Saline  County  ARES

Saline County Arkansas

Updated May 10, 2023

                                        Amateur Radio License/Upgrade Information

So you’ve decided to get your first Amateur Radio (Ham) License or are ready to upgrade to the next level – Congratulations! Here are just a few things we would greatly appreciate your cooperation with:

We are have regularly scheduled tests on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:00 pm. The testing location will be the Saline County Regional Airport Conference Room, 1100 Hill Farm Road, Bryant, AR 72022. We require you pre-register with us not later than the day before the scheduled exam date to let us know you would like to test. Simply send an e-mail to aa5fo@att.net ask any questions and let us know your intent!   You will then be sent a registration form that must be completed adn returned to AA5FO@att.net not later than the day prior to the exam. NOTE: you are not registered for the exam until the registration form has been returned.

If you don’t already have a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Federal Registration Number (FRN), you can register for your free FRN by going to: https://apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb/regEntityType.do    If you do not have an FRN, you will not be permitted to take the exam.

​Currently we have the following dates scheduled for testing:          June 14, 2023 (contact AA5FO@att.net for more details)

​                                                                                                         July 12, 2023 (contact AA5FO@att.net for more details)

​                                                                                                         August 09, 2023 (contact AA5FO@att.net for more information)

Mandatory Administrative fee is currently $15.00 payable at the testing site.Effective April 19, 2022 the License registration fee of $35.00 will become effective payable directly to the FCC. This new fee applies only to New Licenses, Renewals, Rule waiver and/or applications for a new vanity call sign. When the FCC receives your successful testing package/request for changes, they will e-mail you a link for paying this fee.

What you will need to bring with you to the exam session:

                1.  A legal photo ID (driver’s license, passport)

                2.  If no photo ID is available, two forms of identification:
                                a. non-photo ID/driver's license (some states still have them)
                                b. birth certificate (must have the appropriate seal)
                                c. social security card
                                d. library card
                                e. utility bill, bank statement or other business correspondence that specifically names the person; or a postmarked

                                   envelope addressed to the person at his or her current mailing address as it appears on the Form 605.

                3.  Students/minors may bring any of the above items and/or a school ID,  minor's work permit, report card, or a legal guardian may

                     present a photo ID.

                4.  FCC issued Federal Registration Number (FRN); VEC’s  are required by the FCC to submit your FRN number with your

                     license application form.

                5.  If applicable, bring either a photocopy of your current Amateur Radio license or a reference copy printed out from the FCC website,

                     the license information printed from ARRL website or QRZ website, or the original(s) and photocopy(s) of any Certificates of

                     Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) you may hold from previous exam sessions. If your license has already been

                     issued by FCC, the CSCE showing license credit is not needed. The photocopy(s) will not be returned.

                6.  Two number two pencils with erasers and a pen. 

                7.  A calculator with the memory erased and formulas cleared is allowed.  You may not bring any written notes or calculations into the

                     exam session. Cell phone(s) must be silenced or turned off during the exam session and the phones' calculator function may not be

                     used. In addition, iPhones, iPads, Androids, smartphones, Blackberry devices and all similar electronic devices with a calculator

                     capability, may NOT be used.

                8.  Bring a check, a money order or cash (preferably cash) to cover the exam session fee(s).

A good site to help you prepare for taking your exam is: https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/                                                                            

At this site you can take as many practice exams as you like all generated from the current question pool. It will help bolster your self-confidence as well as reinforce the information  that may possibly be asked.

​If you pre-register with us and fail to show up without any notification, we reserve the right to refuse service to you in the future.

Once again, congratulations on deciding to get or upgrade your license, and don’t forget to e-mail me to get registered for the session!

Good Luck!