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G1D

COMMISSION'S RULES

- Volunteer Examiners and Volunteer Examiner Coordinators; temporary identification; element credit; remote operation

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G1D011 of 12§ 97.501, 97.505(a)

Who may receive partial credit for the elements represented by an expired amateur radio license?

Why Section 97.505(a) directs Volunteer Examiners to give credit for the written elements a person already proved they passed, and that credit does not expire with the license. So someone who can document that they once held an FCC-issued General, Advanced, or Amateur Extra license, and that it was not revoked, gets credit for the elements that license represented and only needs to pass the remaining element(s). Expiration of the license itself does not erase the exam credit, but a revoked license does.
Watch out The choice with a 5 to 15 year window confuses element credit with the two-year grace period for renewing an expired license; there is no time limit on documented element credit. Credit is based on an FCC-issued license, so a foreign license does not qualify under this rule.
Documented proof plus never revoked equals permanent element credit. No clock, no expiration date on what you already passed.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.501 Qualifying for an amateur operator license.

Each applicant must pass an examination for a new amateur operator license grant and for each change in operator class. Each applicant for the class of operator license grant specified below must pass, or otherwise receive examination credit for, the following examination elements:

(a) Amateur Extra Class operator: Elements 2, 3, and 4;

(b) General Class operator: Elements 2 and 3;

(c) Technician Class operator: Element 2.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
47 CFR 97.505(a) Element credit.

(a) The administering VEs must give credit as specified below to an examinee holding any of the following license grants:

(b) The administering VEs must give credit to an examinee holding a CSCE for each element the CSCE indicates the examinee passed within the previous 365 days.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
G1D022 of 12§ 97.509(b)(3)(i)

What license examinations may you administer as an accredited Volunteer Examiner holding a General class operator license?

Why Under 97.509(b)(3)(i) a Volunteer Examiner may only administer exams for classes below their own license class. An Amateur Extra VE can give all three elements, an Advanced VE can handle General and Technician, and a General VE is limited to the Technician exam. So holding General qualifies you to help give Element 2 only.
Watch out The choice adding General is the common trap: you cannot administer an exam for your own license class, only for classes beneath it. It is also false that only Extras can be accredited, since General and Advanced licensees may be VEs with restricted authority.
VEs test below themselves: General gives Tech, Advanced gives Tech and General, Extra gives everything.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.509(b)(3)(i) Administering VE requirements.

(a) Each examination for an amateur operator license must be administered by a team of at least 3 VEs at an examination session coordinated by a VEC. The number of examinees at the session may be limited.

(b) Each administering VE must:

(1) Be accredited by the coordinating VEC;

(2) Be at least 18 years of age;

(3) Be a person who holds an amateur operator license of the class specified below:

(i) Amateur Extra, Advanced or General Class in order to administer a Technician Class operator license examination;

(ii) Amateur Extra or Advanced Class in order to administer a General Class operator license examination;

(iii) Amateur Extra Class in order to administer an Amateur Extra Class operator license examination.

(4) Not be a person whose grant of an amateur station license or amateur operator license has ever been revoked or suspended.

(c) Each administering VE must observe the examinee throughout the entire examination. The administering VEs are responsible for the proper conduct and necessary supervision of each examination. The administering VEs must immediately terminate the examination upon failure of the examinee to comply with their instructions.

(d) No VE may administer an examination to his or her spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

(e) No VE may administer or certify any examination by fraudulent means or for monetary or other consideration including reimbursement in any amount in excess of that permitted. Violation of this provision may result in the revocation of the grant of the VE's amateur station license and the suspension of the grant of the VE's amateur operator license.

(f) No examination that has been compromised shall be administered to any examinee. The same question set may not be re-administered to the same examinee.

(g) [Reserved]

(h) Upon completion of each examination element, the administering VEs must immediately grade the examinee's answers. For examinations administered remotely, the administering VEs must grade the examinee's answers at the earliest practical opportunity. The administering VEs are responsible for determining the correctness of the examinee's answers.

