If you have let your ham license expire you might be able to get it back by just applying or just taking the Technician test.
The requirements are contained in §97.505 Element credit.
Within 2 years of expiration
If you are within 2 years of your expiration you can file for a renewal and obtain your license back without taking a test.
Technician license issued before March 21, 1987
If you are, or were, a Technician with a license issued before March 21 1987 then you get credit for Element 2 and 3.
This means that if you currently hold your Technician license and have just renewed it every 10 years you are eligible to receive credit for Element 3. Meaning that if you provide proof (see below) we can do an Administrative update and you will obtain your General class license without a test.
If you were a Technician before March 21 1987 and let your license expire you can take the Technician test and will received credit for Elements 2 and 3 and will receive a General class license.
Expired General or Advanced license
If you held a General or Advanced license and let it expire you will receive credit for Elements 2 and 3. This means you can take the Technician test and will obtain a General class license.
Expired Amateur Extra class license
If you let your Amateur Extra class license and let it expire you will receive credit for Elements 2 and 3. This means you can take the Technician test and will obtain your Amateur Extra class license.
Proof of License
You will need to provide proof of your original license. If you are in the FCC ULS and are not applying for Element 2 and 3 credit as a Technician with a license issued before March 21 1987 then your record in the ULS is sufficient for a Laurel VEC team.
If you are applying for Element 2 and 3 credit as a Technician with a license issued before March 21 1987 then you will need to provide proof that your original license was issued before March 21 1987. That can be one of the following:
- A copy of the cover and applicable page from a Call Sign book showing the date of publication, the applicant’s name, call sign, and class of license.
- A copy of the cover and applicable page from the applicable Call Sign book available from the following website: https://archive.org/search.php?query=subject%3A%22callbook%22&sort=date&page=2
- Copy of applicable page from historical license from QRZ database.
- A letter from the FCC indicating the applicant was previously granted a specific class of license and when the license was granted.
Note: the above are requirements for Laurel VEC teams. Other VEC’s may have different requirements
What You Need to Do
- Register for one of our tests at https://hamstudy.org/sessions/w0pct, even if you need the Administrative update.
- Email us at [email protected] and let us know what you are applying for.
- Bring the applicable copies listed above to the test session and let the VE that is doing check-in know why you are there.