100+ Free Ham Radio Technician Practice Questions

Pass your FCC Amateur Radio Technician License (Element 2) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Question 1

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What is the FCC Element 2 exam required for?

General class amateur radio license

Technician class amateur radio license

Extra class amateur radio license

Commercial radio operator license

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Ham Radio Technician Exam

748K+

Licensed US Hams

FCC/ARRL 2025

35 Qs

Exam Questions

From ~410 pool

74%

Passing Score

26 of 35 correct

$35

FCC Application Fee

Effective April 2022

10 yrs

License Validity

FCC Part 97

80-85%

Est. Pass Rate

Industry estimate

The Technician exam has 35 multiple-choice questions from a public pool of ~410 questions, requiring 26 correct (74%) to pass. The FCC charges a $35 application fee (effective April 2022), plus VECs may charge a ~$15 session fee. No Morse code is required. The current question pool (2022-2026) transitions to a new 2026-2030 pool on July 1, 2026. There are approximately 748,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the US (2025 data). Technician licensees get all VHF/UHF privileges and limited HF access. Licenses are valid for 10 years.

Sample Ham Radio Technician Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Ham Radio Technician exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the FCC Element 2 exam required for?

A.General class amateur radio license

B.Technician class amateur radio license

C.Extra class amateur radio license

D.Commercial radio operator license

Explanation: The FCC Element 2 exam is the written examination required to obtain a Technician class amateur radio license. This is the entry-level license in the US amateur radio service. The General class requires Element 3, and the Extra class requires Element 4.

2How many questions are on the Technician class amateur radio exam?

A.25 multiple-choice questions

B.35 multiple-choice questions

C.50 multiple-choice questions

D.100 multiple-choice questions

Explanation: The Technician class (Element 2) exam consists of 35 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official question pool maintained by the NCVEC Question Pool Committee. One question is randomly selected from each of the 35 question groups across 10 subelements.

3What is the minimum passing score on the Technician class exam?

A.50%

B.65%

C.74%

D.80%

Explanation: A passing score of 74% is required on the Technician class exam, which means you must answer at least 26 out of 35 questions correctly. This same 74% threshold applies to all three amateur radio license exams (Technician, General, and Extra).

4Who administers amateur radio license exams in the United States?

A.The FCC directly at regional offices

B.Volunteer Examiners (VEs) coordinated by VECs

C.Local police departments

D.The Department of Homeland Security

Explanation: Amateur radio exams are administered by Volunteer Examiners (VEs) who are coordinated by Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs). The two largest VEC organizations are ARRL VEC and W5YI VEC. The FCC itself does not directly administer the exams but grants licenses based on results submitted by VECs.

5What is the current FCC application fee for a new amateur radio license?

A.$15

B.$25

C.$35

D.$50

Explanation: As of April 19, 2022, the FCC charges a $35 application fee for new amateur radio licenses. This fee is paid directly to the FCC through the CORES system, not to the VE team at the exam session. There may also be a separate exam session fee (typically $15) charged by the VEC.

6How long is an amateur radio license valid before renewal is required?

A.5 years

B.10 years

C.15 years

D.Lifetime with no renewal needed

Explanation: An FCC amateur radio license is valid for 10 years from the date of issuance or renewal. Licenses can be renewed up to 90 days before the expiration date. A $35 FCC fee applies to renewal applications. If a license expires, it enters a 2-year grace period during which it can still be renewed.

7What is the purpose of the Amateur Radio Service as defined by the FCC?

A.Commercial broadcasting to the public

B.Personal entertainment and music distribution

C.Advancing skills in radio communication, technical self-training, and emergency communications

D.Government surveillance and intelligence gathering

Explanation: FCC Part 97 defines the Amateur Radio Service for advancing skills in the technical and communication phases of the radio art, contributing to an emergency communications reserve, and expanding the pool of trained radio operators and technicians. It is explicitly not for commercial broadcasting or business communications.

8Which of the following is prohibited in the Amateur Radio Service?

A.Communicating with stations in other countries

B.Using Morse code on HF bands

C.Broadcasting music or transmitting for payment

D.Operating a repeater station

Explanation: Amateur radio operators are prohibited from broadcasting (one-way transmissions intended for the general public), transmitting music, and using their license for commercial purposes or payment. International communications, Morse code, and repeater operations are all permitted and encouraged activities.

9What must you transmit at the beginning and end of each communication and at least every 10 minutes during a contact?

A.Your full name and address

B.Your FCC call sign

C.The other station's call sign

D.The current date and time

Explanation: FCC rules require that amateur operators identify their station by transmitting their assigned FCC call sign at the beginning and end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during the course of a communication. This requirement applies regardless of the mode being used.

10What type of international communications is permitted for Technician class licensees?

