Remote Examination Preparation Guide

Hello, this is VE Team Korea.

VE Team Korea operates FCC Amateur Radio License Examinations under the SANDARC VEC (San Diego County Amateur Radio Council Volunteer Examiner Coordinator) in the United States.

Remote Examinations are conducted through real-time video conferencing using Google Meet. Before beginning the examination, applicants will undergo identity verification and an inspection of their testing environment, after which they will take the examination online.

To ensure a smooth and fair examination process, please review and prepare the following items before your examination.

1. FCC Registration Number (FRN)

An FCC Registration Number (FRN) is required to take an FCC examination.

If you are taking an FCC examination for the first time, please obtain an FRN through FCC CORES before registering for the examination.

If you already hold a U.S. Amateur Radio License, you must use the existing FRN associated with your current license.

Please make sure that the English name and personal information entered during examination registration exactly match the information registered with the FCC.

For instructions on how to apply for an FRN, please refer to the following guides. ➔ FRN Registration Guide (Korean) | FRN Registration Guide (English)

2. Identification Document for Identity Verification (English Information Required)

Because applicants must be identified during a remote examination, please prepare a valid, unexpired passport or other acceptable identification document in advance.

Before the examination begins, a Volunteer Examiner (VE) will verify your identification through Google Meet.

Please make sure that the English name shown on your passport matches the name entered during examination registration.

3. Computer for the Examination

The examination must be taken using a desktop or laptop computer provided by the applicant.

The following equipment and services must be functioning properly:

• Webcam or built-in laptop camera
• Microphone
• Speakers
• Stable internet connection
• Up-to-date web browser
• Google Meet access

Before the examination, please make sure that your camera, microphone, and speakers are working properly.

During the examination, you will be required to share your screen (Screen Sharing) at the request of the VEs. Please make sure in advance that your browser or operating system has the necessary screen-sharing permissions enabled.

4. Examination Room Inspection

Remote examinations require the same level of examination security as in-person examinations.

Before the examination begins, the VEs may use your camera to inspect your desk and the surrounding examination area.

Applicants should participate in the examination from a quiet location that can preferably be used alone.

Please remove all unnecessary items from your desk, and make sure that no other person assists you or enters the examination area during the examination.

At the request of a VE, you may be required to move your camera to show additional areas around your desk or examination room.

5. Computer Environment During the Examination

Before the examination begins, please close all programs and browser tabs that are unrelated to the examination.

During the examination, no programs other than Google Meet for VE supervision and the examination system may be used.

In particular, the following activities are prohibited:

• Internet searches
• Viewing question pools or study materials
• Using translation tools
• Using AI services such as ChatGPT
• Using messaging applications or email
• Asking another person for assistance
• Using a mobile phone or other device to photograph or record examination questions

If you use multiple monitors, you may be asked by a VE to stop using or disconnect any additional monitors.

6. Remote Program Access

On the day of the examination, enter the examination room using the Google Meet link provided by VE Team Korea.

After joining, the examination will proceed according to the instructions of the VEs in the following order:

Join Google Meet → Identity Verification → Examination Environment Inspection (inspection of the room and surrounding area via webcam) → Computer Screen Sharing → Applicant Instructions → Examination Begins → Grading and Result Confirmation

During the examination, you must not turn off your camera or microphone without permission or leave the Google Meet session. (If you remain disconnected for an extended period of time, the examination may be canceled at the discretion of the examiners.)

If network or equipment problems make proper supervision impossible, the examination may be temporarily suspended, and the examination procedure may be adjusted at the discretion of the VEs depending on the circumstances.

7. The Examination Is Conducted in English

All questions and answer choices in the FCC Amateur Radio License Examination are provided in English.

Korean VEs from VE Team Korea may assist applicants in Korean with general examination procedures or instructions on how to use the examination system.

However,

no assistance may be provided with translating or interpreting examination questions, explaining words, or selecting correct answers.

Applicants are also prohibited from using translation tools, search engines, AI services, or similar tools to translate or interpret questions during the examination.

Volunteer Examiners from the United States or other countries may participate in the examination session, and basic communication in English may be required during identity verification or other parts of the examination process.

This is not an English speaking proficiency test, so advanced conversational English is not required.

8. HamStudy / Examination Registration Information

Please review the following information entered during examination registration:

• English name
• Email address
• FCC FRN
• Current FCC Amateur Radio License and Call Sign, if applicable
• Element you intend to take

You may need your HamStudy.org account and the PIN used during the registration process to access the examination system, so we recommend that you keep this information available.

The examination Elements are administered in the following order:

Element 2 — Technician
Element 3 — General
Element 4 — Amateur Extra

If you are entitled to credit for any Element based on an existing license or previous examination results, please enter the relevant information accurately during registration.

🚫 Items and Activities Not Permitted During the Examination

As a general rule, applicants may not use any materials or assistance other than equipment required for the examination.

Please pay particular attention to the following prohibited items and activities:

• Use of mobile phones
• Use of smartwatches
• Use of earphones or headphones
• Use of smart glasses
• Viewing textbooks or question books
• Viewing personal notes or reference materials
• Internet searches
• Use of translation tools
• Use of AI services
• Assistance from third parties
• Photographing, recording, or otherwise capturing examination questions
• Any other equipment or materials unnecessary for the examination that have not been approved in advance by the examiners

If a specific device or item is required for the examination process, please use it only in accordance with the instructions of the VEs.

Examination Fee

There is no examination fee for Amateur Radio Examinations administered through SANDARC VEC.

However, if you pass the Technician examination and a new FCC Amateur Radio License is issued, a $35 FCC license application fee (Application Fee) will apply separately from the examination fee.

This fee is not paid to VE Team Korea or SANDARC. After the examination results are submitted to the FCC, the applicant must pay the fee directly to the FCC according to the instructions provided by the FCC.

Pre-Examination Checklist

Please review the following items once more on the day of your examination.

☐ FCC FRN ready
☐ Examination registration information verified
☐ Valid original passport ready
☐ Desktop or laptop computer ready
☐ Webcam confirmed to be working properly
☐ Microphone and speakers confirmed
☐ Stable internet connection confirmed
☐ Google Meet access and screen sharing confirmed
☐ Examination room and desk cleared
☐ Unnecessary programs and browser tabs closed
☐ Mobile phones, smartwatches, textbooks, and other unnecessary items removed from the examination area

The examination will be supervised by Volunteer Examiners in accordance with U.S. FCC regulations and the examination procedures of SANDARC VEC.

Remote examinations provide applicants with the opportunity to take the FCC Amateur Radio License Examination regardless of location. However, as with in-person examinations, proper applicant identification and maintaining the integrity and fairness of the examination are extremely important.

Applicants are requested to thoroughly check their equipment and examination environment before the examination begins and to cooperate fully to ensure a smooth examination process.

Thank you.

VE Team Korea
Republic of Korea FCC Amateur Radio Examination Team