Interest in becoming a HAM?
You don't have to be a genius to get your ham radio license. But before you can get on the air, you need to be licensed and know the rules to operate legally. US licenses are good for 10 years and are renewable. In the US there are three license classes currently issued by the FCC; you start as a Technician, progress to General and then Extra. Each license level has more privileges, but they do come with additional knowledge requirements.
Before you can get on the air, you need to be licensed and know the rules to operate legally. Just like driving a car, you need to take a test to get your license.
The Villages Amateur Radio Club is active in education of HAMs and future HAMs of all ages. We hold four or more classes each year for people to become HAMs and HAMs to advance to a higher level. TVARC offers Technician (entry level), General Class and Amateur Extra Class license preparation classes that are free and open to the public. The only cost is a $30 text book available from online sellers in paperback and eBooks. The rest of the course material is free to download.
TVARC will hold a class anytime ten or more people signup. This normally results in classes during October to mid-November and mid-January to the end of February. Those who signup will be notified about classes by email as soon as classrooms are reserved. Later class information is posted on the TVARC website prior to class start.
For information about taking an exam with us, please click here.
Before you can get on the air, you need to be licensed and know the rules to operate legally. Just like driving a car, you need to take a test to get your license.
The Villages Amateur Radio Club is active in education of HAMs and future HAMs of all ages. We hold four or more classes each year for people to become HAMs and HAMs to advance to a higher level. TVARC offers Technician (entry level), General Class and Amateur Extra Class license preparation classes that are free and open to the public. The only cost is a $30 text book available from online sellers in paperback and eBooks. The rest of the course material is free to download.
TVARC will hold a class anytime ten or more people signup. This normally results in classes during October to mid-November and mid-January to the end of February. Those who signup will be notified about classes by email as soon as classrooms are reserved. Later class information is posted on the TVARC website prior to class start.
For information about taking an exam with us, please click here.
Technician Class License class schedule - Summer 2021
DATES |
Chapter(s) |
Course Outline |
Tuesday, July 13 |
1 |
Welcome to Amateur Radio |
Tuesday, July 20 * |
2 |
Radio and Signals Fundamentals |
Tuesday, July 27 |
3 |
Electricity, Components and Circuits |
Tuesday, August 3 |
4 |
Propagation, Antennas and Feed Lines |
Tuesday, August 10 |
5 |
Amateur Radio Equipment |
Tuesday, August 17 * |
6 & 7 |
Communicating with Other Hams & Licensing Regulations |
Tuesday, August 24 |
8 & 9 |
Operating Regulations, Safety, & Course Review |
Tuesday, August 31 |
- |
FCC Amateur License Testing Open to all Levels |
Class Location and Times
- Classes will be held in the Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center. Check which room the class is in upon entering the Rec Center as the room assignment will vary from week to week.
3560 Buena Vista Blvd., in The Villages, Florida 32163. (NW corner of Buena Vista Blvd and CR 44A - Traffic Circle).
Dates with * will be in the Bluebell Room at Trillium. Trillium is the Recreation center in the Brownwood Lofts area. - Classes meets Tuesday evenings, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, see schedule above.
- Please read the assigned chapter(s) before the class date for that chapter.
- Class Notes – Click here to download.
- Tuesday, August 31, 2021, 6:00 PM (Date/Time tentative)
- Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center, Admiral King Room.
- See additional info below at bottom of page.
To sign up for classes, click here.
General Class License class schedule - Fall 2021
DATE |
Chapter(s) |
Course Outline |
Tuesday, October 5 |
1, 2, 3, and 9 |
Introduction / Rules / Procedures / Safety |
Tuesday, October 12 |
4 |
Components & Circuits |
Tuesday, October 19 |
5, and 6 |
Radio Signals and Equipment / Digital Modes |
Tuesday, October 26 |
7, and 8 |
Propagation, Antennas and Feed Lines |
Tuesday, November 2 |
- |
FCC Amateur License Testing Open to all Levels |
Class Location and Times
- Classes will be held in the Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center. Check which room the class is in upon entering the Rec Center as the room assignment will vary from week to week.
