The Federal Communications Commission issues amateur radio licenses. To obtain your license and be issued your official amateur radio call sign, you must first pass a written test. The test has three parts. The first part is about the licensing law and things you need to know to operate within the laws, rules, and government regulations.

The second part of the test is about radio theory—things you need to know about how radio waves are created and propagated across the airwaves.

The third part of the exam is about amateur radio protocols. Procedures you need to know to communicate properly with other amateurs on the available radio frequencies.

While you do need to study for your first test, the questions you will be asked are available for you to read and test yourself against on the internet. The questions are taken from a prescribed set of questions developed by the FCC. You can see them in their exact wording, including the answers in their precise order on several ham radio educational sites. You can even take a sample test to gauge your ability to pass before you sit to take your actual exam.

http://aa9pw.com/amateur-radio-exam-practice/

For more information about Amateur Radio, check out the ARRL

Amateur Radio Relay League

http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed

If you pass the first exam, The technicians’ exam, you can continue if time permits, to take a higher class exam at the same testing session. The General exam is more complex and delves deeper into radio theory than the technicians’ exam. The general license gives you more frequencies and more privileges than the technicians’ exam.

When you are ready to take your test, you will need to contact a local radio club that offers testing in your area.

Here are some of the Volunteer Examination Sessions in the Tampa Bay Area.

SPARC The St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club

https://www.sparc-club.org/menu/ve-exams/

TARC Tampa Amateur Radio Club

https://hamclub.org/wp/?page_id=192

CARS Clearwater Amateur Radio Society

http://www.carshamradio.org/wordpress/index.php/testing/