’examen

The Technician Class exam, known in the FCC rules as Element 2, is the written test for the entry-level US amateur radio licence. Pass it and the FCC grants you a Technician licence and a call sign, normally for ten years.

Technicians may use every amateur band above 50 MHz, which covers local and regional VHF and UHF work through repeaters, simplex, digital modes and satellites. They also get limited high-frequency access: parts of the 80, 40 and 15 metre bands and 28.0–28.5 MHz on 10 metres, with mode limits.

What surprises most people is how open the exam is. Every possible question is published in advance in a public question pool, the exam is run by volunteer licensed amateurs rather than the government, and no course, Morse code or minimum age is required.

Qui doit le passer

Anyone who wants to transmit on US amateur bands needs a licence, and the Technician is where everyone starts: the General and Amateur Extra exams (Elements 3 and 4) both require Element 2 as well. Anyone may hold a US amateur licence except a representative of a foreign government, and there is no minimum age; youth candidates are common. You get credit for Element 2 without sitting it if you hold an unexpired (or in-grace) Technician or higher licence, or a certificate (CSCE) showing you passed it within the last 365 days. Before the session you need an FCC Registration Number (FRN) from the FCC's CORES system.

Ce qu’il couvre

FCC rules

Licence classes and privileges, station identification, control operators, what you may and may not transmit, and interference.

Operating procedures

How to make contacts, use repeaters, operate in emergencies and public service events, and use digital modes and satellites.

Radio waves and propagation

Frequency and wavelength, how VHF and UHF signals travel, and basic propagation effects.

Electrical principles and components

Voltage, current, resistance and power, Ohm's law, and what resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes and transistors do, including schematic symbols.

Station equipment, modulation and antennas

Transceivers and accessories, modulation types, antennas and feed lines, and measuring and fixing common problems.

Safety

Electrical safety, RF exposure, and safe antenna and tower work.

L’épreuve

• 35 multiple-choice questions, drawn from the public Technician question pool.
• You pass with 26 correct answers (about 74%).
• The 2026–2030 pool of 409 questions, with three diagrams, applies to every session from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030.
• A team of at least three accredited volunteer examiners (VEs) runs and grades the exam, normally on the spot; online sessions are graded as soon as practical.
• The FCC rules set no time limit; sessions are run by each VE team.
• Calculators are allowed if their memory is cleared; phones and other smart devices may not be used. You may not bring notes.
• VE teams must accommodate candidates whose disability needs a special procedure, and may ask for a doctor's statement.

Comment s’inscrire

1. Get an FRN by registering in the FCC's CORES system, and have a valid email address for your application.
2. Find a session near you or online through a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, such as the ARRL VEC exam session finder. Sessions are held regularly.
3. For an in-person ARRL VEC session, bring one photo ID (or two non-photo IDs), your FRN, pencils and a pen, and the session fee in cash, cheque or money order.
4. Sit the exam. If you pass, the VEs give you a CSCE and send your application to their VEC, which files it with the FCC.
5. Pay the FCC's USD 35 application fee online in CORES within 10 calendar days of the application being filed, or the FCC dismisses it.
6. Your licence is granted once it appears in the FCC's licence database; you can check its status with your FRN.
7. If you fail, there is no waiting period in the FCC rules; you can sit again at another session, but never on a question set you have already seen.

Frais et dates

Exam session fee

Set by the VEC; at ARRL VEC sessions usually USD 15 or less (about EUR 14), USD 5 for under-18s (source 4)

FCC application fee

USD 35 (about EUR 32), paid to the FCC within 10 days of filing; upgrades are exempt (source 5)

When

Frequent volunteer-examiner sessions, in person and online (source 8)

Question pool

2026–2030 pool of 409 questions, valid 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030 (source 6)

Credit for a pass

A CSCE gives credit for the element for 365 days (source 1)

Licence term

Normally 10 years (source 3)

Les frais et les dates changent : chacun est indiqué tel que sa source le mentionnait le 29 octobre 2026. Vérifiez-le à la source avant de vous inscrire.

Questions fréquentes

How many questions are on the Technician exam?

35 multiple-choice questions, taken from the published Technician question pool of 409 questions. The questions you see come from that pool, so studying it covers the whole exam.

What is the pass mark?

You need 26 correct out of 35, about 74%.

Can I take the Technician exam online?

Yes. Several volunteer examiner teams run remote sessions, alongside in-person sessions. Ask the team for its own equipment and ID rules before you book.

How much does it cost?

There are two charges: the session fee set by the VEC (usually USD 15 or less at ARRL VEC sessions) and a USD 35 FCC application fee for a new licence, paid directly to the FCC. ARRL refunds the FCC fee for new candidates under 18 who test with ARRL VEC.

Do I need to learn Morse code?

No. No Morse code test is required for any US amateur licence class.

How long is the licence valid?

A US amateur licence is normally granted for ten years and can then be renewed. A passed exam on its own gives you credit for 365 days.

What happens if I fail?

The VEs return your paperwork and tell you your score. There is no waiting period in the FCC rules, but you will be given a different question set next time.

Which questions change in 2026?

A new Technician pool took effect on 1 July 2026 and runs until 30 June 2030. Make sure your study material uses the 2026–2030 pool.

Sources

1. 47 CFR Part 97 Subpart F — Qualifying Examination Systems (eCFR)
2. 47 CFR 97.301 — Authorized frequency bands (eCFR)
3. 47 CFR 97.25 — License term (eCFR)
4. What to Bring to an Exam Session — ARRL VEC
5. FCC Application Fee — ARRL VEC
6. New Technician Class Question Pool Released — Effective July 1, 2026 — ARRL
7. Question Pools — ARRL
8. Getting Your Technician License — ARRL

Vérifié auprès de ces sources le 29 octobre 2026.