If you are new to ham radio and would like to know how to become a ham, please visit the
ARRL website
which has excellent information on
how to become a radio amateur.
CARS organizes licensing classes quite frequently. These classes help you pass the necessary
exams to become an amateur radio operator, or to upgrade to a higher license class.
If you are interested in attending one of these classes,
E-mail CARS
and you will be contacted the next time there are enough potential students to have a class.
Amateur Radio license examinations are usually referred to as “VE tests” or “VE exams”.
VE stands for Volunteer Examiner. Volunteer examiners are coordinated by a Volunteer Examiner
Coordinator, or VEC. Two VECs in the United States account for 90% of all examination sessions.
One is the ARRL VEC and the other is
the W5YI VEC. There are a number of
ARRL VEC
other VECs who account for the other 10%. The VEs administer Amateur Radio tests and handle
all the paperwork necessary in order for you to obtain an Amateur Radio License.
ARRL VEC test sessions are held at the Hamfest the first Saturday in February at 1:00 pm and the second Saturday of April, June, August, October and December at 9:00 AM. These test sessions are held at the Tall Pines Baptist Church located at 645 Treeland Drive near the American Biker store. Special test sessions are also held immediately after a class is held.
In order to take a test, you are required to bring the following to the test session:
Two forms of identification, one of which needs to be a picture ID
You need to know or have your Social Security number, or better yet, go to the FCC Registration site and register.
You will get a federal registration number (FRN) to use instead of your SSN. (this will be mandatory soon)
$15 Testing Fee
If you are already licensed, the original and copy of your license
If you have any Certificates of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCEs), bring the original and a copy of each CSCE
W4VEC VEC test sessions are held on the third Wednesday night
of each month in Goose Creek at the Masonic Lodge #401, 145 St. James Ave.
across from the Bi-Lo, at 7:00 P.M. Walk-ins are welcome.
For more information, please contact:
Lowcountry VE Team
Phone: (803) 792-1248
Email: veofsc@gmail.com