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• All license restructuring changes are effective April 15, 2000
• The FCC will stop issuing new Novice and Advanced class licenses after April 15, 2000
• Current Technician and Technician Plus licensees will be lumped into a single Technician licensee FCC database.
• Current Technician Plus licenses will be stamped simply "Technician." Technicians who have passed Element 1, the 5 WPM Morse code examination, will enjoy current Tech Plus HF privileges, but the burden of proof of having passed Element 1 (5 WPM or any higher Morse code element) will be on the licensee.
• All current license classes and privileges will remain the same, and all licensees will be able to renew their licenses indefinitely.
• There will be three license classes--Technician, General, and Amateur Extra--and a single Morse code requirement--5 WPM.
• Although no new Novice and Advanced licenses will be issued after the effective date of the Report and Order, the FCC does not plan to automatically upgrade any existing license privileges.
Upgrade paths by existing license class:
Currently Unlicensed: As of April 15, 2000, only 3 license classes will exist. Technician: 35 question written test, NO morse code! General: 35 question written test, 5 wpm morse. Extra: 50 question written test, 5 wpm morse.
Upgrade from Novice License: You may continue to operate and renew indefinitely with no change in current privileges! If you choose to upgrade before April 15, take element 3A to become a Tech Plus. If you wait, you must then take the new Technician element 2 test to upgrade to Tech plus. If you also pass element 3B before April 15, you will upgrade to general. Your morse code credit for 5 wpm will be applicable at any time!
Technician License Variations: Three different flavors of Technician license exist which will require different upgrade paths: Basic Tech license without code, Tech Plus and Pre-1987 Technician (which took the same theory test as General).
Upgrade from Basic Tech License: Existing operating privileges remain the same, all ham frequencies above 50 MHz. Upgrade to any other license class will require taking only the 5 wpm code test! Before April 15, take element 3B, the General written, plus 5 wpm to upgrade to General. After April 15, take the new element 3 plus 5 wpm! 5 wpm alone gives Novice bands.
Upgrade from Tech Plus License: Your privileges will also not change. Upgrade to any other license class will require taking theory tests only! Before April 15, take element 3B, the General written to upgrade to General. After April 15, take the new element 3 exam only! Tech Plus license is being phased out and renewals simply say Technician. Your HF privileges and code credit will remain intact! However, it is extremely important that you keep a copy of your current Tech Plus license, as the FCC database will no longer have a record of your passing a code exam! Any Tech license prior to February 14, 1991, required code and is also valid to show code credit.
Upgrade from Pre-1987 Technician License: Prior to March 21, 1987, Technicians and Generals took the same written theory test - element 3. You will be able to upgrade to general without taking any additional license exams! You must prove you were a Technician prior to this date to qualify. After April 15, bring your current license and your old license (or other proof) to a Volunteer examination session, fill out a form and pay a fee and you will be upgraded.
Methods of proof of Pre-1987 Technician License: 1. A copy of your pre-1987 Tech license. 2. You may write the FCC licensing branch, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg PA 17325 and ask for certification. 3. Some VE teams will accept pre-1987 callbook listing.
Upgrade from General License: Your current privileges remain and you will not have to take another code test to upgrade. Before April 15, take element 4A Advanced theory and 4B Extra theory for credit to upgrade to Extra after April 15. However, if you pass 4A without 4B, you get credit for an Advanced license, but you would have to take the new element 4 after April 15 to upgrade to Extra. This element will contain many of the same questions from current element 4A.
Upgrade from Advanced License: You will keep all off your current privileges and be able to renew or modify your license indefinitely as an Advanced. No new Advanced licenses will be issued. You can upgrade to Extra by taking element 4B now and using it for element credit after April 15. You can also upgrade after April 15 by taking new element 4, but it will have many of the same questions from current element 4A.
Extra Class License: Congratulations! You already have full privileges and will never have to take another amateur radio license exam!
Final Note: The new license structure is effective April 15. Many new HF operators will appear on the bands and will need help. Share your knowledge of HF operating with them.
• All license restructuring changes are effective April 15, 2000
• New Technician License exam will have 35 questions.
• New General License exam will have 35 questions plus one code test with a speed of 5 words-per-minute.
• New Amateur Extra License exam will have 50 questions.
• Existing License classes and privileges will remain and may be renewed indefinitely.
• No one loses any privileges and in nearly all cases, no one gains any additional privileges for "free" without upgrading.
• To upgrade you must apply through your local volunteer examiner and pay a $6.65 fee.
• Most of the current question pool will remain in the new examinations however they will be redistributed. The new Technician license exams will probably only have questions on VHF/UHF and not on HF operation.