(i) When the examinee is credited for all examination elements required for the operator license sought, 3 VEs must certify that the examinee is qualified for the license grant and that the VEs have complied with these administering VE requirements. The certifying VEs are jointly and individually accountable for the proper administration of each examination element reported. The certifying VEs may delegate to other qualified VEs their authority, but not their accountability, to administer individual elements of an examination.

(j) When the examinee does not score a passing grade on an examination element, the administering VEs must return the application document to the examinee and inform the examinee of the grade.

(k) The administering VEs must accommodate an examinee whose physical disabilities require a special examination procedure. The administering VEs may require a physician's certification indicating the nature of the disability before determining which, if any, special procedures must be used.

(l) The administering VEs must issue a CSCE to an examinee who scores a passing grade on an examination element.

(m) After the administration of a successful examination for an amateur operator license, the administering VEs must submit the application document to the coordinating VEC according to the coordinating VEC's instructions.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
G1D033 of 12§ 97.9(b)

On which of the following band segments may you operate if you are a Technician class operator and have an unexpired Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) for General class privileges?

Why Under 97.9(b), a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination gives you immediate credit for the upgraded operating privileges while your license modification is processed, and it stays valid for 365 days. That means you may use every frequency and mode your new class authorizes, plus everything you already held, as soon as you walk out of the exam session. While operating on the new privileges before the upgrade appears in the FCC database, you must identify with your call sign followed by the indicator /AG (or "slash AG" on phone).
Watch out The choice carving out 30 and 60 meters invents a restriction that does not exist; a CSCE for General conveys full General privileges, including those bands. Waiting for the database posting or an application fee receipt is not required either, which is the whole point of the CSCE.
CSCE = instant upgrade, good 365 days. Sign /AG until the FCC database catches up. No bands held back.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.9(b) Operator license grant.

(a) The classes of amateur operator license grants are: Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, and Amateur Extra. The person named in the operator license grant is authorized to be the control operator of an amateur station with the privileges authorized to the operator class specified on the license grant.

(b) The person named in an operator license grant of Novice, Technician, General or Advanced Class, who has properly submitted to the administering VEs a FCC Form 605 document requesting examination for an operator license grant of a higher class, and who holds a CSCE indicating that the person has completed the necessary examinations within the previous 365 days, is authorized to exercise the rights and privileges of the higher operator class until final disposition of the application or until 365 days following the passing of the examination, whichever comes first.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
G1D044 of 12§ 97.509(3)(i)(c)

Who must observe the administration of a Technician class license examination?

Why Section 97.509 requires every amateur exam session to be administered and observed by at least three accredited Volunteer Examiners, and each VE must hold a license class higher than the element being tested. Since a Technician exam covers Element 2, the VEs must be General class or above (General, Advanced or Extra). So a Technician exam needs three VEs, all General or higher.
Watch out The choice saying two VEs of General or higher gets the license class right but not the count; three is the minimum for any exam element, with no exceptions. Technician-class hams cannot serve as VEs for a Technician exam because their license is not higher than the element being tested.
Three VEs, always. For a Tech exam they must be General or better (one class up from what's being tested).
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.509(3)(i)(c) Administering VE requirements.

(a) Each examination for an amateur operator license must be administered by a team of at least 3 VEs at an examination session coordinated by a VEC. The number of examinees at the session may be limited.

(b) Each administering VE must:

(1) Be accredited by the coordinating VEC;

(2) Be at least 18 years of age;

(3) Be a person who holds an amateur operator license of the class specified below:

(i) Amateur Extra, Advanced or General Class in order to administer a Technician Class operator license examination;

(ii) Amateur Extra or Advanced Class in order to administer a General Class operator license examination;

(iii) Amateur Extra Class in order to administer an Amateur Extra Class operator license examination.

(4) Not be a person whose grant of an amateur station license or amateur operator license has ever been revoked or suspended.

