The W3HAC Volunteer Examiner Team offers amateur radio license exams for anyone who wishes to earn or upgrade their ham license.
Information
We hold our exam sessions at various public libraries in Washington, DC that are Metro-accessible and open to all. Our exams are held under the supervision of the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, or ARRL VEC.
All are welcome to test with us! You can test for your Technician, General, or Amateur Extra Class License. Due to the size of our facilities, registration is preferred. Although we strive to accommodate walk-ins, we cannot guarantee there will be space available without prior registration. Please make sure to register for an FCC Registration Number (FRN) before you come to the session (instructions here), and register via the links below.
You may take multiple elements in the same exam session; we just ask that you have studied and are ready to pass. We recommend that you are passing practice exams with 80% aptitude or higher.
Upcoming Exam Sessions
Exams are typically held on the 3rd or 4th Saturday of odd-numbered months and begin at noon. Our 2026 exam sessions will be held on the following dates – simply click the link to learn more and register.
- January 17 @ Cleveland Park Library (registration)
- March 28 @ Martin Luther King, Jr Library (registration)
- May 23 @ Southwest Library (registration)
- July 25 @ Martin Luther King, Jr Library (registration)
- September 26 @ Cleveland Park Library (registration)
- November 14 @ Southeast Library (registration)
Fees and Payments
Exam Fees are:
- Adults (18 and over) – $15
- Minors (17 and under) – $5, with an ARRL grant to reimburse the $35 application fee for new hams
You will receive a payment link and further instructions after you register for the exam.
Questions?
Questions
If you have any questions, please email testing <at> kb3n.com and we will be happy to help you however possible.