The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provides an Extra Class exam to certify the operation of an amateur station. This page covers the Extra Class radio license needed to operate an amateur radio, also called ham radio. The extra class license is intended for those who have already taken and passed the Technician Class and General Class exams.
Click “Start Test” above to take a free Ham Radio Extra Class practice test!
Ham Radio Extra Class Exam Eligibility
To be eligible for this exam, you need a valid US mailing address, valid proof of identification, and a social security number. You must also have taken and passed the Technician Class exam and the General Class exam.
Ham Radio Extra Class Exam Outline
The Ham Radio Extra Class exam contains 50 multiple-choice questions, which are split into ten main categories.
1. Commission Rules (6 questions)
The six questions in this category are pulled from a pool of 75 questions. The pool of questions is split into six groups:
Group A
- Operating standards
- Stations aboard ships or aircraft
- Power restrictions on 630- and 2,200-meter bands
- Frequency privileges
- Automatic message forwarding
Group B
- Restrictions on station location
- Antenna structure restrictions
- RACES operations
- General operating restrictions
- Spurious emissions
Group C
- IARP license
- CEPT license
- Definitions and restrictions regarding automatic, remote control, and local operation
- Emission and bandwidth standards
Group D
- Identification of balloon transmissions
- Amateur space and Earth stations
- One-way communications
- Telemetry and telecommand rules
Group E
- Volunteer examiner program:
- Question pools
- Definitions
- Preparation and administration of exams
- Qualifications
- Documentation requirements
- Accreditation
Group F
- Prohibited communications
- Canadian amateurs operating in the US
- Spread spectrum
- External RF power amplifiers
- Control operator of an auxiliary station
- Auxiliary stations
- Special temporary authority
2. Operating Procedures (5 questions)
The five questions in this category are pulled from a pool of 61 questions. The pool of questions is split into five groups:
Group A
- Orbital mechanics
- Satellite hardware
- Frequencies and modes
- Satellite operations
- Amateur satellites
Group B
- Fast-scan television standards and techniques
- Slow-scan television standards and techniques
Group C
- Remote operation techniques
- RF network connected systems
- Contest and DX operating
- Cabrillo format
- QSLing
Group D
- APRS
- Meteor scatter procedures
- VHF and UHF digital modes and procedures
- EME procedures
Group E
- Operating HF digital modes
3. Radio Wave Propagation (3 questions)
The three questions in this category are pulled from a pool of 41 questions. The pool of questions is split into three groups:
Group A
- Meteor scatter
- Ionospheric propagation changes over a day
- Electromagnetic waves
- Circular polarization
- Aurora propagation
- Earth-Moon-Earth communications
- Microwave tropospheric and scatter propagation
Group B
- Grayline
- Sporadic E mechanisms
- Transequatorial propagation
- Chordal hop
- Ordinary and extraordinary waves
- Long-path
Group C
- Propagation prediction techniques and modeling
- Radio horizon
- Effects of space weather parameters on propagation
- Ground wave
4. Amateur Practices (5 questions)
The five questions in this category are pulled from a pool of 60 questions. The pool of questions is split into five groups:
Group A
- Spectrum analyzers
- RF measurements
- Analog and digital instruments
- Computer-aided measurements
- Oscilloscopes
- Antenna analyzers
Group B
- Probes
- S parameters
- Measurement of Q
- Instrument accuracy and performance limitations
- Instrument calibration
- Techniques to minimize errors
- Vector network analyzers
Group C
- Noise floor
- Selectivity
- Use of attenuators at low frequencies
- Phase noise
- Signal-to-noise ratio
- Reciprocal mixing
- Image rejection
- Effects of SDR receiver non-linearity
- MDS
Group D
- Intermodulation and cross-modulation interference
- Desensitization
- Blocking dynamic range
- Third-order intercept
- Preselector
Group E
- Line noise
- Noise blankets
- Common mode currents
- System noise
- Locating noise sources
- Grounding for signals
- Electrical appliance noise
- DSP noise reduction
5. Electrical Principles (4 questions)
The four questions in this category are pulled from a pool of 55 questions. The pool of questions is split into four groups:
Group A
- Series and parallel resonance
- Phase relationships in reactive circuits
- Characteristics of resonant circuits
- Definitions and effects of Q
- Half-power bandwidth
Group B
- Phase angle in reactive circuits and components
- RL and RC time constants
- Admittance and susceptance
Group C
- Polar coordinates
- Rectangular coordinates
- Phasors
Group D
- Reactive power
- Microstrip
- Skin effect
- Electrical length of conductor at UHF and microwave frequencies
- Reactive power
- Power factor
6. Circuit Components (6 questions)
The six questions in this category are pulled from a pool of 70 questions. The pool of questions is split into six groups:
Group A
- Germanium
- Silicon
- N-type
- P-type
- Semiconductor materials
- Transistor types
Group B
- Diodes
Group C
- Gates
- Families of digital ICs
- Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)
Group D