(c) Each administering VE must observe the examinee throughout the entire examination. The administering VEs are responsible for the proper conduct and necessary supervision of each examination. The administering VEs must immediately terminate the examination upon failure of the examinee to comply with their instructions.

(d) No VE may administer an examination to his or her spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

(e) No VE may administer or certify any examination by fraudulent means or for monetary or other consideration including reimbursement in any amount in excess of that permitted. Violation of this provision may result in the revocation of the grant of the VE's amateur station license and the suspension of the grant of the VE's amateur operator license.

(f) No examination that has been compromised shall be administered to any examinee. The same question set may not be re-administered to the same examinee.

(g) [Reserved]

(h) Upon completion of each examination element, the administering VEs must immediately grade the examinee's answers. For examinations administered remotely, the administering VEs must grade the examinee's answers at the earliest practical opportunity. The administering VEs are responsible for determining the correctness of the examinee's answers.

(i) When the examinee is credited for all examination elements required for the operator license sought, 3 VEs must certify that the examinee is qualified for the license grant and that the VEs have complied with these administering VE requirements. The certifying VEs are jointly and individually accountable for the proper administration of each examination element reported. The certifying VEs may delegate to other qualified VEs their authority, but not their accountability, to administer individual elements of an examination.

(j) When the examinee does not score a passing grade on an examination element, the administering VEs must return the application document to the examinee and inform the examinee of the grade.

(k) The administering VEs must accommodate an examinee whose physical disabilities require a special examination procedure. The administering VEs may require a physician's certification indicating the nature of the disability before determining which, if any, special procedures must be used.

(l) The administering VEs must issue a CSCE to an examinee who scores a passing grade on an examination element.

(m) After the administration of a successful examination for an amateur operator license, the administering VEs must submit the application document to the coordinating VEC according to the coordinating VEC's instructions.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
G1D055 of 12§ 97.7

When operating a US station by remote control from outside the country, what license is required of the control operator?

Why Section 97.7 says an amateur station may transmit only when a control operator holding a valid FCC amateur operator/primary station license is at the control point. What matters is the location of the transmitter, not the person: if the station is a US station, whoever runs it remotely must hold the FCC license and operates within the privileges of that license class. Sitting in another country while logged into the remote station does not change that requirement.
Watch out The choices adding a 'special remote station permit' describe something the FCC does not issue; there is no separate authorization for remote control. A foreign license only authorizes operating stations under that country's jurisdiction, not a US station.
US transmitter, US license. There is no FCC 'remote permit' - any answer inventing one is wrong.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.7 Control operator required.

When transmitting, each amateur station must have a control operator. The control operator must be a person:

(a) For whom an amateur operator/primary station license grant appears on the ULS consolidated licensee database, or

(b) Who is authorized for alien reciprocal operation by § 97.107 of this part.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
G1D066 of 12§ 97.119(f)(2)

Until an upgrade to General class is shown in the FCC database, when must a Technician licensee identify with "AG" after their call sign?

Why Section 97.119(f)(2) says that when you operate using privileges earned by passing an exam but not yet granted in the FCC database, you must append the appropriate indicator to your call sign. For a Technician who has passed the General exam, that indicator is "AG" (or "slash AG" / "temporary AG" on phone), and it is required only while you are using the newly earned General privileges. The CSCE is your proof of the upgrade, and once the grant shows up in the FCC ULS database you drop the indicator entirely.
Watch out Using "AG" on every transmission, or while operating on the Technician bands you already held, goes beyond what the rule requires; the indicator exists to show listeners you are authorized on frequencies your database record does not yet cover. And simply filing or passing is not enough to skip identification, the indicator is mandatory until the grant appears.
AG only where the new privileges apply: new frequencies, new tag. Drop it when the FCC database catches up.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.119(f)(2) Station identification.

(a) Each amateur station, except a space station or telecommand station, must transmit its assigned call sign on its transmitting channel at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during a communication, for the purpose of clearly making the source of the transmissions from the station known to those receiving the transmissions. No station may transmit unidentified communications or signals, or transmit as the station call sign, any call sign not authorized to the station.

