To pass the Technician exam, study the current 2026-2030 question pool until you score 85% or better on three practice tests in a row, then book a session. The real test is 35 questions, and 26 correct is a pass.
Every question in the pool is public, so practice tests built from that pool are the real thing in a different order. Plan on two to three weeks of short daily sessions.
The exam in five facts
| Questions | 35 multiple choice, one from each of 35 topic groups |
|---|---|
| To pass | 26 correct, so you can miss 9 (97.503) |
| Question pool | 2026-2030 Element 2 pool, 409 questions, valid July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 |
| Who gives it | A team of at least 3 volunteer examiners under a VEC, in person or by video (97.509) |
| Cost | Session fee (the ARRL says usually $15 or less) plus a $35 FCC application fee after you pass |
The pool dates come from the NCVEC question pool page. The ARRL reported in June 2026 that the pool was released in December 2025, re-released with updates on February 19, 2026, and has 409 questions, down from 412 (ARRL news). There's no Morse code test.
Where the 35 questions come from
The pool is split into ten subelements. Each one contributes a fixed number of questions, which tells you where your study time pays off.
| Subelement | Topic | Exam questions | Pool questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | FCC rules | 6 | 68 |
| T2 | Operating procedures | 3 | 37 |
| T3 | Radio wave propagation | 3 | 35 |
| T4 | Amateur radio practices | 2 | 23 |
| T5 | Electrical principles | 4 | 50 |
| T6 | Electronic and electrical components | 4 | 46 |
| T7 | Practical circuits | 4 | 44 |
| T8 | Signals and emissions | 4 | 47 |
| T9 | Antennas and feed lines | 2 | 23 |
| T0 | Safety | 3 | 36 |
From the NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician syllabus. Totals: 35 exam questions, 409 pool questions.
Two takeaways. Rules (T1) is the single biggest block and is mostly memorization, so it's the cheapest 6 points on the test. And the four electronics subelements add up to 16 questions, so you can't skip them, but you also don't need to master them: getting most of them right plus strong rules and operating scores is a comfortable pass.
A two-to-three-week study plan
| Days | Study | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Take one practice test cold. Then read T1 rules and T2 operating. | A baseline score, and 9 easy points |
| 4-6 | T3 propagation, T4 station setup, T9 antennas, T0 safety | Practical topics that stick if you picture a real station |
| 7-10 | T5-T8 electronics: Ohm's law, power, decibels, components, modulation | Learn the handful of formulas once and the rest is recognition |
| 11-14 | Daily practice tests; review only the questions you miss | 85% or better three times in a row |
| Extra week | Repeat days 11-14 if you aren't there yet | Walk in with margin, not hope |
Twenty to thirty minutes a day beats a weekend cram. If a formula won't stick, it's fine to learn which answer goes with which question, but you'll get more out of the license if you understand Ohm's law (volts = amps × ohms) and power (watts = volts × amps), since those two cover several questions.
Where to take free practice tests
Use any practice test that says it's built from the 2026-2030 pool. If it says 2022-2026, close it.
- HamStudy.org lists "Technician (2026 - 2030)" as an exam option, with free accounts and a session finder.
- Mometrix has a free Technician practice test and lists the same ten categories and question counts as the table above.
- The pool itself is free to download from the NCVEC, as a document with every question, the correct letter and the rule reference.
Five real questions from the current pool
These are from the 2026-2030 pool, with the pool's own question numbers. Several overlap with our ham radio band chart and Q-codes list.
| ID | Question | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1B04 | Which amateur band includes 146.52 MHz? | 2 meters | The 2 m band is 144-148 MHz |
| T2A01 | What is a common repeater frequency offset in the 2-meter band? | Plus or minus 600 kHz | 70 cm uses 5 MHz (T2A03) |
| T2A02 | What is the national calling frequency for FM simplex operations in the 2-meter band? | 146.520 MHz | 446.000 is the 70 cm simplex frequency, a common wrong answer |
| T2B10 | Which Q signal indicates that you are receiving interference from other stations? | QRM | QRN is static, not other stations |
| T2B11 | Which Q signal indicates that you are changing frequency? | QSY | QSL means "received" |
Study guides for the 2026-2030 pool
A book helps if you want the reasons behind the answers. Buy only an edition written for 2026-2030. The ARRL's June 2026 notice names the new editions of its own manual and Q&A, and Gordon West's guide:
| Guide | Pool | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, 6th edition | 2026-2030 | Readers who want the full explanation and the ARRL's own text |
| Gordon West Technician Class, 11th edition | 2026-2030 (per title) | Question-by-question explanations |
| ARRL's Tech Q&A, 9th edition | 2026-2030 | Drilling questions with short answers |
| Ham Radio Prep Technician License Manual (2026-2030) | 2026-2030 (per title) | A lower-cost manual, rated 4.9 on 32 ratings |
| Ham Radio School Technician License Course 2026-2030 | 2026-2030 (per title) | Readers who like a course structure |
Watch out: the ARRL License Manual 5th edition, Gordon West's 10th edition and anything labeled 2022-2026 were written for the pool that expired June 30, 2026. The 5th edition still shows 2,000+ ratings on Amazon, so it's easy to grab by mistake.
Booking and exam day
- Get an FCC Registration Number (FRN) in the FCC's CORES system before the session. The ARRL says examinees must submit it with the application.
- Find a session through the ARRL's exam search, HamStudy or a local club. In-person sessions are common, and several VECs run remote video sessions.
- Bring one photo ID (or two non-photo IDs), your FRN, the session fee and a calculator with its memory cleared, per the ARRL's what to bring page. Phones can't be used as calculators.
- Take the test. The volunteer examiners grade it on the spot at in-person sessions.
After you pass
- Watch your email. The FCC sends a link to pay the $35 application fee for a new license, and the fee goes to the FCC, not the exam team (FCC fees). If you're under 18 and test with the ARRL VEC, the ARRL reimburses that fee.
- Your call sign appears in the FCC's database once the license is granted; our FCC call sign lookup guide shows where to find it. Don't transmit until it's there.
- Keep your CSCE, the certificate the examiners give you. It counts as credit for the elements you passed for 365 days (97.505).
- The license is good for 10 years. Many exam teams let you try the General exam at the same session; ask when you register.
Then get on the air. A dual-band handheld like the Yaesu FT-65 covers 2 m and 70 cm, where Technicians have full privileges. Our beginner handheld guide has cheaper options, and ham radio license levels explains what General would add.
Checked October 13, 2026: NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician pool and syllabus; ARRL pool notice (June 22, 2026); ARRL licensing; eCFR 97.503 · 97.505 · 97.509. How we research · Affiliate disclosure