{"id":922,"date":"2023-12-17T10:58:33","date_gmt":"2023-12-17T15:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bloomingtonradio.club\/?page_id=922"},"modified":"2026-03-18T18:44:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T23:44:46","slug":"license-classes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bloomingtonradio.club\/index.php\/license-classes\/","title":{"rendered":"License Classes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Amateur Extra Cram Course<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

April 25th and April 26th – Southwest Branch, Monroe County Library on Gordon Pike. This is an intensive course, using the Gordon West ARRL Amateur Extra License Manual. Manuals are provided for the two day course; a deposit is required to take them home. 10am – 4pm, bring your own lunch\/etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three instructors having over 40 years AR experience will instruct. We will go over the test areas, one section at a time. The Amateur Extra License exam has 50 questions, multiple choice. An exam will be seated on May 2, 2026 in our regular VE test session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prerequisites are:<\/strong> holding a valid Technician license, but preferably a General Amateur Radio license. You must understand the English language, as the course and materials are in English. If you need a sign language interpreter, one is available. Please don’t bring pets. Make provisions for sitting several hours at a time on hard seats. Bring a pen\/notebook. Proof of licensing is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course is FREE. A deposit may be required to take a book home. You can also purchase the book from the ARRL or Amazon; make sure the book you buy covers the current license pool questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BARC Technician License Classes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Amateur Radio Technician License Intensive Course<\/strong>

The Bloomington Amateur Radio Club (“BARC”) provides an Amateur Radio Technician License Intensive Course. The Technician License is the gateway to amateur radio. Hundreds of radio operators, called “hams” are licensed in Monroe County alone, and operate radios that operate locally, and can operate them legally around the world.

This class is an intensive training class for the license test, focusing on materials provided by the American Radio Relay League. A license test manual is distributed to each student, and requires a deposit (refunded when returned in good condition). At the end of the course, FCC Volunteer Examiners from the area will administer the FCC Technician License test to students (and others). Upon passing the test, the license can be obtained from the FCC for $35 and it’s good for ten years.

Hams in Monroe County come from various walks of life, young and old, construction workers, lawyers, professors, farmers, government employees, fast food workers, professors, teachers, and more. Many high school and college students become licensed and enjoy communicating locally, with satellites, mesh networks, digitally, by voice, and even  by the ancient old Morse Code method. Morse Code is no longer required to obtain an amateur license.

Hams often construct inexpensive stations and experiment with electronics and communications, as well as the physics, electronics, and ever-increasing computer technologies in modern radio communications.

The Details<\/strong>

Offered By: Bloomington (IN) Amateur Radio Club (BARC)

For: This People interested in an education towards passing the FCC Technician (entry level) License Exam

Where: Monroe County Public Library Southwest, near Batchelor Middle School.

Dates: September 20th and 27th if needed.

Times: 10am-4pm. We provide the books. Testing will be done afterwards.

Testing: An ARRL VE License Exam will be administered after course completion ($15 fee, but may be waived if under 18). Upon successful completion, a program offers newly licensed Amateur Technician operators a low cost ham radio with programming cable.

Costs: $30 deposit for a book (refunded when returned in good condition); License Sitting Fee $15 (18 and under may have this fee waived); $35 FCC License Fee upon successful test completion.

Who: Age 10+ Instruction is in English Language. Disability access.

Instructors: Three FCC Amateur Extra Licensees, also FCC Volunteer Examiners from BARC.

What to bring: A notebook and pen. The session may be recorded for your own use, but cannot be distributed.

Experience and prerequisites: None required. A science background is helpful. Basic algebra skills helpful. Only students are allowed in the classroom during classes.

Class reservations must be emailed to contact@bloomingtonradio.club<\/a> by March 5th, 2025.

About: There are over 700,000 licensed radio amateurs in the United States, and the history of amateur radio is legendary for its adventurers, inventors, and just plain fun. This course teaches the basics for the Technician Test. The General amateur radio license, the next step on the ladder, offers more communications privileges, while the Amateur Extra License grants all possible privileges and offers reciprocal international operation in many countries. A license is required to transmit on amateur radio frequency allocations.

The Bloomington Amateur Radio Club comprises many radio amateurs from different walks of life, ages, and backgrounds. As hobbyists, BARC holds various events and exercises, as well as supporting community events like the annual Hilly Hundred. The club meets once a month formally, and participates in local, regional, state, and national events in radio. The Bloomington Amateur Radio Club is an American Radio Relay League-affiliated (ARRL) club and embraces members with an interest in radio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice Exams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/hamexam.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How this site is different<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This site learns which questions you understand and which ones you don’t. It does this by tracking your answers to every question. It then applies a weight to each question, using the following priorities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n