Update October 1 2024 – I do not have capacity to offer exams at this time however I can refer you to a small group of others that can. Just drop me an email asking for the listing. I’ll remove this note when my time has been freed up.
Remote Examinations
I am an Accredited Volunteer Examiner in Canada and the USA and I delivered the first remote exam in Canada in 2020. I’m pleased to serve you in getting your license.
Canadian Exams
To earn your certificate with Basic Qualification, you’ll need to pass a written exam. This is a 70% pass-grade, 100-question multiple-choice test, covering such topics as radio operating practices, basic electrical theory, and the Radiocommunication regulations that apply to amateur radio. A mark of 80% or more gives the candidate the additional privileges of Basic Qualification with honours.
Candidates for the Morse Code Qualification are required to demonstrate proficiency in Morse Code, by sending and receiving Morse Code at a speed of not less than 5 words per minute for three consecutive minutes. The examination is in plain language text and may include the 26 letters, 10 numerals, comma, period, question mark, dash, fraction bar, Q signals, and emergency signals. The examiner will allow candidates two minutes to review and correct their received copy before it is graded.
Candidates for the Advanced Qualification must pass a 70% pass-grade, 50-question multiple-choice examination covering electrical theory primarily related to the additional privileges granted to holders of the Advanced Qualification.
The examinations may be taken in any order but station operating privileges require a Basic Qualification. Candidates for the examination for Basic, Morse Code or Advanced qualifications are examined by an accredited examiner. Per the regulations I can administer a French examination paper for you if you wish, et je parle Français mais très lentement so I’ll converse with you in English during our time together. Please let me know if you wish to do your exam in French.
With the relaxations of normal examination procedures during COVID-19 pandemic, if you are on Canadian soil and wish to take your exam remotely due to COVID-19, read these basic requirements below.
- You need to be equipped with a computer capable of attending a videoconference call via Zoom. That computer will be used so that we can interact and that you can see the exam contents and does not need to have audio, but if it does that is helpful.
- You need to have a smartphone/tablet with a camera and Zoom installed on it. This will be used to send a video feed back to me so that I can observe the exam, part of my responsibility to ISED.
Exams are delivered to only one candidate at a time. Once you are consistently scoring >85% on the ISED practise exams for a couple of days in a row you are ready to write – I want everyone to pass with their best score on their first attempt. You will observe me score your exam and know your results right away. I submit results electronically which means you will be on the air usually within a few days.
I schedule exams at least 2 days away from today within the current and following weekdays (Friday excepted) at 1700h, 1900h or 2000h MT, and some Saturdays and Sundays at 0900, 1000h, 1100h or 1530h MT. Other days and times may be available, just ask. Mountain Time Zone observes Daylight Savings; in Winter months we are UTC-7 and in Summer we are UTC-6.
If you meet these basic requirements, send an note to me via vince [at] vincedeon [dot] com along with a few choices for exam dates and times within the next 2 to 16 days.
American Exams
If you wish to take an American exam check out the upcoming exam sessions listed on Hamstudy.org.
The Technician class license is the entry-level license of choice for most new ham radio operators. To earn the Technician license requires passing one examination totaling 35 questions on radio theory, regulations and operating practices. The license gives access to all Amateur Radio frequencies above 30 megahertz, allowing these licensees the ability to communicate locally and most often within North America. It also allows for some limited privileges on the HF (also called “short wave”) bands used for international communications. Learn More on the ARRL website
The General class license grants some operating privileges on all Amateur Radio bands and all operating modes. This license opens the door to world-wide communications. Earning the General class license requires passing a 35 question examination. General class licensees must also have passed the Technician written examination. Learn More on the ARRL website
The Amateur Extra class license conveys all available U.S. Amateur Radio operating privileges on all bands and all modes. Earning the license is more difficult; it requires passing a thorough 50 question examination. Extra class licensees must also have passed all previous license class written examinations. Learn More on the ARRL website