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FREE HAM RADIO LICENSE EXAMS

Everything you need to get licensed, on one console.

SANDARC — the San Diego County Amateur Radio Council — has served the amateur radio community since 1958. Every exam we process is completely free, in person across San Diego County or online anywhere on Earth.

Find a session Test online
MODULE 01 · STUDY Study or take a class → Free prep via HamStudy.org, or a one-day class in the county — Technician, General, or Extra — with the exam right after.
MODULE 02 · EXAM Take the exam Free either way. In person: almost every Saturday across San Diego County, hosted by our member clubs — walk-ins welcome at most sessions, bring photo ID and your FRN. Online: scheduled on demand from anywhere on Earth — the button opens an email to exams@sandarc.org so you can ask for a time. In person → Online →
MODULE 03 · ADMIN Update my license → Free administrative updates: name changes, address updates, and callsign modifications. Fast electronic batch submission to the FCC.
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AREA
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MONTHLY One-day license class + exam · Technician / General / Extra · around the county INFO
Sessions are hosted by SANDARC member clubs — we process every exam to the FCC. First time? Run the preflight checklist → ALL SESSIONS →
MEMBER CLUBS & TEAMS
Clubs run the sessions. We handle the paperwork.
Local clubs sign up with SANDARC to have their exam sessions processed to the FCC — free exams, free administrative updates, fast electronic batch submission. Want your club on the air with us?
06 · ABOUT US

Founded in San Diego, serving the world

The San Diego County Amateur Radio Council is entering a new era. With a renewed vision and a passionate team of volunteers, SANDARC is reimagining what an amateur radio organization can be: modern, accessible, and built for the future. We are committed to breaking the mold of outdated resources by offering free licensing exams, free classes, and open educational materials to anyone who wants to explore the world of ham radio.

Fueled by volunteerism and supported by grants, SANDARC believes that the only thing standing between you and your license should be your ambition, not your wallet. From San Diego to the nation, we are building a community where the next generation of operators is welcomed, educated, and inspired to reach further.

1958 FOUNDED2016 EXAMS GO FREE2026 $30K+ SAVEDNEXT: YOU
MISSION
Educate the community and provide a public service
NON-PROFIT
501(c)(3) organization serving the community
VOLUNTEER-POWERED
Dedicated hams donating their time
VEC PROGRAM
FCC-certified Volunteer Examiner Coordinator
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
W4PBL
Austin Smith
President
w4pbl@sandarc.org
N6IRN
Sepehr Sahraian
Vice President
n6irn@sandarc.org
N6NYX
Greg Smith
VEC Chairman
n6nyx@sandarc.org
AF5T
Martin Latterich
Treasurer
af5t@sandarc.org
AF6GM
J Goldberg
Secretary
af6gm@sandarc.org
W9NB
Nick Bebout
Board Member
w9nb@sandarc.org
N2SPG
Seth Greenfield
Board Member
n2spg@sandarc.org
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07 · VE INFORMATION

Become a Volunteer Examiner

SANDARC does not directly recruit Volunteer Examiners — recruitment is handled independently by individual SANDARC teams at their own discretion. Connect with a team at a local exam session, or start your own team.

TEAM-BASED
Teams recruit their own VEs
Accreditation runs through an existing team, not through the VEC.
HOW ACCREDITATION WORKS →
FCC REQUIREMENTS
General class or higher, 18+
Your class sets which elements you may administer — 97.509(b) has the table.
SEE THE ELEMENT TABLE →
START A TEAM
Form a team — or bring yours over
New team or switching from another VEC, the manual walks your team lead through it.
READ THE GUIDE →
08 · GET IN TOUCH

Contact us

EMAILvec@sandarc.org PHONE619-215-1886 DISCORDJoin our server
MAIL
PO Box 26903
San Diego, CA 92196-0903