Tri-State Amateur Radio Society

First-Time Exam Applicants Must Obtain FCC Registration
Number before Taking Exam

Beginning May 20, 2021, all amateur examination applicants will be
required to provide an FCC Registration Number (FRN) to the
Volunteer Examiners (VEs) before taking an amateur exam. This is
necessary due to changes the FCC has made to its licensing system.

Amateur candidates who already have an FCC license, whether for
amateur radio or in another service, already have an FRN and can use
the same number. All prospective new FCC licensees, however, will be
required to obtain an FRN before the examination and provide that
number to the volunteer examiners on the Form 605 license
application. An FCC instructional video provides step-by-step
instructions on how to obtain an FRN through the FCC's COmmission
REgistration System (CORES).

The video is available at, https://www.fcc.gov/rofrn .

The FRN is required for all new applicants to take an amateur exam
and is used afterward by the applicant to download the license
document from the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS), upgrade the
license, apply for a vanity call sign, and to submit administrative
updates (such as address and email changes) and renewal
applications.

In addition, after June 29, all applications will be required to
contain an email address for FCC correspondence. Applicants will
receive an email direct from the FCC with a link to the official
electronic copy of their license whenever a license is issued or
changed. ARRL VEC suggests that those without access to email to use
the email address of a family member or friend. Licensees will be
able to log in to the ULS using their FRN and password to download
the latest version of their license at any time. The FCC no longer
provides paper license documents.