Interest in becoming a HAM?
The Villages Amateur Radio Club hosts classes covering the exam material for people to become HAMs and current HAMs to advance to a higher level.

You don't have to be a genius to get your ham radio license. Before you can get on the air, you need to be licensed and know the rules to operate. Just like driving a car, you need to take a test to get your license. HAM licenses are good for 10 years and are renewable. In the US there are three license classes issued by the Federal Communications Commission; you start as a Technician, progress to General and then Extra Class Amateur radio operator. Each license level has more privileges, but they do come with additional knowledge requirements.
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HAM Radio Classes
Getting your license requires passing one examination on radio theory, regulations and operating practices. To help you get your license The Villages Amateur Radio Club hosts classes covering the exam material for people to become HAMs and for current HAMs to advance to a higher level. Our classes are always free and open to the general public. The only cost is a $35 text book available from the big book sellers in paperback and eBooks. The rest of the course material is free, see Resources for Class below for details. TVARC will hold a class anytime ten or more people register. Once registered you will be notified about the class information and updates on class schedules. 

September - November 2023 Amateur Technician Class License course (Entry Level)
Class meets on Monday Evenings 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM   
Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center, 3560 Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages, FL 32163
 
Date             Assignment              Topic of Class
Sep 18th       Chapter 1                Welcome to Amateur Radio
Sep 25th       Chapter 2                Radio and Signals Fundamentals
Oct 2nd         Chapter 3                Electricity, Components and Circuits
Oct 9th         Chapter 4                Propagation, Antennas and Feed Lines
Oct 16th        Chapter 5                Amateur Radio Equipment
Oct 23rd        Chapters 6 & 7         Communicating with Hams & Licensing Regulations
Oct 30th        Chapters 8 & 9         Operating Regulations, Safety, & Course Review
Nov 6th         -                            FCC Exam (All levels)

Maximum seating capacity for the Technician Course has been reached; REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

Tentative* January - February 2024 Amateur General Class License course (Intermediate Level)
Class meets on Monday Evenings 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM   
Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center, 3560 Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages, FL 32163
 
Date             Assignment              Topic of Class
Jan 8th         Chapter 1 & 2           Introduction & Procedures and Practices
Jan 15th       Chapter 3                 Rules and Regulations
Jan 22nd      Chapter 4                 Components and Circuits
Jan 29th       Chapter 5                 Radio Signals and Equipment
Feb 5th        Chapter 6                 Digital Modes
Feb 12th      Chapter 7                 Antennas
Feb 19th      Chapters 8 & 9          Propagation, Safety, & Course Review
Feb 26th       -                             FCC Exam (All levels)
 
* Class will be held if ten or more people register by October 2023
To register for the next class with us, please click here.
 
Tentative** March - April 2024 Amateur Extra Class License course (Highest Level)
Class meets on Monday Evenings 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM   
Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center, 3560 Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages, FL 32163
 
Date             Assignment              Topic of Class
Self-Study     Chapter 1                Regulations
Mar 4th         Chapter 2                Components and Subsystems
Mar 11th       Chapter 3                Waveforms, Modulation, Receivers, etc.
Mar 18th       Chapter 4                AC Waves, Transmission Characteristics & Quantification
Mar 25th       Chapter 5                Antennas, Propagation and Safety
Apr 1st          -                            FCC Exam (All levels)
 
** Class will be held if ten or more people register by December 2023
To register for the next class with us, please click here.

Resources for Class
Our classes follow the ARRL Ham Radio License Manuals available from the big book sellers in paperback and eBooks. You are encouraged to use every study resource that works for you. In general people retain more details from a hard copy document. Use the TVARC study guide, write on it, underline or highlight the text for reference later. Other books are not required but if you do have questions from other sources, they will be discussed during the open review at the end of each class. The following are helpful sources of information;
Free Dave Casler KE0OG Videos lectures
Dave KE0OG Technician Class Lectures
Dave KE0OG General Class Lectures
Dave KE0OG Amateur Extra Class Lectures
The class use the ARRL Ham Radio License Manuals as reading assignments that are aligned with the Dave Casler KE0OG videos as a more in-depth reinforcement to get you going in the right direction.
                 ARRL Ham Radio License Manuals
Available at Amazon Books or ARRL Books (class text book)
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ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 5th Edition, July 2022 to June 2026
ARRL General Class License Manual 10th Edition, July 2023 to June 2027
​The ARRL Extra Class License Manual 12th Edition, July 2020 to June 2024
Technician Class Help
Dave Casler KE0OG Lecture Series Information Curriculum & Assignments
How to Acquire an FCC Registration Number (FRN) KE0OG Video Tutorial
ARRL Overview of FCC Registration Instructions
FCC Registration System Video Tutorials
FCC Registration Number (FRN) Create New Account
November 6th Exam (seats are limited) Exam Registration
My 1st Radio - What Radio Should I Buy?

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.
  • 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.
  • Bring one (or two) #2 pencils. The exam is completed on an answer sheet not unlike what we used in school where your answers are recorded by filling in a bubble that indicates your choice. Bring a good eraser should you change your mind with an answer as the exam is now graded by camera.
  • 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 current 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 with our 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 need to go to https://hamstudy.org/sessions/nd4g
  • ​Bring a printout copy of the Email you receive from HamStudy.org as proof of your pre-registration. On it is a pin number you will use to take your exam(s).
The Silver Springs Radio Club (SSRC) also provides exams. The SSRC offers exams bi-monthly, 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.