- Transformers
- Piezoelectric devices
- Toroidal and solenoidal inductors:
- Core material
- Permeability
- Winding
- Selecting
Group E
- IC packaging characteristics
- MMICs
Group F
- Photovoltaic devices
- Optical isolation
- Photoconductivity
- Optical isolation
7. Practical Circuits (8 questions)
The eight questions in this category are pulled from a pool of 108 questions. The pool of questions is split into eight groups:
Group A
- Classes of logic elements
- Frequency dividers
- Digital circuit principles and logic circuits
- Positive and negative logic
- Truth tables
Group B
- Distortion and intermodulation
- Microwave amplifiers
- Class of operation
- Spurious and parasitic suppression
- Switching-type amplifiers
- Vacuum tube and solid-state circuits
Group C
- Filter applications
- DSP filtering
- Types of filters
- Filter characteristics
- Types of networks
- Impedance matching
Group D
- Solar array charge controllers
- Power supplies and voltage regulators
Group E
- Detectors
- Reactance, phase, and balanced modulators
- Mixer stages
Group F
- Software-defined radio fundamentals
- DSP filtering and other operations
- DSP modulation and demodulation
Group G
- Active audio filters
- Operational amplifiers
- Basic circuit design
- Active filter and op-amp circuit characteristics
Group H
- Direct digital synthesizers
- High-accuracy oscillators
- Types of oscillators
- Stabilizing thermal drift
- Synthesizers and phase-locked loops
- Microphonics
8. Signals and Emissions (4 questions)
The four questions in this category are pulled from a pool of 45 questions. The pool of questions is split into four groups:
Group A
- AC measurements
- Sine, square, and irregular waveforms
- Fourier analysis
- Digital-to-analog conversion
- Analog-to-digital conversion
- Average power and PEP of RF signals
- Advantages of digital communications
Group B
- Modulation index and deviation ratio
- Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)
- Modulation methods
- Frequency and time-division multiplexing
Group C
- Information rate vs. bandwidth
- Digital communication modes
- Error correction
Group E
- Digital codes
- Keying defects and overmodulation of digital signals
- Spread spectrum
9. Antennas and Transmission Lines (8 questions)
The eight questions in this category are pulled from a pool of 96 questions. The pool of questions is split into eight groups:
Group A
- Effective radiated power
- Radiation resistance
- Beamwidth
- Gain
- Basic antenna efficiency
Group B
- Gain as a function of pattern
- H and E plane patterns
- Antenna modeling
Group C
- Phased arrays
- Practical wire antennas
- Effects of ground near antennas
- Folded dipoles
Group D
- Loading coils
- Antenna Q
- Circular polarization
- Top loading
- Yagi antennas
- Feed point impedance of electrically short antennas
- RF grounding
- Parabolic reflectors
- Loading coils
Group E
- Phasing lines
- Matching antennas to feed lines
- Power dividers
Group F
- Coax vs. open-wire
- Coaxial cable dielectrics
- Characteristics of open and shorted feed lines
- Velocity factor
- Electrical length
Group G
- The Smith chart
Group H
- Beverage antennas
- Long-wire receiving antennas
- Radio direction finding antennas
- Specialized receiving antennas
10. Safety (1 question)
The question in this category is pulled from a pool of 11 questions. The pool of questions cover hazardous materials, RF radiation hazards, and grounding.
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Ham Radio Extra Class Exam Registration
You can register for the exam online at the Universal Licensing System page of the Federal Communications Commission website.
Test Day
The Extra Class exam is offered by volunteers who work with a Volunteer Exam Coordinate under the direction of the FCC.
You will need to bring a few things with you on the day of the exam:
- A valid photo ID, such as your driver’s license or passport
- FCC Registration Number
- A check or money order to pay your registration fees
- An ink pen
- Two number-two pencils with erasers
- A calculator that has the memory erased and no formulas saved on it
Passing Score
To pass the Ham Radio Extra Class exam, you must answer 37 out of 50 questions correctly, which is a score of 74%.
You will receive your scores as soon as you finish taking the exam.
Retaking the Ham Radio Extra Class Exam
You are allowed to retake the Extra Class exam if you did not pass the first time. You will have to pay the exam fee to retake it, but you may do so as many times as you wish. In fact, you are welcome to retake the exam on the same day as your first take.
For retakes of the exam, the large pool of questions is utilized in order to create an entirely new version of the exam each time you take it.
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FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the Ham Radio Extra Class exam?
A
There are 50 questions on the exam.
Q
How long is the Ham Radio Extra Class exam?
A
There is no set time limit, but the exam generally takes anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes.
Q
What is the passing score for the Ham Radio Extra Class exam?
A
To pass the exam, you must answer at least 74% of the questions correctly, meaning you must answer a minimum of 37 questions correctly.
Q
How much does the Ham Radio Extra Class exam cost?
A
The examination fee is $15.
