Ham radio practice test for the FCC Technician class exam
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This ham radio practice test prepares you for the FCC amateur radio Technician exam (Element 2) with 174 original questions, each with a short explanation, on the same 10 subelements as the official 2026-2030 question pool: FCC rules, operating procedures, propagation, station practices, electrical principles, components, practical circuits, signals and emissions, antennas and feed lines, and safety. Practice is free and needs no sign-up. When you are ready, take timed mock exams of 35 questions with the real pass mark of 26.
- 174 explained questions
- Mock exam: 35 questions
- Pass at 26, like the FCC exam
- All 10 subelements T0-T9
- Free, no sign-up
How the Technician exam works
The Technician license is the entry-level US amateur radio license. You earn it by passing Element 2, a written multiple-choice exam given by a team of volunteer examiners (VEs) working under a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). Find a session through a VEC such as the ARRL VEC or through the session list linked from ncvec.org.
| Point | Technician exam (Element 2) |
|---|---|
| Questions | 35 multiple choice |
| Pass mark | 26 correct (74%) |
| Time limit | None set by the FCC |
| Question pool | NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician pool: 409 questions, used for exams from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030 |
| Exam fee | Set by each VE team for its expenses; it differs per VEC and session |
| FCC fee | $35 per application, paid to the FCC within 10 calendar days |
| License term | Normally 10 years, renewable |
Sources: FCC (Amateur Radio Service, Examinations), NCVEC (2026-2030 Technician question pool, errata of 19 February 2026) and ARRL (FCC application fee; Part 97 text), checked on 28 October 2026. The 2022-2026 pool expired on 30 June 2026: study material printed for it is out of date.
What the exam covers: the 10 subelements
Every Technician exam takes a fixed number of questions from each subelement of the pool. Our 174 questions are grouped the same way:
| Subelement | On the exam |
|---|---|
| T1 Commission's rules | 6 |
| T2 Operating procedures | 3 |
| T3 Radio wave propagation | 3 |
| T4 Amateur radio practices | 2 |
| T5 Electrical principles | 4 |
| T6 Electronic and electrical components | 4 |
| T7 Practical circuits | 4 |
| T8 Signals and emissions | 4 |
| T9 Antennas and feed lines | 2 |
| T0 Safety | 3 |
The math is simple but always there: Ohm's law (E = I x R), power (P = E x I), wavelength (300 divided by the frequency in MHz), unit conversions and decibels (3 dB is double the power, 10 dB ten times). Our explanations work each one out.
How practice works on MyLevel
Practise by subelement or mixed, for free: after every answer you see whether you were right and a short explanation. All questions are original MyLevel questions on the same topics as the official pool; they are not the pool questions themselves. The NCVEC publishes its pool for free at ncvec.org, and reading it alongside our practice is a good idea.
When you are ready, take a mock exam: 35 random questions from all 10 subelements, pass at 26. The FCC sets no time limit; our mock gives you 45 minutes so you get used to a steady pace. The mock exams cost $6.99, one-time, no subscription. They are unlimited, with your score per subelement, a review of every mistake and a MyLevel practice certificate when you pass. Not useful? Full refund within 14 days.
A 2-week study plan for the Technician exam
- Days 1-3: T1 rules, the biggest subelement (6 questions). Learn the numbers: 10-year term, 2-year grace period, identify every 10 minutes, 200 W PEP on Technician HF segments, 1500 W PEP on VHF and up, the 2 m (144-148 MHz) and 70 cm (420-450 MHz) band edges.
- Days 4-5: T2 operating and T3 propagation: repeaters, offsets and tones, Q signals, HF/VHF/UHF ranges, sporadic E and ducting.
- Days 6-8: T5 to T7: Ohm's law, power, decibels, components and meters. Do the math questions until they are automatic.
- Days 9-11: T8 signals, T9 antennas and T0 safety: bandwidths, satellites, dipole and quarter-wave lengths, coax, RF exposure, tower and battery safety.
- Days 12-14: mock exams; redo the subelement where you lose the most points. Book your session when you score 30 or more out of 35 a few times in a row.
MyLevel is an independent practice site. It is not affiliated with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC), the ARRL or any VEC. All questions are original MyLevel practice questions on the topics of the Technician syllabus; they are not questions from the official NCVEC question pool. The MyLevel certificate is a practice certificate, not an FCC license, CSCE or official document. Fees and rules can change: always check fcc.gov, ncvec.org and your VEC.
Sample question with explanation
What does Part 97 say about using a phonetic alphabet when you identify?
- It is encouraged as an aid, not required
- It is not allowed on repeaters
- It is required on HF and on every repeater transmission
- It is required on every transmission
Show the answer
Answer: A. It is encouraged as an aid, not required
§97.119 encourages phonetics as an aid for correct identification. It does not make them mandatory.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the ham radio Technician test?
35 multiple-choice questions, and you need 26 correct to pass (FCC). They are drawn from the NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician pool of 409 questions, with a fixed number from each of the 10 subelements.
Which question pool is used in 2026?
Since 1 July 2026 every Technician exam uses the 2026-2030 pool, valid until 30 June 2030 (NCVEC, with errata of 19 February 2026). The 2022-2026 pool expired on 30 June 2026.
How much does a ham radio license cost?
The FCC charges $35 per application, paid online through CORES within 10 calendar days after the VE team files it. The VE team may also charge a fee for its expenses, which differs per VEC and session. Upgrades and address changes have no FCC fee (ARRL, October 2026).
Is the ham radio test hard?
Most of it is rules, operating practice and basic electronics, with simple math such as Ohm's law and wavelength. With 26 of 35 needed, you can miss 9. Practising each subelement and taking a few mock exams is usually enough preparation.
Do I get a certificate?
When you pass a full mock exam you can download a MyLevel practice certificate (PDF) with your name and score. It is not an official document, not an FCC license and not a CSCE from a VE session.
Does this cover the General or Amateur Extra exam?
No. This practice test covers only the Technician exam (Element 2). The General exam also has 35 questions and the Amateur Extra exam has 50 (ARRL); they are not part of this test.
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