Arlington Amateur Radio Club
Arlington County, Virginia USA

Radio Classes and Exams

Amateur Radio Classes

The Arlington Amateur Radio Club offers amateur radio licensing classes from time to time, based on expressed interest.

There are three levels of amateur radio licenses - Technician class, General class, and Amateur Extra class.

The classes are free but there is a nominal cost for the textbook.

Email exam@w4wvp.org for any questions about amateur radio classes.

Amateur Radio License Exams

The Arlington Amateur Radio Club offers in-person amateur radio exams for Technician class, General class, and Amateur Extra class on the first Sunday of each month at 12:00 PM, with occasional exceptions such as holidays.

Special exam sessions are held from time to time, based on expressed interest.

Our Volunteer Examiner (VE) Team is affiliated with, and accredited by, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Volunteer Examiner Coordinator ARRL-VEC, the W5YI Volunteer Examiner Coordinator W5YI-VEC , and the Laurel Volunteer Examiner Coordinator Laurel-VEC.

The Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VEC) are authorized to administer amateur radio operator license exams on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission. (FCC).

Exams are conducted by computer tablet provided to you for the test.

Pre-registerion is preferred for the exam, but walk-ins are allowed.

The amateur radio exam fee is $15.00 - cash only - payable to the examiners.

The FCC license fee is $35.00, payable directly to the Federal Communication Commission, after you have passed your exam and prior to the issuance of your amateur radio license.

You may take more than one exam per test session.

After you have passed your initial exam, you may take the next higher level exam for the same exam fee.

If you do not pass your initial exam and wish to re-test, you will have to pay another exam fee.

You must have a FCC Registration Number (FRN) prior to taking any amateur radio exam - no FRN, no exam.

* All examinees - must bring a government issued photo ID.

* All examinees - must bring your FCC Registration Number (FRN).

* All examinees - must provide the FCC a valid postal address.

* All examinees - must provide the FCC a valid email address.

* Examinees sitting for an upgraded license - must bring an "Official Copy", printed from the FCC web site, of your current amateur radio license.

* You may use a plain, non-memory, calculator while taking the exam to assist with math equations.

Exams are held at 12:00 PM, unless otherwise noted, at the following locations:

American Legion Post 130
400 N Oak Street
Falls Church VA 22046

2026 amateur radio exam dates:

Sunday January 4, 2026

Sunday February 1, 2026

Sunday March 15, 2026 ( 10 AM at Winterfest hamfest - Oakton High School 2900 Sutton Road Vienna, VA 22181 ) 

Sunday April 12, 2026

Sunday May 3, 2026

Sunday June 7, 2026

Saturday June 20, 2026 ( 10 AM at Manassas hamfest - Colgan High School 13833 Dumfries Road Manassas, VA 20112 )

Sunday June 28, 2026 ( 12 PM at Field Day site - 100 Boundary Channel Drive Arlington, VA 22202 )

Sunday July 12, 2026

Sunday August 9, 2026

Sunday September 13, 2026

Sunday October 4, 2026

Saturday October 17, 2026 ( 12 PM at Jamboree-on-the-Air site - Columbia Island Marina Washington, DC 20037 )

Sunday November 1, 2026

Sunday December 6, 2026

Email exam@w4wvp.org for any questions about amateur radio exams.

Commercial Radio Operator License Exams

The Arlington Amateur Radio Club offers exams for all levels of commercial radio operator licenses which are required to adjust, repair, and maintain aviation and marine radiotelephone transmitters.

The following in-person commercial radio operator license exams are offered on a quarterly basis and by request, with pre-registration required.

Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RR) (RL), Marine Radio Operator Permit (MP), General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG), GMDSS Radio Operator's License (DO) (RG), GMDSS Radio Maintainer's License (DM), GMDSS Radio Operator/Maintainer License (DB), Radiotelegraph Operator License (T), Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate (T1) (T2) (T3), and Ship Radar Endorsement.

Our Commercial Examiner (CE) Team is affiliated with, and accredited by, the National Radio Examiners (NRE) , one of the Commercial Operator License Examination Managers (COLEM).

The Commercial Operator License Examination Manager (COLEM) is authorized to administer commercial radio operator license exams on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The cost of the commercial radio exam is $50.00 for the first two exam elements and $25.00 for each additional exam element taken.

Upon succesful completion of the exam elements required for a commercial radio operator license, our exam team will issue one or more Proof of Passing Certificates (PPC) and the NRE COLEM will electronically file for a FCC commercial radio operator license on your behalf.

Email exam@w4wvp.org for any questions about commercial radio exams.