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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ham-license-classes

For which amateur license classes does the FCC currently issue new licenses?

Technician, General and Amateur Extra.

  1. Novice, Technician, General, Amateur Extra
  2. Technician, Technician Plus, General, Amateur Extra
  3. Technician, General, Amateur Extra ✔

Why: New hams can only earn Technician, General or Amateur Extra today. Older classes like Novice and Advanced can be renewed by existing holders, but no new ones are issued.

Huh, didn't know that: The Technician exam has 35 questions, and you need 26 right to pass.

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Why did the ham study so hard? He wanted to be in a class of his own.
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Sources

  1. NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician Question Pool (Element 2), errata Feb 19, 2026 https://www.ncvec.org/downloads/2026-2030%20Technician%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20Feb%2019%202026.pdf
  2. 47 CFR 97.503 Element standards (eCFR) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-F/section-97.503

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