Amateur radio operators (hams), because of the extended privileges they have to create and use radios on the air, are required to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). There are three classes of license:
| Class | Examination Difficulty | Privileges |
| Technician | Easy. The course material covers radio basics and safety material. Very simple calculations. | Line of sight communications using relatively inexpensive radios. Good for local communications. Entry-level equipment is approximately $200 to $300, although you can spend more. See here for a discussion of how much it costs to become a Technician operator. |
| General | Somewhat harder. More detailed radio material, including some straightforward calculations. | Worldwide and local communications. Requires more significant equipment. Entry level equipment starts around $1000. Again, you can spend more! See here for a discussion of how much it costs to become a General operator. |
| Amateur Extra | Quite difficult—not at an engineering level, but close. | Same as General, except on additional frequencies. Also permitted to administer examinations. |
Learn more by clicking on the links in the right hand column for the Technician license, General license, and Amateur Extra license.
Dave, What do you mean by, “Extra Quite difficultnot at an engineering level, but close.”? Other than getting a degree in electrical engineering or passing a State’s professional engineering examination for electrical engineering, how does one designate themselves a “radio engineer”? Your YouTube videos were instrumental in my passing the Extra class exam today. Thank you for posting the videos and thank you in advance for answering my questions. 73! KK6YFQ
Edward, go to my website at http://www.ke0og.net/training. That page will tell you everything you need to know. Watch the video on that page. Good luck!
I am looking for details about your products place lace a messages . When I post this, I am looking for more information .
Ham radio Technician class . or book are CD .
Ham Radio Club Barren County me the Test me many it .
me have a Intellectual Disability
why help ?
Hi Victoria, be sure to go to http://www.ke0og.net/training for the latest information about what book to order. I looked at the page you commented on and discovered it was out of date. I’ve corrected it. Sorry, I don’t know any of the Stevensons.
I just ordered to required text. Thanks for having this website. When you mentioned Montrose I had to see if it was Colorado.
My sister and her family lived in Montrose for years. Perhaps you know of them, Bill Stevenson, Beverly Stevenson, Barry Stevenson and Brian Stevenson.
They are all in Colorado but no longer in Montrose.