(b) The call sign must be transmitted with an emission authorized for the transmitting channel in one of the following ways:

(1) By a CW emission. When keyed by an automatic device used only for identification, the speed must not exceed 20 words per minute;

(2) By a phone emission in the English language. Use of a phonetic alphabet as an aid for correct station identification is encouraged;

(3) By a RTTY emission using a specified digital code when all or part of the communications are transmitted by a RTTY or data emission;

(4) By an image emission conforming to the applicable transmission standards, either color or monochrome, of § 73.682(a) of the FCC Rules when all or part of the communications are transmitted in the same image emission

(c) One or more indicators may be included with the call sign. Each indicator must be separated from the call sign by the slant mark (/) or by any suitable word that denotes the slant mark. If an indicator is self-assigned, it must be included before, after, or both before and after, the call sign. No self-assigned indicator may conflict with any other indicator specified by the FCC Rules or with any prefix assigned to another country.

(d) When transmitting in conjunction with an event of special significance, a station may substitute for its assigned call sign a special event call sign as shown for that station for that period of time on the common data base coordinated, maintained and disseminated by the special event call sign data base coordinators. Additionally, the station must transmit its assigned call sign at least once per hour during such transmissions.

(e) When the operator license class held by the control operator exceeds that of the station licensee, an indicator consisting of the call sign assigned to the control operator's station must be included after the call sign.

(f) When the control operator is a person who is exercising the rights and privileges authorized by § 97.9(b) of this part, an indicator must be included after the call sign as follows:

(1) For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice Class to Technical Class: KT;

(2) For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice or Technician to General Class: AG;

(3) For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice, Technician, General, or Advanced Class to Amateur Extra Class: AE.

(g) When the station is transmitting under the authority of § 97.107 of this part, an indicator consisting of the appropriate letter-numeral designating the station location must be included before the call sign that was issued to the station by the country granting the license. For an amateur service license granted by the Government of Canada, however, the indicator must be included after the call sign. At least once during each intercommunication, the identification announcement must include the geographical location as nearly as possible by city and state, commonwealth or possession.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
G1D077 of 12§ 97.509(b)(1)

Volunteer Examiners are accredited by what organization?

Why Under 97.509(b)(1), exam sessions are run by at least three accredited Volunteer Examiners, and the accreditation comes from a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, the organization that has an agreement with the FCC to coordinate testing. The FCC delegated the amateur testing program to these VEC organizations, so the VEC screens applicants, accredits them as VEs, and forwards the results to the FCC. Examples include the ARRL VEC and the W5YI VEC.
Watch out The FCC itself no longer administers or accredits anything at the exam level; it only licenses. The Universal Licensing System is just the FCC's online database for license records, and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is the FCC branch that oversees the service but does not hand out VE credentials.
VE accreditation comes from the VEC: the C in VEC stands for the Coordinator that certifies the examiners.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.509(b)(1) Administering VE requirements.

(a) Each examination for an amateur operator license must be administered by a team of at least 3 VEs at an examination session coordinated by a VEC. The number of examinees at the session may be limited.

(b) Each administering VE must:

(1) Be accredited by the coordinating VEC;

(2) Be at least 18 years of age;

(3) Be a person who holds an amateur operator license of the class specified below:

(i) Amateur Extra, Advanced or General Class in order to administer a Technician Class operator license examination;

(ii) Amateur Extra or Advanced Class in order to administer a General Class operator license examination;

(iii) Amateur Extra Class in order to administer an Amateur Extra Class operator license examination.

(4) Not be a person whose grant of an amateur station license or amateur operator license has ever been revoked or suspended.

(c) Each administering VE must observe the examinee throughout the entire examination. The administering VEs are responsible for the proper conduct and necessary supervision of each examination. The administering VEs must immediately terminate the examination upon failure of the examinee to comply with their instructions.

