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THE LICENSE CLASSES The FCC regulates six distinct classes of operator licensure in the Amateur Radio services, all which build upon each other - you have to start at the bottom and work your way to the top! There is a small exception, as we have already touched upon. You may start at either the Novice or Technician level, whichever you are better suited for. The current structure converges at the Technician Plus class, so you'll have to back up and pick up a license to proceed past this point. I don't want to discourage anyone, but hey, it's OK to stay on that level for a while and have fun with it. You may find that an introductory level license is all that you'll ever need.
Check out the excerpt below from Wireless Telecommunications Bureau website for an enhanced description of each class. It may aide you in memorizing the class privileges discussed further on down the page. OPERATOR LICENSES:
The privileges of an Advanced Operator Class
license includes 275 kHz of additional spectrum in the HF bands. In addition to all
of the above written examinations, the requirement includes a 50 question written
examination for which 37 correctly answered questions is the minimum passing score. The privileges of an Amateur Extra Operator
Class license includes 175 kHz of additional spectrum in the HF bands. In
addition to all of the above written examinations, the requirement includes a 40 question
written examination for which 30 correctly answered questions is the minimum passing
score. A high-speed telegraphy examination at 20 wpm must also be passed. There is also the Novice Operator Class for persons who pass the slow speed telegraphy examination, but only pass the first part of the written examination for Technician Class. Passing requires answering correctly at least 22 of 30 questions. After July 1, 1997, the number of questions will be 35, of which 26 must be answered correctly. Privileges include four bands in the HF range, one band in the VHF range (30-300 MHz), and one band in the UHF range (300-3,000 MHz).
INTERIM PERIODS OF LICENSE UPGRADES Whenever you upgrade to the next level of license, you are given a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) - a piece of paper that tells you which elements that you have passed. By the way, always keep up with your CSCE! When novices upgrade to Technician Plus level, they can go ahead and start operating the new privileges gained from passing the Technician exam element, but they must use a special "KT" identifier in conjunction with their call sign until they get their license. Technicians who have upgraded to Technician Plus, however, are not held to this responsibility when utilizing their newly-gained low-band privileges. U.S. AMATEUR LICENSE CLASS PRIVILEGES AND TRANSMITTER POWER LIMITS The toughest part that I had in obtaining my Technical -No Code license was memorizing the frequencies and the authorized power limits on which both Novices and Technicians can operate. There is no easy way to do it except by rote memorization, so spend some extra time studying this page. At all times, transmitter power must be the minimum necessary to carry out the desired communications. Unless otherwise noted, the maximum power output is 1500 watts PEP (Peak Envelope Power). All classes are limited to 200 watts PEP in the 80, 40, and 15 meter Novice/Technician Plus subbands. Geographical power restrictions apply to the 70 cm, 33 cm and 23 cm bands. 160 METERS NO TECHNICIAN OR NOVICE ACTIVITY ALLOWED 80 METERS NO TECHNICIAN ACTIVITY ALLOWED Novice and Technician Plus classes: 3.675-3.725 MHz: CW Only General class: 3.525-3.750 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data Advanced class: 3.525-3.750 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data Amateur Extra class: 3.500-3.750 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data 40 METERS NO TECHNICIAN ACTIVITY ALLOWED Novice and Technician Plus classes: 7.100-7.150 MHz: CW Only General class: 7.025-7.150 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data Advanced class: 7.025-7.150 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data Amateur Extra class: 7.000-7.150 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data 30 METERS NO TECHNICIAN OR NOVICE ACTIVITY ALLOWED Maximum power, 200 watts PEP. Amateurs must avoid interference to the fixed service outside the US. General, Advanced, Amateur Extra classes: 10.100-10.150 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data 20 METERS NO TECHNICIAN OR NOVICE ACTIVITY ALLOWED General class: 14.025-14.150 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data Advanced class: 14.025-14.150 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data Amateur Extra class: 17 METERS NO TECHNICIAN OR NOVICE ACTIVITY ALLOWED General, Advanced, Amateur Extra classes: 18.068-18.110 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data 15 METERS NO TECHNICIAN (NO-CODE) ACTIVITY ALLOWED Novice and Technician Plus classes: 21.100-21.200 MHz: CW Only General class: 21.025-21.200 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data Advanced class: 21.025-21.200 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data Amateur Extra class: 21.000-21.200 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data 12 METERS NO TECHNICIAN OR NOVICE ACTIVITY ALLOWED General, Advanced, Amateur Extra classes: 24.890-24.930 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data 10 METERS NO TECHNICIAN (NO-CODE) ACTIVITY ALLOWED Novice and Technician Plus classes: 28.100-28.300 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data--Maximum power 200
watts PEP General, Advanced, Amateur Extra classes: 28.000-28.300 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data 6 METERS NO NOVICE ACTIVITY ALLOWED All Amateurs except Novices: 50.0-50.1 MHz: CW Only 2 METERS NO NOVICE ACTIVITY ALLOWED All Amateurs except Novices: 1.25 METERS
* Note: Amateur use (all but novices) on 219-220 MHz is reserved secondarily for fixed digital message forwarding systems. Primary user: Automated Maritime Telecommunications Systems (AMTS). Amateur stations are limited to 50 W PEP output and 100 kHz bandwidth. Amateur stations within 398 miles of an AMTS station must notify the station in writing at least 30 days prior to beginning operations. Amateur stations within 50 miles of an AMTS station must get permission in writing from the AMTS station before beginning operations. See Section 97.303(e) of the FCC Rules. NO NOVICE ACTIVITY ALLOWED All Amateurs except Novices: 420.0-450.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data 33 CENTIMETERS NO NOVICE ACTIVITY ALLOWED All Amateurs except Novices: 902.0-928.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data 23 CENTIMETERS LIMITED NOVICE ACTIVITY ALLOWED Novice class: 1270-1295 MHz: CW, phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data (maximum
power, 5 watts PEP) All Amateurs except Novices: 1240-1300 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data NOTE: The ARRL has prepared an AWESOME one-page color chart that may assist you in visually keeping up with the privileges in your noggin. Visit this site: http://www.arrl.org/field/regulations/bands.html This chart can be downloaded in Adobe or as a GIF file.
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