3560 Buena Vista Blvd., in The Villages, Florida 32163. (NW corner of Buena Vista Blvd and CR 44A - Traffic Circle). - Classes will meet Tuesday evenings, from 6:00 PM to 8:45 PM, see schedule above.
- Class Notes: Download here.
- Tuesday, November 2, 2021, 6:00 PM
- Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center, Admiral King Room.
- See additional info below at bottom of page.
To sign up for classes, click here.
January - February Amateur Technician Class License classes (new HAMs).
A Technician Class will be held mid-January 2022 to the end of February 2022 subject to ten or more people signing up be mid-November 2021. those who sign-up will be notified about classes by Email as soon as a quorum is met.
Must sign up for classes in advance, click here.
A Technician Class will be held mid-January 2022 to the end of February 2022 subject to ten or more people signing up be mid-November 2021. those who sign-up will be notified about classes by Email as soon as a quorum is met.
Must sign up for classes in advance, click here.
Amateur Extra Class License classes
We also offer Amateur Extra licensing classes periodically when enough (greater than 10), students sign up.
Please sign up now! Click here to sign up.
Amateur Extra Class Study Guide (revised), Download PDF
We also offer Amateur Extra licensing classes periodically when enough (greater than 10), students sign up.
Please sign up now! Click here to sign up.
Amateur Extra Class Study Guide (revised), Download PDF
The Silver Springs Radio Club (SSRC) also provides monthly exams. The SSRC offers exams on the 2nd Tuesday of each ODD month in Ocala. For information, and to register for an exam, click here.
The Lake Amateur Radio Association (LARA) offers monthly exams in Leesburg. For information and to register, click here.
FCC Amateur License Exam Information (All levels)
License exam testing is sponsored by The Villages Amateur Radio Club (TVARC) and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Exam sessions are conducted by volunteers working under the direction of the ARRL, and FCC, by the local team in liaison with the American Radio Relay League Volunteer Examiner Program.
The fee for testing is $15 and paid directly to the Team Liaison (Test Session Manager) on the day of the exam.
The test session manager requests you bring exactly $15 CASH, as change is not available.
License exam testing is sponsored by The Villages Amateur Radio Club (TVARC) and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Exam sessions are conducted by volunteers working under the direction of the ARRL, and FCC, by the local team in liaison with the American Radio Relay League Volunteer Examiner Program.
The fee for testing is $15 and paid directly to the Team Liaison (Test Session Manager) on the day of the exam.
The test session manager requests you bring exactly $15 CASH, as change is not available.
- Please bring Photo-ID, CASH $15, copy of your current license (if you are upgrading), and a copy of any valid/current CSCE(s).
- You must provide a valid US Mailing address.
- A basic calculator with simple memory functions is allowed. Scientific and programmable calculators will not be allowed to be used.
- Exam Candidates are NOW REQUIRED to register in the FCC CORES system and receive a Federal Registration Number (FRN) before exam day. To obtain an FRN you must go to the FCC CORES User Account and Registration page: https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin
Here is a video that may help how to register and create the FRN: www.fcc.gov/rofrn
Here is a Users Guide with lots of information: Users Guide
If you are upgrading, insure that you have your FRN number with you. Hint: it is on your license. - If you want to take the next exam up from the one you passed at this session, you can on the same $15 fee, so long as we have the time to accommodate you. If you should fail an exam, and wish to re-take it, this will cost you an additional exam fee, as it would count as another exam candidate for processing, and this too, would be subject to the remaining time available.
- If you have an expired amateur license that is beyond the 2 year renewable grace period, you can bring proof of your expired license (of any level), and by passing the current Element 2 Technician Class license exam, under certain circumstances, your original license privileges can be re-instated.
- Beginning August 31, 2021 Exam Session candidates must be "Pre-Registered" . The VE team is transitioning to an electronic format for all paperwork/documents, and grading of the exams by software controlled camera.
- To Pre-Register a candidate will go to https://hamstudy.org/sessions/nd4g