ARRL

Register Account

Login Help

Exam Element Credit

Exam Element Credit Rules and Instructions

Partial credit for expired licenses is available provided the ex-licensee successfully passes a new Technician exam.

The FCC revised the Amateur Service Part 97 rules (in July 2014) to grant partial written examination element credit to holders of expired General, Advanced, and Extra amateur radio licenses.  A license that has expired and gone beyond the two-year grace period will be canceled in the FCC system.

The FCC does not reinstate or renew the expired license and the licensee will not automatically qualify for a new license.  Previous license holders must pass the current 35-question Technician level exam at a VE exam session to return to amateur radio.  D
epending on the previous license class, the FCC will give partial examination element credit for the higher-level exam(s). The FCC will issue a new call sign and a new license when the Technician exam is passed.
Please refer to "Expired License" Credit section below.

The FCC also offers partial credit for pre-1987 Technician licenses.  Please refer to the Pre-1987 Technician License "Grandfather" Credit section below.

Expired Novice and Tech Plus licenses and Technician licenses issued after March 21, 1987, do not receive any credit.

Proof of the expired license or pre-1987 Technician license must be presented at the exam session.

  • Expired License for Exam Element Credit-

    FCC Rule 97.505(a) offers partial credit to an examinee that has an expired General, Advanced, or Extra license. If an applicant held a General or Advanced license, and has proof, the FCC will afford credit for the General (Element 3) written exam only. If an applicant held an Extra license, and has proof, the FCC will afford credit for the General (Element 3) and Extra (Element 4) written exams. At VE exam sessions it is the applicant (not the VEs or coordinating VEC) who is responsible for supplying the evidence of holding valid expired license credit.

    The section titled “Valid Forms of Exam Element Credit for Expired Licenses” explains how to verify the license status of someone eligible for such credit under Section 97.505 of FCC Rules.

  • Valid Forms of Exam Element Credit for Expired Licenses+

  • Pre-1987 Technician License "Grandfather" Element Credit+

  • Valid Forms of Exam Element Credit for Pre-1987 Technician Licenses+

  • CSCEs for Exam Element Credit+

  • FCC Rule Pertaining to Element Credit+

  • Volunteer Examiner Information+

  • Web Resources for Exam Element Credit+

EXPLORE ARRL

Instragram     Facebook     Twitter     YouTube     LinkedIn