Amateur Radio Licensing Information

Get your license and get involved!

Getting your Amateur Radio license has never been easier. The no-code Technician license allows entry into the hobby without taking a Morse Code test. The Volunteer Examiner system provides two testing sessions per month in Austin.

License Classes

No-Code Tehnician License Classes are offered periodically by the Austin Amateur Radio Club. The classes usually meet on Saturday mornings, and uses the book The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual as a study guide. For complete information, including information on when the next license classes will start, contact Jeff N5MNW at (512) 255-6753 or Roger W5WIA at (512) 453-2193.

License Examinations in Austin

The Austin Amateur Radio Club sponsors ARRL VEC Amateur Radio exams on the first Saturday of each month. The tests take place at 8:30AM in the Colorado Room of the LCRA General Office Complex (3700 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, TX.) These arrangements might change in the future, so before you go, contact Joe Thiel N5SMN at n5smn@bga.com.

The W5YI Group holds a testing session on the third Saturday of each month. The tests take place at 2:00 PM in Fleck Hall, Room 109 on the campus of St. Edwards University (3001 South Congress Avenue.) There should be lawn signs to help direct you. Parking is available nearby. These arrangements might change in the future, so before you go, call Jim Greenwood AB5EK at (512) 327-6184.

License Study Guides

There are a number of license study guides available to help you get ready for an Amateur Radio exam. For the entry-level Technician license, copies of The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, published by the ARRL, are available in several branches of the Austin Public Library (for example branch libraries, see table to the right.) The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual covers everything you need to study for the written test element to earn your Technician class license!

For all license classes, you can buy written element study guides, Morse Code courses on cassette tape or CD, and Morse Code practice software from Austin Amateur Radio Supply, (512) 454-2994, 5325 North IH-35, located in the Cameron Village Shopping Center (on the south end of the Capital Plaza shopping area, the last stop from campus on the CR shuttle bus route.) Many of these can also be ordered from the ARRL. You can also sometimes find study aids at the Fry's Electronics store at the northeast corner of Mopac and Parmer Lane in north Austin.

Practice, Practice, Practice

You can prepare for the written portions of Amateur Radio license exams by taking practice tests. eHam.net has online Practice Exams for the written (multiple-choice) examination elements.