A.No international communications are allowed

B.Only communications with Canadian stations

C.Communications with stations in countries whose governments allow it

D.Only communications through amateur satellites

Explanation: Amateur radio operators, including Technician class licensees, may communicate with stations in other countries whose governments permit such communications. This is one of the fundamental principles of amateur radio. However, communications must comply with FCC rules and the regulations of the other country.

About the Ham Radio Technician Exam

The FCC Technician class license is the entry-level amateur radio (ham radio) license in the United States. It grants full operating privileges on all VHF and UHF amateur bands above 30 MHz, plus limited HF privileges. The 35-question Element 2 exam is drawn from a public question pool maintained by the NCVEC and covers FCC rules, basic electronics, radio wave propagation, antennas, operating procedures, and RF safety. With over 748,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the US, this license opens the door to emergency communications, satellite contacts, digital modes, and a worldwide community of radio enthusiasts.

Questions

35 scored questions

Time Limit

No official limit (~30-60 min typical)

Passing Score

74% (26/35 correct)

Exam Fee

$35 FCC fee + ~$15 session fee (FCC via Volunteer Examiners (VECs))

Ham Radio Technician Exam Content Outline

17%

FCC Rules & Regulations

Licensing requirements, station identification, authorized frequencies, power limits, prohibited transmissions, control operators

Operating Procedures

Band plans, simplex and duplex, calling frequencies, Q signals, phonetic alphabet, emergency procedures

Radio Wave Propagation

Line-of-sight, ground wave, skywave, tropospheric ducting, Sporadic E, multipath effects

Amateur Radio Practices

Station setup, SWR meters, power supplies, mobile installation, grounding, bonding

11%

Electrical Principles

Ohm's Law, power calculations, AC/DC, frequency and wavelength, decibels, metric prefixes

11%

Electronic Components

Resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, transistors, ICs, relays, schematic symbols

11%

Station Equipment

Receivers, transmitters, transceivers, repeaters, digital equipment, troubleshooting

11%

Modulation & Digital Modes

FM, SSB, CW, APRS, FT8, PSK31, DMR, packet radio, D-STAR

Antennas & Feed Lines

Dipoles, verticals, Yagi, coaxial cable, SWR, impedance matching, connectors

RF & Electrical Safety

RF exposure limits, non-ionizing radiation, MPE calculations, tower climbing, power line hazards

How to Pass the Ham Radio Technician Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 74% (26/35 correct)
Exam length: 35 questions
Time limit: No official limit (~30-60 min typical)
Exam fee: $35 FCC fee + ~$15 session fee

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Ham Radio Technician Study Tips from Top Performers

1Start with the official question pool — all 35 exam questions come directly from this public pool of ~410 questions with no modifications

2Focus on FCC rules first (17% of the exam) — memorize station ID requirements, prohibited transmissions, and frequency privileges

3Master Ohm's Law (E=IR) and the power formula (P=EI) — these are guaranteed test questions with easy math

4Learn the common band names: 6m (50 MHz), 2m (146 MHz), 70cm (440 MHz) — use the formula wavelength = 300/frequency

5Study repeater operation: offsets (600 kHz on 2m, 5 MHz on 70cm), CTCSS tones, and the 146.520 MHz national calling frequency

6Take full 35-question practice exams — aim for consistent 85%+ scores before scheduling your real exam

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is the ham radio Technician exam?

The Technician exam is considered entry-level with an estimated pass rate of 80-85%. It has 35 multiple-choice questions drawn from a public pool of about 410 questions. You need 26 correct answers (74%) to pass. All questions and answers are publicly available, making it very study-friendly. Most people pass with 1-4 weeks of preparation.

How much does a ham radio license cost?

The FCC charges a $35 application fee for a new amateur radio license (effective April 2022). VEC exam sessions typically charge an additional $15 session fee, though some organizations like Laurel VEC offer free exams. Total cost is approximately $35-$50. There is no fee for upgrading from Technician to General or Extra class.

Do I need to know Morse code to get a ham radio license?

No. The FCC eliminated the Morse code requirement for all amateur radio license classes in 2007. The Technician exam is entirely a written multiple-choice test covering FCC rules, basic electronics, radio operations, and safety. However, many hams still enjoy learning CW (Morse code) as a communication mode.

Where can I take the ham radio Technician exam?

Exams are administered by Volunteer Examiners (VEs) at local exam sessions, community centers, ham radio clubs, and online. The ARRL, W5YI, and Laurel VEC coordinate sessions nationwide. You can find a session near you at arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session. Remote online exams are also available through several VECs.

What can I do with a Technician class ham radio license?

A Technician license grants all operating privileges on VHF/UHF bands above 30 MHz, including the popular 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands. You can use FM voice, digital modes (FT8, DMR, APRS), communicate through amateur satellites and the ISS, participate in emergency communications, and access thousands of repeaters. You also get limited HF privileges on portions of the 80, 40, 15, and 10-meter bands.