First-time applicants for the amateur radio examination will soon be required to register with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission before taking the exam.
According to an article posted in early May to the website of the ARRL, the national association for amateur radio, recent changes to the FCC’s licensing system will mandate that examination applicants obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN) in advance of their examination date. As of May 20, 2021, examination applicants will be required to provide their FRN on the Form 605 license application submitted to volunteer examiners.
The ARRL says that amateur radio license candidates who already have an FCC license can use the same FRN when applying to take the amateur licensing examination.
The FCC has reportedly provided an instructional video that provides step-by-step instructions on how applicants can obtain an FRN through the FCC’s Commission Registration System (CORES).
