I put together a quick licensing guide for getting your tech since I had a few questions from the Moab group.
It's basically a cut up version of HRS's intro here:
http://www.hamradioschool.com/getting-s ... ham-radio/
FCC Licensing:
To become a ham radio operator you must obtain a license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC is the federal governing body overseeing the Amateur Radio Service, known colloquially as ham radio.
The FCC currently issues three different amateur radio license levels, or classes: (1) Technician License Class, (2) General License Class, and (3) Extra License Class. The Technician License Class is the introductory level license and it must be earned first. The General License Class is an intermediate license level that may be earned after Technician Class. The Extra Class license may be earned following General Class.
What’s the difference among these license classes? Transmit frequency privileges. The FCC license grants you the privilege of transmitting on a range of frequencies that have been allocated specifically for use by the Amateur Radio Service. As you move up in license class from Technician to General to Extra Class the range of frequencies on which you may transmit is expanded, with the Extra Class license granting full utilization of all Amateur Radio Service frequencies. But the introductory Technician Class license offers a fantastic set of frequency capabilities right from the git-go!
If your goal is mobile-to-mobile, handheld, or repeater communications with a VHF/UHF radio, the Technician Class License is all that is required. So let’s consider the practical matter of getting that Technician Class license.
License Examination:
Each license class is earned by passing an examination that tests your knowledge of amateur radio rules, regulations, operating procedures, and technical topics. A pool of exam questions has been established for each license class, and your examination will be comprised of questions drawn from the question pool. Each question pool is revised on a four-year cycle. As of this writing, the last Technician Class question pool revision was affected July 1, 2014 and it will be valid until June 30, 2018. The question pools are released to the public for the development of study materials and for individual examinee study and practice.
The current Technician Class question pool contains 426 questions, each a 4-response multiple-choice format. That is, after reading the question you select the correct answer as A, B, C, or D response. The Technician Class exam is comprised of 35 questions selected from the question pool. You must obtain a minimum score of 26 correct responses, or 74%, to pass the exam.
There is no longer a requirement to demonstrate competency in Morse Code for any license class exam. Very simply, you must pass the multiple-choice test to get your ham radio license.
The question pools are formulated by the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC). The exams are administered across the US by Volunteer Examiners (VEs) who have become certified and are sanctioned by the FCC to maintain the question pools and to conduct examinations. The VEs are licensed hams who volunteer their time and service to administer the examinations and help others become licensed.
SOURCE (Edited):
http://www.hamradioschool.com/getting-s ... ham-radio/
Study Resources:
Technician Question Pool (Only Correct Answers):
http://www.w6nbc.com/documents/techrightanswers.pdf
Technician Question Pool (All Answers):
http://www.w6nbc.com/documents/2014%20Tech%20Pool.pdf
Testing Tips:
From many dozens of successful sessions, we've isolated the KEYS to success. We explain these before each session, but if you'll master them in advance, you'll achieve maximum efficiency in your session. They maximize your short-term memory.
1. Do not think, or try to undestand.
Your ONLY objective is to match questions to answers in a session. Feeling that you MUST understand the question is a serious hinderance. You will answer fewer questions by insisting that you understand. Trust your short-term memory, it is very good. Our success rate proves that it works.
2. Read ONLY the question, then ONLY the RIGHT answer.
If you read the wrong answers it will confuse your short-term memory. You'll have more chance of recognizing the correct anwser if it is the only one you have read.
3. "Hook" the answer.
Use memory hooks, even if they're unusual, to remember the answers. Use whatever comes to your mind -- to connect the answers to questions. It does not matter if your hooks have nothing whatsoever to do with the meaning of the questions. For example, if you can recognize a correct answer only because it's your aunt's birthday, it makes no difference.
4. Don't use a highlighter pen.
Highlighting answers is an inefficient use of time. A small mark, if you feel you still need one, is okay, but you'll do better if you don't slow down to highlight.
5. Go over each section several times if possible.
Read rapidly enough to be able to go back over each section more than once. Rapid repetition improves short-term memory. Remember, don't think or try to understand. Federal law expects you to learn what the questios mean by the active experience of being a ham, not before you get your license. All the law requires is that you thoroughly read the rules.
6. Do not study with someone else.
It is slower to orally quiz another person than to read silently to yourself. Most who have tried this have failed.
SOURCE:
http://www.w6nbc.com/headstart.html
Find an Exam Session:
http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-rad ... am-session
https://www.laurelvec.com/?pg=exams
http://www.w5yi.org/exam_locations_ama.php
Laurel exam sessions are free and they submit the paperwork to the FCC electronically, this usually results in a callsign being issued next business day. You may also want to lookup ham radio clubs in your immediate area, many offer testing sessions and list their exam schedule on their websites.
You will need to bring the following items to your exam:
1. A photo ID such as a state-issued driver’s license.
2. Your social security number (SSN) or an FCC-issued Federal Registration Number (FRN). You can obtain a FRN by registering with the FCC in advance of your VE session. FCC registration info here:
http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?j ... ng_started
3. A number 2 pencil, and a spare, just in case!
4. A conventional calculator with all memories cleared. Cell phone calculators are not allowable, and phones should be silenced or turned off during the exam.
5. A check, cash, or money order for the VE exam fees, usually about $15.00.
