Amateur Radio Licenses

How to study for your Licensing Exams

There are many resources and options for studying for your Amateur Radio licensing exams. Which ones you will use will depend on your learning style and your objectives.

Fundamentally, there are two approaches to studying for the exams - learning the material or memorizing the answers. Both approaches can be successful because the real leaning starts when you get on the air. What follows is not a comprehensive list of all your options but enough to get you started on selecting the best one for yourself - and remember, Google is your friend.

Learning the Material Methods
ARRL Study materials - ARRL has study guides you can buy and they have the Dave Casler, KE0OG, video series which go through all the exam material with great explanations.
Jack Tiley's Syllabi and classes - Jacki Tiley, AD7FO, offers (free) classes that uses his syllabi. Each syllabus contains general information, followed by the question bank for each sub element with only the right answer given. Some questions also have an explanation. Access to the syllabi are below.
KE7VMN Online Classes - Dale, KE7VMN, uses the ARRL License Manuals as the study guide for his online classes. Contact Dale at grumpydaleradio@gmail.com for details,
K7DMG Online Class - Ben Kozlowski, K7DMG/WRKC815, is hosting a Zoom Online Meeting, at 7-8pm on Tuesdays.
Requirements: PC, tablet, or phone with audio capabilities. Camera preferred but not required.
Classes will start at 7pm and will go over one or two modules a week until the course is complete with 21 modules. Each module will cover a topic with a review of exam questions at the end of each module. Recordings of each class will be available online for viewing later in the week. This course is based on the online ham course at HamRadioPrep.com.
Please contact Ben Kozlowski at k7dmg@protonmail.com to sign up for the course. You do not need to attend each session and can start the course at any point.
Google "Amateur Radio Licensing Study Guides" - You will get literally hundreds of hits. You can save money if you can get the guide of your choice used, so check Google, eBay and your local club.
YouTube - There are many excellent (free) videos that explain everything - again, Google is your friend to finding them.

Memorizing the Answers Methods (If you ever used flash cards, then this is the method for you.)
Google "Amateur Radio Licensing Flash Cards" - There are literally hundreds of hits. Pays your money, make your choice.
There are websites that offer a flash card online system. I find them convenient because they allow you to drill on just a particular group of questions and track your progress.
HamExam.org - (Free) I used this system and found it convenient and easy to use. You get to set what you want to be drilled on and stats are collected to track progress. There are explanations for when you get the wrong answer. This website also allows you to take practice exams.
HamStudy.org - (Free) This website is very much like HamExam.org.

How did I study for my licensing exams?
Let me say first off that I wasn't the normal person trying to get licensed. Let me explain my background:
I studied electronics as a kid and when I started college I joined the campus radio station (10-watt KCUI-FM - heard by more tulips than any other flower in Pella, IA!) where I had to have a commercial license (Third Class). I then studied for and got my Second Class commercial license which enabled me to become the station engineer (it was the best paying job on campus!). I also taught the electronics course in the physics department. Graduate school followed plus a career in the Navy which included my being awarded a PhD in physics. In short, I have a lot of experience in electronics and technical subjects don't intimidate me.
So, when it came time to take my Technician Exam, I used HamExam.org and a few YouTube videos to be sure I understood the material. The morning of the exam, my son mentioned that if you pass the exam, you get to take the next level exam for free - I like free. Well, I passed the Technician level exam with no problem. Did I want to take the General - it's free? Sure! And I passed never having studied for the exam. Then they asked if I wanted to take the Extra exam - it's free? Sure! And I got a 50% score - there seemed to a lot of questions about something called a Yagi. Well, I went home, used HamExam.org again, and a month later aced my Extra Exam.
So, that's the story of how I studied for my exams.

Study Options

Jack Tiley's License Class Materials

The license syllabus's found here have everything you need to study for the Technician, General, and Extra amateur licenses. All possible questions and the answers are covered with additional explanation of the answer, if needed, to enhance your understanding of the answer. These syllabus can be used for self study or in an instructor led class. They will be updated when the question pool changes. Click the button for the training you are interested in.

Technician Class Materials

Resources for effective emergency communication strategies and tools.

General Class Materials

Engaging the community in emergency preparedness and response efforts.

Extra Class Materials

Resources for effective emergency communication strategies and tools.

Where: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2511 S. Pines Road, Spokane Valley, WA 99206.
Time: From 8:00 am till when the class ends (approx. 2-3 pm). Testing will begin shortly after the class ends. There will be a 45-minute lunch break at approximately noon. The instructors will be in the classroom during the lunch break and available to answer questions. You can bring your lunch and eat in the classroom.
Instructors: All are Extra Class License holders.
Restrictions: Class will be limited to a max. of 15 students
Class syllabus: The class will be taught using AD7FO’s Syllabi. It is strongly recommended that you download a copy and/or print a copy and review it prior to the class. It can be downloaded, viewed and printed on from the button above. The class will be taught from a PowerPoint version of the Syllabus.
The Spokane Libraries will print documents up to 80 pages (black and white only) per week for you if you have a library card. You could break up files into two parts if they are more than 80 pages and print them on two different weeks. The URL for the Library printing service is https://www.scld.org/mobile-printing/ Printing is also available at any Office Depot, FedEx, Kinkos or similar establishments.

Schedule of Upcoming Classes

Technician February 22nd, 2025
General March 22nd, 2025
Extra April 19th and May 3rd, 2025 (This is a change - Spokane Hamfest is April 26th!))
Technician August 2nd, 2025

Additional classes will be held if there is sufficient demand.

Please use this contact form to put your name and contact information on the list to attend a class or be notified of upcoming classes.

In the message area, enter which class you would like to attend or what class license (Technician, General, Extra) you are interested in.

You will receive a confirmation email from me. If you don't get the confirmation email within two days, try again.

Frank E. Hutchison, AG7QP