HamPrep Blog

What the Technician exam covers, what the FCC actually requires, and how long it really takes to get your callsign.

how hard is the ham radio technician exam

How Hard Is the Ham Radio Technician Exam?

The Technician exam is 35 questions from a published pool of 409, and 26 correct passes. Every question and answer is public in advance, so it rewards study, not electronics background.

Read the guide → July 29, 2026
how to get a ham radio license

How Do You Get a Ham Radio Licence?

Study the published Technician pool, pass 35 questions with a Volunteer Examiner team, pay the FCC $35, and transmit once your callsign appears in the ULS database.

Read the guide → July 22, 2026
ham radio license cost

How Much Does a Ham Radio Licence Cost?

The FCC charges $35 per application and Volunteer Examiner teams typically add about $15. Study material is free, making a first Technician licence roughly $35 to $50 all in.

Read the guide → July 15, 2026
technician license privileges

What Can You Do With a Technician Licence?

A Technician licence grants full amateur privileges above 30 MHz plus limited HF segments, covering repeaters, satellites, digital modes and emergency communication nets.

Read the guide → July 8, 2026
how long to study for technician exam

How Long Does It Take to Study for the Technician Exam?

Most candidates need ten to twenty hours over two to four weeks. One pass through the 409-question pool takes about eight hours; the rest is repetition until scores exceed 80 percent.

Read the guide → July 1, 2026
technician vs general vs extra

What Is the Difference Between Technician, General and Extra?

The three US amateur licence classes are cumulative. Technician covers everything above 30 MHz, General adds high-frequency voice bands, and Amateur Extra adds the remaining exclusive segments.

Read the guide → June 24, 2026
do you need morse code for ham radio

Do You Need Morse Code for a Ham Radio Licence?

No. The FCC removed Morse code testing for every US amateur licence class on 23 February 2007. Code remains a popular optional mode, and Technicians hold Morse-only HF segments.

Read the guide → June 17, 2026
first ham radio

How Do You Choose Your First Ham Radio?

Start with a dual-band VHF and UHF handheld where Technician privileges are unrestricted. Budget models start around $25 to $40, and the first upgrade should be the antenna.

Read the guide → June 10, 2026