Earning an FCC Amateur Radio Extra Class License

For more than three decades, Paul Angelides has overseen a private engineering firm licensed to operate in New York, Connecticut, and the US Virgin Islands. Outside of work, Paul Angelides enjoys traveling and pursuing his longtime interest in amateur radio. He holds an Amateur Extra Class license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The FCC currently issues six classes of licenses to amateur radio operators. Most operators begin at the Technician Class before advancing to earn their General Class or Amateur Extra Class operator license. Each class comes with certain privileges that are granted based on one’s level of knowledge and skills related to operating an amateur station. To advance to a new class, operators must pass a written examination conducted by a volunteer examiner in their community.

Those who wish to have access to all amateur radio frequencies authorized by the FCC must possess an Amateur Extra Class license, which requires that they pass a 50-question exam covering advanced topics. Exam questions focus on specialized operating practices and lesser-known regulations, as well as advanced electronics theory and topics related to radio equipment design. Radio operators can access study guides and training courses and find local exam centers through organizations such as the American Radio Relay League.