The three licence classes
In the United States there are three amateur licences. You start at the first one. Each later exam is optional, and each one gives you more of the radio spectrum.
| Technician | General | Amateur Extra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam length | 35 questions | 35 questions | 50 questions |
| Pass mark | 26 correct | 26 correct | 37 correct |
| Best for | Local contacts, repeaters, satellites, digital | Talking worldwide on shortwave | Every frequency amateurs are allowed |
| What it adds | All VHF and UHF bands, plus a slice of shortwave | Most of the shortwave bands | The remaining shortwave segments |
| Typical study | Two to four weeks, casually | A few more weeks | Longer - more theory and maths |
Technician - where everyone starts
The Technician exam covers basic rules, safe operating, and enough electronics to keep you and your neighbours out of trouble. With it you can use handheld and mobile radios, talk through local repeaters, work amateur satellites, send digital messages, and take part in emergency communications. For a lot of operators this is all they ever need.
General - the worldwide licence
General opens up most of the shortwave ("HF") bands, which is where you talk to other countries without any infrastructure in between. Most people take it within a year of getting their Technician, and a fair number take both exams on the same day - there is no waiting period.
Amateur Extra - the full ticket
Extra adds the remaining slices of spectrum, which are popular for contests and for chasing rare stations. The exam goes deeper into theory, circuits and rules. There is no rush: take it when the extra frequencies would actually be useful to you.
You can take more than one exam in a sitting
Exam teams will let you attempt the next licence in the same session, usually at no extra charge if you passed the one before it. If you feel confident, study for two and try both.
There is no Morse code requirement for any US amateur licence. That went away in 2007. Plenty of operators still learn Morse because they enjoy it - it is simply no longer a test you have to pass.