<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><meta charset=utf-8><meta content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" name=viewport><title>Get Your Amateur Radio License - SCCo ARES/RACES</title><link href=/-68DF08D8-/styles.css rel=stylesheet></link><script src=/-6807DB09-/script.js></script><script>if ('serviceWorker' in navigator) navigator.serviceWorker.register('/offline.js', {scope: '/'})</script></head><body><div id=•menuHover></div><menu id=•menu style=display:none><li id=•menuCloseLi><a id=•menuClose class=•menuIcon aria-label="Close Menu" href=#><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#menu></use></svg></div></a><li id=•navUpLi><a id=•navUp class=•menuIcon aria-label="Parent Page: Getting Started in ARES/RACES" href=/about/get-started><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-up></use></svg></div></a><li id=•navRightLi><a id=•navRight class=•menuIcon aria-label="Next Page: Join Your Local ARES/RACES Organization" href=/about/get-started/local><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-right></use></svg></div></a><li class=•tile><a href="/"><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#home></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Home Page</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/activities/events.php><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#calendar></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Calendar &amp; Signups</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/training><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#presenter></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Training &amp; Practice</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/operations><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#radio></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Operations</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/credentials><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#award></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Credentials</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/about><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#info></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>About SCCo ARES/RACES</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/services><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#checklist></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Services We Provide</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/reference><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#books></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Reference Information</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/sitemap><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#sitemap></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Site Map</div></div></a></menu><div id=•offlineWarn>No connection to server.  Showing local offline copy of page.</div><header id=•banner><a id=•menuOpen aria-label="Open Menu" href=#><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#menu></use></svg></div></a><div class=•bannerStripe></div><div id=•bannerMiddle><img id=•bannerLogo alt="Santa Clara County Seal" src=/-67DB4F6F-/county-seal.svg><div id=•bannerTitle>Santa Clara County
ARES<span id=•bannerRTM>®</span>/RACES</div></div><div class=•bannerStripe></div><a aria-label=Search href=/index><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#search></use></svg></div></a></header><nav id=•breadcrumb aria-label=Breadcrumb><ol><li><a href=/about>About SCCo ARES/RACES</a><li><a href=/about/get-started>Getting Started in ARES/RACES</a></ol></nav><main id=•page><h1>Get Your Amateur Radio License</h1><div class=•default><div class="•gridMain •tilesTop"><p>
  All ARES/RACES members have to have a valid FCC amateur radio license.
  There are many options for learning the necessary rules and taking the license exam.
<p class=•pad>If you want to study on your own and then take the license exam, there is an exam just about every weekend somewhere in the Bay Area.
<nav class="•tiles •pad"><div class=•tile><a href="https://www.svve.org/" target=_blank><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div>Silicon Valley Volunteer Examiner Group</div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#external-link></use></svg></div></a></div><div class=•tile><a href="https://www.amateur-radio.org/" target=_blank><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div>Sunnyvale VEC</div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#external-link></use></svg></div></a></div></nav><p class=•pad>
  A popular option is a “ham cram:” a full day class, usually on a Saturday, with the license exam at the end of the day.
  These are generally offered quarterly.
<nav class="•tiles •pad"><div class=•tile><a href="https://www.baears.com/" target=_blank><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div>
    Bay Area Educational Amateur Radio Society (BAEARS)
  </div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#external-link></use></svg></div></a></div><div class=•tile><a href="https://sbcara.org/ve/" target=_blank><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div>
    San Benito County Amateur Radio Association
  </div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#external-link></use></svg></div></a></div></nav><p class=•pad>If these options don’t work for you, the ARRL website has a search tool for locating amateur radio license classes and exam sessions.
<nav class="•tiles •pad"><div class=•tile><a href=https://www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training target=_blank><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div>
    Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL)
  </div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#external-link></use></svg></div></a></div></nav></div></div></main><footer><div>Last modified 2024-12-12</div><div id=•offlineAvail>This page is available when offline.</div><div>Send feedback to <span class=•obf>wfdpexzlzI}no:o"u%?&amp;ux{+F)-#</span></div></footer></body></html>