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FREE FCC Amateur Radio General Class License Exam Guide 2026: Element 3 — 35 Q, 26/35 Pass, ~$50 Total, HF Privileges (Practice)
Key Facts
- The FCC Amateur Radio General Class is the middle of three U.S. amateur license classes and unlocks worldwide HF voice, CW, and digital privileges (3.5-29.7 MHz).
- The General exam (Element 3) has 35 multiple-choice questions from the NCVEC 2023-2027 pool (~429 questions); 26 of 35 correct (74%) passes.
- The NCVEC General Class question pool is valid July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2027 and organized into 10 subelements (G1-G10).
- Element 3 requires an active Technician Class license as prerequisite, but candidates may take Technician and General at the same VE session.
- Total out-of-pocket cost in 2026 is approximately $50: a $35 FCC application fee plus a $14-$25 VE session fee (often $15 at ARRL VEC).
- The U.S. amateur license is valid for 10 years and is renewable for $0 government fee — the FCC waived renewal fees for amateur licenses in 2022.
- Volunteer Examiners administer the exam at sessions coordinated by VECs including ARRL VEC, W5YI VEC, Laurel VEC, and GLAARG per 47 CFR §97.521-527.
- There is no Morse code requirement for any U.S. amateur license exam — code testing was eliminated in February 2007 via FCC WT Docket 05-235.
- After passing General at a VE session, candidates may operate General privileges immediately by appending "/AG" to their callsign until ULS updates.
- The maximum amateur transmitter power under 47 CFR §97.313 is 1.5 kW PEP, with lower limits in specific bands and shared-spectrum segments.
FCC Amateur Radio General Class License Exam Guide 2026: The Step-Up From Technician to Worldwide HF, Built Around the Real NCVEC 2023-2027 Element 3 Pool
The FCC Amateur Radio General Class license is the middle of three U.S. amateur radio license classes — Technician → General → Amateur Extra — and it is the credential that unlocks High Frequency (HF) worldwide voice, CW, and digital privileges on most amateur bands between 3.5 MHz and 29.7 MHz. For a Technician licensee who has discovered VHF/UHF FM repeaters and now wants to talk across continents on 20 meters during a contest , run FT8 on 40 meters at midnight, or chase DXCC on 15 meters during a solar peak, General is the next step.
The exam is Element 3 : 35 multiple-choice questions drawn from the current NCVEC 2023-2027 General Class question pool (~ 429 published questions ). You need 26 correct out of 35 (74%) to pass. It is administered by Volunteer Examiners (VEs) at sessions coordinated by Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) — ARRL VEC , W5YI VEC , Laurel VEC , GLAARG , and a dozen others. There is no Morse code requirement (eliminated in 2007). Total cost is typically $50 or less : a $35 FCC regulatory application fee (per FCC Order DA-22-389, in effect since April 19, 2022; verify current amount on fcc.gov) plus a $14-25 VE session fee (often $15 at ARRL VEC sessions, free or $5 at Laurel VEC and many club sessions).
The license, once issued, is valid for 10 years and is renewable for free through the FCC ULS system. Your callsign is yours for that decade and beyond — most hams keep the same callsign for life.
This guide is the comprehensive 2026 walkthrough: license-class structure, the Technician prerequisite, Element 3 format, deep dives on every one of the 10 subelements (G1-G10) , the cost stack, VE session registration, a 6-8 week study plan, free and paid resources, test-day strategy, common pitfalls, the EmComm/ARES/RACES career and public-service value, and the General-to-Extra progression. Start free practice right now.
FCC Amateur Radio General Class License At-a-Glance (2026)
- Item Detail (2026)
- Credentialing Body Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
- Statutory/Regulatory Basis Communications Act of 1934 §303; 47 CFR Part 97 (Amateur Radio Service)
- Exam Element Element 3 — General Class
- Exam Format 35 multiple-choice questions ; closed-book
Question Pool Current pool effective July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2027 , maintained by NCVEC (National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators), ~ 429 published questions across 10 subelements
- Passing Score 74% — 26 of 35 correct
- Prerequisite Active Technician Class license (Element 2) — required before sitting Element 3
Administered By Volunteer Examiners (VEs) at sessions coordinated by a VEC — ARRL VEC, W5YI VEC, Laurel VEC, GLAARG, and others
FCC Application Fee $35 (per FCC Order DA-22-389, in effect since April 19, 2022; verify current amount on fcc.gov)
VE Session Fee Typically $14-$25 ($15 at most ARRL VEC sessions; free / $5 at many Laurel VEC and club-run sessions)
- Total Out-of-Pocket Approximately $50
- License Term 10 years , renewable for $0 government fee (FCC application fee waived for renewal as of 2022)
Privileges Added Over Technician Most of HF: 160 m, 80 m, 40 m, 20 m, 17 m, 15 m, 12 m, 10 m phone/CW/digital with band-specific sub-band allocations
- Study Time 30-60 hours for most candidates
- No Morse Code Removed from all U.S. amateur exams in 2007
Source: 47 CFR Part 97; FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau; NCVEC General Class Question Pool 2023-2027; ARRL.