(d) No VE may administer an examination to his or her spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

(e) No VE may administer or certify any examination by fraudulent means or for monetary or other consideration including reimbursement in any amount in excess of that permitted. Violation of this provision may result in the revocation of the grant of the VE's amateur station license and the suspension of the grant of the VE's amateur operator license.

(f) No examination that has been compromised shall be administered to any examinee. The same question set may not be re-administered to the same examinee.

(g) [Reserved]

(h) Upon completion of each examination element, the administering VEs must immediately grade the examinee's answers. For examinations administered remotely, the administering VEs must grade the examinee's answers at the earliest practical opportunity. The administering VEs are responsible for determining the correctness of the examinee's answers.

(i) When the examinee is credited for all examination elements required for the operator license sought, 3 VEs must certify that the examinee is qualified for the license grant and that the VEs have complied with these administering VE requirements. The certifying VEs are jointly and individually accountable for the proper administration of each examination element reported. The certifying VEs may delegate to other qualified VEs their authority, but not their accountability, to administer individual elements of an examination.

(j) When the examinee does not score a passing grade on an examination element, the administering VEs must return the application document to the examinee and inform the examinee of the grade.

(k) The administering VEs must accommodate an examinee whose physical disabilities require a special examination procedure. The administering VEs may require a physician's certification indicating the nature of the disability before determining which, if any, special procedures must be used.

(l) The administering VEs must issue a CSCE to an examinee who scores a passing grade on an examination element.

(m) After the administration of a successful examination for an amateur operator license, the administering VEs must submit the application document to the coordinating VEC according to the coordinating VEC's instructions.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
G1D088 of 12§ 97.509(b)(3)

Which of the following criteria must be met for a non-US citizen to be an accredited Volunteer Examiner?

Why Under 97.509(b)(3), the only license-related requirement for a Volunteer Examiner is holding an FCC-granted amateur license of General class or higher (Advanced or Extra classes are needed to administer higher elements). Citizenship and residency are not part of the VE accreditation criteria, so anyone holding the right FCC license and meeting the age and character requirements can be accredited. What matters is the FCC license in hand, not the passport.
Watch out The choice saying a non-US citizen cannot be a VE is the common assumption, but nothing in Part 97 bars non-citizens; likewise there is no 5-year residency test or ITU Region 2 requirement anywhere in the rules.
VE accreditation looks at your license, not your citizenship: General or higher is the only gate.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.509(b)(3) Administering VE requirements.

(a) Each examination for an amateur operator license must be administered by a team of at least 3 VEs at an examination session coordinated by a VEC. The number of examinees at the session may be limited.

(b) Each administering VE must:

(1) Be accredited by the coordinating VEC;

(2) Be at least 18 years of age;

(3) Be a person who holds an amateur operator license of the class specified below:

(i) Amateur Extra, Advanced or General Class in order to administer a Technician Class operator license examination;

(ii) Amateur Extra or Advanced Class in order to administer a General Class operator license examination;

(iii) Amateur Extra Class in order to administer an Amateur Extra Class operator license examination.

(4) Not be a person whose grant of an amateur station license or amateur operator license has ever been revoked or suspended.

(c) Each administering VE must observe the examinee throughout the entire examination. The administering VEs are responsible for the proper conduct and necessary supervision of each examination. The administering VEs must immediately terminate the examination upon failure of the examinee to comply with their instructions.

(d) No VE may administer an examination to his or her spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

(e) No VE may administer or certify any examination by fraudulent means or for monetary or other consideration including reimbursement in any amount in excess of that permitted. Violation of this provision may result in the revocation of the grant of the VE's amateur station license and the suspension of the grant of the VE's amateur operator license.

(f) No examination that has been compromised shall be administered to any examinee. The same question set may not be re-administered to the same examinee.

(g) [Reserved]

(h) Upon completion of each examination element, the administering VEs must immediately grade the examinee's answers. For examinations administered remotely, the administering VEs must grade the examinee's answers at the earliest practical opportunity. The administering VEs are responsible for determining the correctness of the examinee's answers.

