The Volunteer Examiner System Roger Reini, KD8CSE November 9, 2017

Before the VE System The FCC administered exams until 1984 Only given at the 23 FCC district offices – during working hours Some exams conducted by mail for those 125 miles away from an office Examiners gave code exams first, and if you passed those, then you were given the theory exam

Why the VE System Budget cuts to the FCC September 1982: law authorizes FCC to seek the help of private individuals and organizations in preparing and administering amateur radio examinations Various organizations get together to determine how to prepare the questions to be asked and how to administer the exams 1984: Anchorage ARC becomes the first certified VEC and gives the first exam under the new system

How the VE System Works A small number of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VEC’s) that serve as the go-betweens between the FCC and the examiners Initially 28 VEC’s certified by the FCC; number is now down to 14 Each VEC qualifies and certifies its Volunteer Examiners (VE’s), who administer exams and submit paperwork per their VEC’s procedures The VEC will take the results of the exams and enter licensee information into FCC databases VEC’s cooperate in developing question pools for exams through National Conference of VEC’s (NCVEC)

Duties of a Volunteer Examiner Administer and grade licence exams (minimum of 3 per session, more can be used) Principle: VE’s administer exams for classes below the one they hold (although Extra Class amateurs can administer Extra Class exams) Process the paperwork for each applicant and for the session overall Collect any fees that are required Give CSCE’s (Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination) to successful applicants

How to become a Volunteer Examiner (ARRL) Must hold at least a General Class license Study the procedures in the ARRL VE Manual Fill out application and take the test (Open Book) Send the results to ARRL-VEC Get a badge and certificate that serve as official VE credentials More info: http://www.arrl.org/become-an-arrl-ve One can hold accreditation with multiple VEC’s

List of VEC’s ARRL – the largest VEC W5YI – the second largest Anchorage ARC VEC – first VEC to be certified and first to give an exam; does not charge for its exame; operates in Alaska only Central America CAVEC -- HQ in Alabama Golden Empire Amateur Radio Society (GEARS) Greater LA Amateur Radio Group Jefferson Amateur Radio Club – VEC – HQ in Louisiana

List of VEC’s (continued) Laurel Amateur Radio Club – HQ in Maryland; does not charge for its exams; administers the tests at Hamvention MRAC VEC – operates in the Milwaukee area only MO-KAN VE Coordinator Sandarc-VEC Sunnyvale VEC Amateur Radio Club – operates in Silicon Valley W4VEC Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society VEC

Resources National Conference of Volunteer Examination Coordinators: http://www.ncvec.org List of VE resources (ARRL): http://www.arrl.org/resources-for-ves