The FCC regulates the ham radio spectrum and all its activities, including licensing people who want to get into this hobby that has no pecuniary interest.

Even though the FCC issues six license operator classes, there’s no need to get all of them. To operate during or after a natural disaster there are two basic ham radio licenses that you will need. The basic Technician amateur radio license is the way to start. Then, most ham radio operators advance to the General Class or Amateur Extra Class operator licenses, but there’s no need to get this last license to operate in the way you might need while being a reporter.

To get the Technician or the General Class licenses you need to show skills and knowledge in operating a radio station during a very affordable examination done by volunteer examiners in local communities. The exam cost is usually $15 plus the $35 fee the FCC charges. Each license is granted for ten years, and it is renewable.

The best way to learn is to study and learn from the three books published by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national ham radio association. Each book corresponds to an amateur radio license level (Ham Radio or Technician, General Class, and Extra Class).

There are also virtual or in-person classes taught by other hams that usually last seven to eight weeks, a couple of hours per week. The ARRL also offers online exams as practice. Local classes all over the U.S. can be found here.

Another way to prepare for the exams is with study guides that provide a complete list of the 100 multiple-choice questions that can be asked on the exam with their answers. In the test, only 35 questions are asked, and 26 of them must be answered correctly to pass the first two classes. The correct answers in these guides are usually highlighted in bold to help you remember them. The order of the choices can be mixed in the different versions of the exam. The questions and answers are public, and anyone can access them. Studying with these guides does not mean cheating.

But to study with these guides, you need to have some science background as they do not explain the topics in detail and only provide the answers. For those who don’t have these backgrounds, learning the answers to the 100 questions by heart is possible, but it will not actually provide the knowledge to operate a radio.

Another way to prepare is to download apps for Android or iOS with the Q&A linked to each class’s exam. However, remember that they work similarly to the guides, and practicing with them may mean you will need help understanding the concepts.

The requirements to get a ham radio license are straightforward:

• No age limit 
• Each applicant must pass an examination for a new amateur operator license grant and for each change in operator class.
• Answer 26 of 35 questions from a total of 100 for the General and Technician classes (37 of 50 questions for the Extra class). 
• No need to know Morse code. 
• Pay US $35 required by the FCC

Once you pass the exams (the first two classes can be taken on the same day) you will receive a call sign like NP3WP. Those letters and numbers are equivalent to a driver’s license number, showing the ham radio operator is licensed to do the work. You are ready to go on the air.