(i) When the examinee is credited for all examination elements required for the operator license sought, 3 VEs must certify that the examinee is qualified for the license grant and that the VEs have complied with these administering VE requirements. The certifying VEs are jointly and individually accountable for the proper administration of each examination element reported. The certifying VEs may delegate to other qualified VEs their authority, but not their accountability, to administer individual elements of an examination.

(j) When the examinee does not score a passing grade on an examination element, the administering VEs must return the application document to the examinee and inform the examinee of the grade.

(k) The administering VEs must accommodate an examinee whose physical disabilities require a special examination procedure. The administering VEs may require a physician's certification indicating the nature of the disability before determining which, if any, special procedures must be used.

(l) The administering VEs must issue a CSCE to an examinee who scores a passing grade on an examination element.

(m) After the administration of a successful examination for an amateur operator license, the administering VEs must submit the application document to the coordinating VEC according to the coordinating VEC's instructions.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
G1D099 of 12§ 97.9(b)

How long is a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) valid for exam element credit?

Why Under 97.9(b), a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination gives you credit for the element you passed for 365 days from the date of the exam session. That means if you pass a written element but not the next one, you have a full year to come back to another VE session and finish without retaking the element you already passed. The same CSCE also grants temporary operating privileges until your upgrade appears in the FCC database, but that authority ends when the 365 days run out.
Watch out The 180-day answer is a common mix-up; no Part 97 element credit period is that short, and the credit is not tied to the life of your license either, since it expires a year after the exam whether or not your license is still current.
CSCE credit = one year, 365 days. Pass one element now, finish the upgrade within a year.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.9(b) Operator license grant.

(a) The classes of amateur operator license grants are: Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, and Amateur Extra. The person named in the operator license grant is authorized to be the control operator of an amateur station with the privileges authorized to the operator class specified on the license grant.

(b) The person named in an operator license grant of Novice, Technician, General or Advanced Class, who has properly submitted to the administering VEs a FCC Form 605 document requesting examination for an operator license grant of a higher class, and who holds a CSCE indicating that the person has completed the necessary examinations within the previous 365 days, is authorized to exercise the rights and privileges of the higher operator class until final disposition of the application or until 365 days following the passing of the examination, whichever comes first.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
G1D1010 of 12§ 97.509(b)(2)

What is the minimum age that one must be to qualify as an accredited Volunteer Examiner?

Why FCC rule 97.509(b)(2) sets the qualifications for Volunteer Examiners, and one of them is that the VE must be at least 18 years of age. The other basic requirements are holding an FCC-granted General class or higher license (the class determines which exam elements you may administer) and being accredited by a VEC. Age 18 is the legal adult threshold, which is why it was chosen.
Watch out The choice saying 16 confuses the VE rule with the fact that there is no minimum age to hold an amateur license or take an exam; young licensees can be hams, but they cannot serve as VEs until 18.
You can get licensed at any age, but you must be a legal adult, 18, to give the test.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.509(b)(2) Administering VE requirements.

(a) Each examination for an amateur operator license must be administered by a team of at least 3 VEs at an examination session coordinated by a VEC. The number of examinees at the session may be limited.

(b) Each administering VE must:

(1) Be accredited by the coordinating VEC;

(2) Be at least 18 years of age;

(3) Be a person who holds an amateur operator license of the class specified below:

(i) Amateur Extra, Advanced or General Class in order to administer a Technician Class operator license examination;

(ii) Amateur Extra or Advanced Class in order to administer a General Class operator license examination;

(iii) Amateur Extra Class in order to administer an Amateur Extra Class operator license examination.

(4) Not be a person whose grant of an amateur station license or amateur operator license has ever been revoked or suspended.

(c) Each administering VE must observe the examinee throughout the entire examination. The administering VEs are responsible for the proper conduct and necessary supervision of each examination. The administering VEs must immediately terminate the examination upon failure of the examinee to comply with their instructions.

(d) No VE may administer an examination to his or her spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

(e) No VE may administer or certify any examination by fraudulent means or for monetary or other consideration including reimbursement in any amount in excess of that permitted. Violation of this provision may result in the revocation of the grant of the VE's amateur station license and the suspension of the grant of the VE's amateur operator license.

(f) No examination that has been compromised shall be administered to any examinee. The same question set may not be re-administered to the same examinee.

(g) [Reserved]

(h) Upon completion of each examination element, the administering VEs must immediately grade the examinee's answers. For examinations administered remotely, the administering VEs must grade the examinee's answers at the earliest practical opportunity. The administering VEs are responsible for determining the correctness of the examinee's answers.

(i) When the examinee is credited for all examination elements required for the operator license sought, 3 VEs must certify that the examinee is qualified for the license grant and that the VEs have complied with these administering VE requirements. The certifying VEs are jointly and individually accountable for the proper administration of each examination element reported. The certifying VEs may delegate to other qualified VEs their authority, but not their accountability, to administer individual elements of an examination.

(j) When the examinee does not score a passing grade on an examination element, the administering VEs must return the application document to the examinee and inform the examinee of the grade.

(k) The administering VEs must accommodate an examinee whose physical disabilities require a special examination procedure. The administering VEs may require a physician's certification indicating the nature of the disability before determining which, if any, special procedures must be used.

(l) The administering VEs must issue a CSCE to an examinee who scores a passing grade on an examination element.

(m) After the administration of a successful examination for an amateur operator license, the administering VEs must submit the application document to the coordinating VEC according to the coordinating VEC's instructions.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
G1D1111 of 12§ 97.505

What action is required to obtain a new General class license after a previously held license has expired and the two-year grace period has passed?

Why Once the two-year grace period expires the license grant is gone for good and cannot be reinstated; the person must apply as a new applicant. However, 97.505 lets the VE team award examination element credit to someone who shows proof of an expired FCC-issued license grant, so an expired General grant still earns credit for Element 3. No credit is given for Element 2, so the applicant only has to sit and pass the current Technician written exam to get a new General class license.
Watch out Contacting the FCC to have it reinstated is wrong because reinstatement is only possible during the two-year grace period; after that the grant is permanently expired. Simply showing the expired license is not enough either, since the Element 2 credit is the one piece that must be re-earned.
Past the grace period: show the old grant, keep Element 3 credit, retake Element 2.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.505 Element credit.

(a) The administering VEs must give credit as specified below to an examinee holding any of the following license grants:

(b) The administering VEs must give credit to an examinee holding a CSCE for each element the CSCE indicates the examinee passed within the previous 365 days.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
G1D1212 of 12§ 97.507

When operating a station in South America by remote control over the internet from the US, what regulations apply?

Why Regulations follow the transmitter, not the operator's armchair. The radiating station sits in a South American country, so it is licensed by and answerable to that country's telecommunications administration, and its rules govern power, bands, emissions and identification. The internet link that carries your control signals is not an amateur radio transmission, so the FCC has no reach over it; your US license does not extend to a transmitter on foreign soil.
Watch out The idea that both sets of rules apply is tempting because you are physically in the US, but FCC authority attaches to stations under US jurisdiction, and the control link over the internet is not a regulated amateur emission.
The rules belong to wherever the antenna is. Your chair does not transmit.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.507 Preparing an examination.

(a) Each written question set administered to an examinee must be prepared by a VE holding an Amateur Extra Class operator license. A written question set may also be prepared for the following elements by a VE holding an operator license of the class indicated:

(1) Element 3: Advanced Class operator.

(2) Element 2: Advanced or General class operators.

(b) Each question set administered to an examinee must utilize questions taken from the applicable question pool.

(c) Each written question set administered to an examinee for an amateur operator license must be prepared, or obtained from a supplier, by the administering VEs according to instructions from the coordinating VEC.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
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